Comments on: Get a 42-inch HDTV for $499.99

Just in time for the Super Bowl, the bargain-basement Corion Digital Lifestyles FA2B42323 42-inch liquid crystal display received high marks from customers.

[rickbroida]

One more update: TigerDirect just started offering a refurbished 47-inch Vizio LCD for $699.99: http://tinyurl.com/973zjo

[MakaiOokami]

I've heard Vizio is a pretty decent brand from a few tech geeks. If only I had some money

I have been looking for a good priced tv. My old tv is a boob tube 27 inch. The closest I could find are 32 inch ones and they are $400 and up. Why can't I have a nice 27 inch tv for $200 again?

[MakaiOokami]

Because even most of the 22 inches are 200+ dollars and LCD tech is more expensive than CRT, but also there are some issues with supply, demand, and the HD Standard. Things are just kinda spuratic at times right now I think it'll be better in 1-2 months.

[Stories84]

Inflation?

[farksg]

I just bought one! I'll let you know how it is. I don't really care about the audio--most TVs have crappy audio to begin with, so I put together a nice stereo to use instead with the following components:

1 BIC Acoustech H100 Sub: http://bicamerica.com/showpage.php?brand=1&type=8&spkrID=26
2 PolkAudio Monitor 50s: http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/monitor50/
1 Onkyo TX-SR506: http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR506&class=Receiver&p=i
1 Logitech Harmony 550: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/376&cl=us,en
25 ft of 12-gauge speaker wire.

One deal-breaker you should probably keep in mind - the screen has an 8 ms response time. That's a on the slow side for video.

Funny thing about Westinghouse - I work in their old office park, and really would rather take my chances an off-brand like Corion before settling with the mediocrity of Westinghouse's displays.

[woodygg]

wesinghouse is hit and miss... some of theirs are pretty good, others not. your comment is pretty silly.. considering the chance you're taking...

[farksg]

Risk? Westinghouse LCDs are made by Chi Mei Optoelectronics. How is that not risky?

How is buying an LCD from a California company manufacturing in China better than buying an LCD from a Pittsburgh company manufacturing in Taiwan?

Anybody who buys anything is taking a risk. Yes, there is a risk that Corion will be a out of business before my warranty runs out, but in an economy where multi-billion-dollar corporations are bought and sold like baseball cards, it's a risk I'm willing to take on a $500 LCD.

[dellaserra]

i would spend the extra money and get Panasonic's entry level 42" PX80U plasma. It is only 720p, but 1080 is not needing in this size. It is a great TV that I got on sale for $650 before Christmas. The picture quality is much better than LCD too

[anthony f wood]

is nice yes, but they do suck bigger volts & at the moment utility bills need to be kept trimmed back.

[MakaiOokami]

1080p is just about useless until the upper 40s or maybe even the lower 50s. Of course if your sitting a reasonable distance from the t.v. then it's even less necessary. Some people just really need to learn facts before they waste money because they want 1080p on a t.v. too small to be affected at it.

You don't need a 10 megapixel camera to take pictures for your wallet and you don't need 1080p for anything less than like 50 inches (usually)

[abundantsnotbob]

I like that analogy. I have a 26 inch CRT that my church was throwing away cause they got LCD's that were bigger. It's a good size because I sit between 4 and 10 feet away. I'm not sure It's possible to focus because when the top is in the bottom is out, and there is a black bar at the top of the screen, and a small crooked one at the bottom. I got an Xbox 360 and downloaded the banjo kazooie demo, and the words are incredibly small. I have a 7mp camera, and that is much more than I need, but it was the cheapest one at the time. Also, do you know how to tell if the lens in a camera is good when they are at walmart. My sister is looking to buy one.

[LarryLarryLarryLarry]

I agree with Makai. I can not believe that some HDTV manufacturers are selling 32" 1080p HDTVs. Completely ridiculous.

[isykal]

Some people want to use the TV as a computer monitor too. 1080p is a much better choice!

[TowerTone]

Thanks, abundant snot Bob. I needed a good laugh!

[Liquidx01]

Some of the user reviews are stating that the HDTV is in fact 1080p, though Newegg lists it at only 720p... granted it's only a 42", this could use some clarification.

[skeelo58]

I doubt the TV is actually 1080p. More than likely, the cheapskates who bought this TV (ie, don't know anything about TV's in the 1st place) are just noticing that it is accepting a 1080p picture. That does NOT mean it is 1080p. No way in hell is this off-brand TV for 500 bucks 1080p. No way.

