HD LCD TV or not thats the..

[ProPlus]

Question?


I have decided its about time I started upgrading TVs and I'm going to start with the bedroom one.

The specs I want are as follows 20" - 26" and LCD TV?

The queries I have are:

Is it worth getting a HDTV ready one and what is the difference?
Is there really that much different between 20" and 26" picture quality?
What make are reasonable good or is just a case of people being brand snobs?
How long do they last?
Any horror stories about them?
Is it a case of by biggest TV I can afford or pay for a quality smaller TV?
What should I expect it to come with as standard, as in scarts, etc?
budget maximum of £500ish tho not bothered about spending less.
It will be used for watching DVDs and normal TV so doesn't need to have the ability to hook up to complete surround sound effort.

If anyone can shed some light on this subject without baffling me with technical knowledge I would be most grateful.

Cheers,

Si

[Podie]

I've got an Acer AL2671W - www.dabs.com/uk/Search2/Product+Details.htm?quicklinx=3ld0&searchphrase=acer%20lcd%20tv

Great with the PC (VGA and DVI input), and a good picture with Sky, although the coax aerial picture isn't great.

Worth checking out...

[WWESTY]

Since you want to use it to watch "normal" telly, definitely go for the best quality you can find. This is the area that LCD's are not good at, so will be noticeable if you get a large, poor quality one.

For lots of advice and recommendations etc I'd go and have a look at www.avforums.com

HDTV? If you are a SKY subscriber (or plan to be) then its worth thinking about...if not, I wouldn't worry.

[neil.b]

WWESTY said:

HDTV? If you are a SKY subscriber (or plan to be) then its worth thinking about...if not, I wouldn't worry.

Pretty much the conclusion I came to so I bought a non-HD plasma which arrives on Friday

Saved myself a packet over the HD version and, considering (a) I don't really watch TV and (b) I don't and won't have Sky and (c) DVD output format itself is only 720x480 pixels, it was a no-brainer really.

Admitedly I was on the fence until a fated day in Comet when I was just looking at the orientation of the scart sockets on the particular TV that I'd already ordered from somewhere else and a sales guy wandered over. To summarise his speil he said "What you want is HDTV, it's the future...."

In my head i was thinking "But I thought garlic bread....."

[mikef]

Sony just brought out a decent-looking range of HD-ready LCDs (see Bravia range at http://shop.sonystyle-europe.com/SonyStyle/b2c/init.do?shop=SST_GB_EN, select Televisions then LCD). £1800 for 32", £2400 for 40". Looks like HDTV isn't currently compatible with a £500 budget

[parrot of doom]

neil.b said:

DVD output format itself is only 720x480 pixels, it was a no-brainer really.

Not for long:

www.blu-ray.com/info/

[mikef]

720x480 is US NTSC, PAL has a few more lines. There's already a bunch of stuff that will drive HDTV, including XBOX and other consoles, HDV video, some satellite, WMV-HD from PC, as well as still pictures from digital camera. Trouble is I had HD telly in the US, and it's now hard to do without - bit like the difference between black/white and colour. You might even give in and subscribe to Sky when they start showing films and sport in HD

ps: nice 'stang, neil.b!