Advice for buying a $500 to $600 TV?

Question

I have my huge box tv and have given tvs little attention for a couple decades. Now I need a new one and I'm baffled. I'd love some help- please talk slow and simply. I'm not a techie.

1. I'm so not getting cable or dish, ergo no paying for high def if people do such things. Will a HDTV image look weird if you're just plugging into your antennae? Some guy at Best Buy made me look at two screens and said unless I pay the extra service it will look all blurry and stretched out.

2. If I will spend $500 or $600, what should be my target characteristics or brands?

3. Any special instructions on mounting it to the wall? (Plan right now is to get those tilt bracket, find the stud, attach it, and work my antennae wire over to the TV. Then I'll get something clever to cover ugly wire.)

4. I'm thinking LCD? Any objections?

5. Any other cables and such that will make me spend more money?

Again, in a nutshell, I want a TV to mount to the wall that looks good and last for under $600 or so. It will just use my antennae. Advice?

Answer 1

1. You do NOT need cable, etc to recieve OTA (over the air, antenna) HD broadcasts. ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox all broadcast for free in HD. All you will need is a outdoor (possibly indoor) antenna, which you probably already have.

2. $500 - $600 is not very much money at all to spend on a tv. You will either be stuck with a crappy brand or a small name brand tv. I would very much recommend spending the extra money on a great brand (Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Tohsiba, LG, Panasonic) and making sure that you do not purchase a tv under 40".

3. All you need to do is find the studs and purchase the correct mounting bracket. You can however purchase in-wall rated cables and run them through the wall. Keep in mind that mounting brackets cost about $100 in store (is this part of your budget?).

4. LCD is excellent. A plasma tv is likely to be cheaper though, depending on size. (Plasma's cost more money to operate though).

5. You will not need an cables besides a standard coaxial since you are not suscribing to HD service.

Again, in a nutshell, you really need to spend more money or you WILL regret it. Based on what you have told me, this is the TV I recommend:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...

Answer 2

1. all my televisions are HD and they picture is great- even though i have basic cable. best buy is just trying to make you buy extras

2. sony charges a lot for their tvs because they are "sony" i purchased a 1,000 $ 26'' tv from sony and it is nice but not cheap. try brands like vizio or magnavox they are really cheap but decent tvs.

3. use a stud finder/ level/ and have some one help you so they can hold the mount while you mount it to the wall/ you do not want to s***w up

4. LCD is great/ but if you leave your tv on for a long time it gets hot and if the same image stays on your LCD tv for long it burns the screen

5. no

you will need a box for your antenna starting in febuary 2009

Answer 3

SONY