[dancingbear3]

But how much stock can you really put into "user" reviews? And I don't see CNET reviewing 27-40" non-1080 TVs, even though they agree you don't need it on less than 50". Annoying! Most of us "regular folk" don't have rooms or walls big enough to appreciate screens over 40". Also- where do you find decent CRT TVs (or others) for "grandmas" and those of us who can't spend over $300?

[rickbroida]

Actually, I usually weigh both professional and user reviews when evaluating a product. Many times users will report real-world issues that escape a reviewer, while reviewers usually get into the hardcore testing that reveals important details.

[blusky08]

THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY GIVING US AN ARTICLE RATHER THAN A VIDEO! THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY VIDEOS ON CNET NOW---FOR BUSY PEOPLE, AND ARTICLE IS MUCH QUICKER THAN BEING FORCED TO SIT THROUGH A VIDEO. COME ON CNET, CAN'T YOU AT LEAST OFFER AN ARTICLE AS AN OPTION TO THE VIDEOS? GETTING INFO FOR CNET HAS BEEN SLOW AND PAINFUL!

[TheUnknownComic]

I absolutely hate clicking on a link and being taken to a video story. I don't think I've ever watched a single one on CNet. Get some writers!

[neverforgetJeff]

Sears has been selling a Panasonic 42" plasma (42px80u) for a 699.99 for a couple months now. By far a better value than a crappy no name lcd.

[Get_Bent]

Don't forget to factor in your higher electricity bills. A plasma TV draws about twice as many watts as a same size LCD TV. Also, a plasma TV gives off more heat, so your air conditioner usage will increase, too.

[dellaserra]

I got mine at Sears and it is a great tv! I also have a 32" Sony LCD, and the 42" Panasonic plasma is no warmer than the LCD. The Power usage on this TV is lower than most comparable 42" LCD models:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_13342PX80/Panasonic-TH-42PX80U.html?tp=161&tab=features_and_specs

[chejmay]

Get_Bent,
Not sure where you got your info. Maybe some scare tactic by a salesman or advertisement. True the Plasma does use more power than an LCD, but not 100%, it is more like 5-45% depending on if you are using 1080p or 720p. Here are some numbers that show about how much a tv would cost per year to run. If you are looking at sets 42" and below then it's going to take a while to recoup the cost of using paying more for LCD over Plasma.


PRODUCT ANNUAL COST
20-cu.-ft. refrigerator (a newer top-freezer) $50
25-cu.-ft. refrigerator (a newer side-by-side) 65
32-inch picture-tube 40
36-inch picture-tube 50
37-inch LCD 50
40-inch LCD 55
56-inch rear-projection 65
42-inch plasma, 720p 70
52-inch LCD 80
50-inch plasma, 720p 80
50-inch plasma, 1080p 110
Based on Department of Energy?s 2007 national average pricing for energy, 10.65 cents per, for 8 hours a day of usage.

I was in hhgregg the last wed. and they had a JVC 47"1080p LCD "open box" that was a return. I looked up the model on cnet but they had no review of it, and it is not even being sold at major elect. stores (according to their websites) so I can't find any review of it. It had a few cosmetic scratches on the frame, and is a discontinued model (it is a 2008 model i think) priced at $799. Originally it was $1999, down to $1299, then $799 b/c it was returned... That price seems to good to be true and it was still at the store on saturday. If this were a such a steal shouldn't it have sold quickly? I'm aprehensive to buy it b/c I haven't seen any JVC HDTV's for sell or advertised (why?), it is a discontinued model (should that be a concern?), can't find any reviews, and b/c it is an "open box" (literally sold w/o a box..)... Should I spend more $$ to buy a new tv or are display and "open box" tv's a good deal? And does anyone know any info on this tv? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! :)

Sorry, the model # is LT47X59

[One-Eared Gundark]

Get_Bent said: "Don't forget to factor in your higher electricity bills. A plasma TV draws about twice as many watts as a same size LCD TV. Also, a plasma TV gives off more heat, so your air conditioner usage will increase, too."

Ah, yes...the heat. But my 58" plasma puts out nice heat to keep my heating bills lower in the cold months. The cold weather far outlasts the hot weather around here.

I just couldn't fork over the extra cash for a large 120 Hz LCD when a less expensive plasma had better picture quality. I know I'll more than make up the difference with energy usage, but it's all about picture quality.