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**Valkysas** · 03-07-2009, 06:38 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

I have no idea. it's not some massive ancient beast. it's probably only like 7 years old.

I think the way the weight is distributed is the problem. also, the footprint is an odd shape.

**Caciss** · 03-07-2009, 06:39 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

the feet might have something to do with the extra weight

**Valkysas** · 03-07-2009, 06:53 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

Make sure it supports 1080p, obviously.

nah. that would push it way outside my price range. I can only throw a few hundred at a new TV.

**Biggie** · 03-07-2009, 06:58 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

Well, if you're getting a TV that's like 21 or so inches, I doubt you'd notice the difference in 1080p anyways.

**Goufunaki** · 03-07-2009, 07:31 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

Originally posted by Biggie View Post

Well, if you're getting a TV that's like 21 or so inches, I doubt you'd notice the difference in 1080p anyways.

Actually, the difference is pretty noticeable I think. I'm aware that the 360 upscales the resolution of games, so everything on that looks perfect. And if I am to believe that my PS3 games labeled to work with 1080i are actually being shown at 1080i, then it's pretty grainy looking. The PS3 XMB has a nicer resolution than my games, with the exception of MGS4 and Lair. My TV can work with 1080i, but not 1080p, but i dunno the exact details on how all of that works and why the 360 looks better.

**highwind** · 03-07-2009, 07:33 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

i hear that Vizio is pretty much the standard in solid, cheap, HDTVs.

**Valkysas** · 03-07-2009, 07:42 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

looking at vizio, their stuff is very much affordable.

http://www.vizio.com/product.aspx?id=2728&pid=1508
would this thing be any good, dear people who know these types of things?

it seems pretty damn versatile, and I could afford it.

**Biggie** · 03-07-2009, 07:54 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

I think the Vizio would make a great choice. We've had a few come through the shop. And they are very nice televisions.

**John Mora** · 03-07-2009, 07:56 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

Vizio isn't that great a brand, but it probably won't break. Honestly, I'm really skeptical how much value you're gonna get out of 1080p on a 22" set. You need something at least 40" to be able to tell the difference between it and 720p.

**Valkysas** · 03-07-2009, 08:08 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

I don't think I need 1080p, but this seemed like the best overall TV they offer for a good price. aside from the 1080p and 1080i resolutions, the feature list seems to fit my needs pretty well.

looking for reviews online, the only negative comments I can find about this thing are about the sound (bass isnt too good, I guess). but I can hook up external speakers, so that's not a really big deal.

.... and I cant find it actually for sale anywhere. oh hooray.

**Perversion** · 03-07-2009, 08:23 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

Mora speaks the truth. MOST manufacturers don't even make 1080p sets under 37", with Vizio being one of the few exceptions. Reason being, at the distance you'd normally be sitting from something smaller than a 37" set, you wouldn't even be able to see the difference. Not like you need to follow this guideline, but recommended viewing distance for a 32", as an example, is like 5 and a half feet, MAX. I didn't click the link yet, but a 26" as an example, recommended distance is probably about 3 to 4 feet, which, of course, is unrealistic in the real world, and why these are only recommendations.

Keep in mind that if you are used to looking at a 20" SD set, you'd probably want AT LEAST a 22", if not a 26", because, even though the screens are technically bigger, to your eye, they'll appear about the same size as your current TV, as they are widescreen and rectangle, as opposed to (give or take) square.

My feelings on Vizio...they ARE the fastest growing LCD company on the market right now, and have a lot of positive word-of-mouth out there. You are getting a DECENT quality set for the money you are paying, and you ARE getting a year warranty through the manufacturer, as opposed to a lot of the second and third tier brands, which only offer a year on parts and 90 days on labor. That being said, in my just over a year in television sales, the two brands I've noticed the most problems with (not in terms of people returning them necessarily, but in terms of one day, the display model just not working or getting all this weird glitchy stuff all over the screen) are Vizio, and, surprisingly, Samsung.

I think in the past 6 months, I've pulled 2 or 3 Vizios from the floor, because I'd turn them on in the morning, and they'd be fine, and I'd walk down the aisle later in the day, and there would be all these glitchy colors all over the screen...don't know any other way to describe it. And I've had a number of Samsungs (especially the plasmas) that just refused to turn on, either via remote or on the power button (usually a heat sensitive thing similar to the PS3).

As for my personal preferences, I like Samsung, actually, and Sony, both due to the outstanding picture quality and nice black levels. But I've seen WAY fewer problems with Sonys. I also like Toshiba, and honestly think Vizio is not a bad TV, but usually recommend it to my customers as a secondary TV for a bedroom or something, and not as their main TV that will get tons of use. I have a slight aversion to Sharp, and I know you don't want a plasma (which is a shame, as they are better for gaming and generally have better black levels), but I usually recommend Panasonic. If you can save up for a bit, we got the new Panny plasmas in at my work (smallest they come is 42" though), and the 720p sets are regularly $899. Based on the sale prices on last year's models, I can easily see these going for $599 at some point, if not less.

I'm gonna click that link, Valk, and try to do a bit of research for your price range and size.

**Valkysas** · 03-07-2009, 08:28 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

something about the viewing distance thing: I'm a special case. I don't sit multiple feet from a TV. maybe 1 foot away, 2 at most. that's just how I am.

like I said before, I just want all three current gen consoles to look good on it, and being able to use my older consoles is always a plus.

thanks for the help.

**The_Real_Crunk** · 03-07-2009, 08:41 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

If you lived nearby Id sell ya my 32" HDTV.

**Perversion** · 03-07-2009, 08:55 PM

Re: thinking of going HD. need advice.

Depending on how many systems you need to connect, this might be an option. It's on Amazon right now for $355. We had the 32 and 37 inch version of these at my work, and they had probably the best picture and black levels on any of the TVs we carried in those sizes. My main problem with the Vizios are that in those smaller sizes, the picture tended to look somewhat washed out, and the black levels tended to look grayish.

Unfortunately, the one I'm linking to only has 1 each of HDMI, component, composite, PC, and S-video. And I'm not sure if those inputs would fit your needs. I guess this would be a choice between flexibility in hookups vs picture quality.

Just a suggestion after spending a few minutes searching.

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thinking of going HD. need advice.

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