I just blew $386 today. I bought a Samsung Slimfit 30 inch HD CRT TV. I've had my eye on this TV since it came in earlier this year, and knew that once it dropped to closeout price, it would be in my price range. Closeout price was $598.99; being an open display model (which had never actually even been plugged in, let alone turned on), and using my discount (plus an extra percentage off, as one of the two coax inputs is completely broken off), I got it for under $400 with tax.
Minuses-It's heavy. Really heavy. 117 pounds. Plus, it only goes up to 720p. However, a 32 inch LCD with 1080p would cost me over $1000, and I cannot afford that much. Most of the smaller LCDs (under 32 inches)we have at my work which would be closer to my price range (but still more than the one I bought) only go up to 1080i, anyway. And I've heard that 720p looks better than 1080i anyway. So for right now, I'm happy having a TV that displays HD that was in my price range.
Pluses-The amount of inputs. I looked at the smaller LCDs at work that were in my price range ($350-500), and besides being smaller than the one I got (those were 23 and 26 inch LCDs), they had a problem with input options. I'll grant you, the ones in my price range were mostly Sylvanias, Magnavoxes, or no-name brands, so I wasn't expecting a lot of frills, but ALL of these that I looked at had either 1 HDMI and no component, or 1 component and no HDMI. Which is something I would not waste my money on. This 30 inch Samsung I bought has 2 HDMIs, 2 component, 2 coax (well, really 1; the other one was broken off....it's not like I'd ever have a reason to be using 2 coax inputs, anyway, though), and two RCA inputs. Oh, and there's at least one S-video input too, possibly two (I'll probably not use this input, either, so I didn't look too closely at it). I believe it also has a few digital audio outs, as well, which I really have no need for right now. Also, I've read that the black levels on HD CRT TVs is actually superior to LCD and plasma.
So taking into account how much I paid for it, and keeping in mind that I'll probably not have the ability in the near future to blow $1000 on a "better" TV, do you guys think I got a good deal? Mainly, I just wanted to take advantage of my up-convert DVD player, and my Xbox 360 (the Elite comes with an HDMI out and an HDMI cable).
Minuses-It's heavy. Really heavy. 117 pounds. Plus, it only goes up to 720p. However, a 32 inch LCD with 1080p would cost me over $1000, and I cannot afford that much. Most of the smaller LCDs (under 32 inches)we have at my work which would be closer to my price range (but still more than the one I bought) only go up to 1080i, anyway. And I've heard that 720p looks better than 1080i anyway. So for right now, I'm happy having a TV that displays HD that was in my price range.
Pluses-The amount of inputs. I looked at the smaller LCDs at work that were in my price range ($350-500), and besides being smaller than the one I got (those were 23 and 26 inch LCDs), they had a problem with input options. I'll grant you, the ones in my price range were mostly Sylvanias, Magnavoxes, or no-name brands, so I wasn't expecting a lot of frills, but ALL of these that I looked at had either 1 HDMI and no component, or 1 component and no HDMI. Which is something I would not waste my money on. This 30 inch Samsung I bought has 2 HDMIs, 2 component, 2 coax (well, really 1; the other one was broken off....it's not like I'd ever have a reason to be using 2 coax inputs, anyway, though), and two RCA inputs. Oh, and there's at least one S-video input too, possibly two (I'll probably not use this input, either, so I didn't look too closely at it). I believe it also has a few digital audio outs, as well, which I really have no need for right now. Also, I've read that the black levels on HD CRT TVs is actually superior to LCD and plasma.
So taking into account how much I paid for it, and keeping in mind that I'll probably not have the ability in the near future to blow $1000 on a "better" TV, do you guys think I got a good deal? Mainly, I just wanted to take advantage of my up-convert DVD player, and my Xbox 360 (the Elite comes with an HDMI out and an HDMI cable).
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