The Cheapskate

A 32-inch HDTV with DVD player for $325? That's hard to pass up!

(Credit: Westinghouse)

Looking for a flat-panel TV for the den or bedroom? Deal-of-the-day site DealsClick.com has a refurbished Westinghouse SK-32H590D LCD HDTV with built-in DVD player for $324.99. Shipping will run you $35.

It's rare enough to find a 32-inch LCD at this price, but one with a DVD player? Woot! (Huh. I think that's my first-ever use of "woot." Not sure it's for me. Let's see... Shwing? Yowza? Shazam! Eh, I'll have to work on my excited utterances.)

So the Westinghouse offers 720p/1080i resolution, a pair of HDMI inputs, an ATSC tuner with ClearQAM, and slot-loading DVD. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing any indication in the SK-32H590D's specs that the player upconverts, so movies might not look as good as they could.

Because this is a refurb, the warranty ends after 90 days. More importantly, the reviews I've seen on this model (most notably at Amazon) are fairly mixed.

However, the complaints tend to center around poor customer service from Westinghouse, not the TV itself. So if your model works as it should, you'll probably be a happy camper. If not, you could be in for some frustration.

If you're willing to roll the dice, do it now: The deal ends at midnight tonight (ET).

Here's your chance to score a 52-inch LCD for less than a grand.

(Credit: CompUSA)

You missed your chance to nab a big ol' TV in time for the Super Bowl, but March Madness is just around the corner (go Spartans!).

Here's a pretty sweet deal to satisfy your hoop dreams, Lost lust, and more: CompUSA has a 52-inch Vizio VX52LF LCD HDTV for $999.99.

That's a mighty big screen, folks. It's a refurbished model, meaning that its warranty expires after just 90 days. But given that new 52-inchers routinely sell in the neighborhood of $2,000, I'd say it's a risk worth taking.

The VX52LF is a 1080P LCD with three HDMI inputs, two component inputs, and a universal remote that can control a VCR, DVD player, and a cable box.

Too good to be true? Well, maybe. I can't find any trace of this model on Vizio's product pages (though it is listed in the Support section), and reviews are few and far between.

As it happens, I'm in the market for a new TV, and I've been seriously eyeballing this one. Also in contention: Vizio's 47-inch GV47LF, which CompUSA has for $749.96. It's also a refurb, but there are reviews aplenty, and they're mostly stellar.

Update: As of today, Feb. 10, the GV47F is down to $699.99. Think my decision just got a little easier.

Decisions, decisions. Either set will run me $99 for shipping. Is it worth $250 to make the jump from 47 inches to 52? That's the kind of question that keeps me up at night. If anyone owns either model, please hit the Comments pronto, and share your thoughts, please.

A 42-inch LCD for $500? That's a rare find indeed.

(Credit: Newegg)

It's NFL playoff season, so I've been keeping an eye peeled for good deals on big TVs. Alas, the discounts just aren't there. However, there's one bright spot: Newegg has the Corion Digital Lifestyles FA2B42323 42-inch LCD for $499.99.

It's a new set, not a refurb, and shipping will run you about $50. Even with that painful charge, it's still a couple hundred dollars less than you'll pay for, say, Wal-Mart's lowest-price 42-incher.

Ah, but is it any good? CNET hasn't reviewed the cleverly named FA2B42323, but nearly 75 percent of Newegg customers rated it 4 or 5 stars. That's a damn good score for an off-brand TV.

Keep in mind, however, that it's a fairly low-end TV. It tops out at 720p (which I think is fine for a 42-inch screen) and comes with only two HDMI inputs. Plus, various user reviews indicate mediocre speakers.

Still, this looks to be the best HDTV deal going right now. I'd prefer to watch the Super Bowl on something a bit larger, but cheapskates can't be choosers.

Now, if you don't mind a refurbished LCD that's even lighter on the inputs, the 46-inch Westinghouse LTV-46w1 I profiled a year ago (!) can be yours for $649.99 (plus shipping).

This is the same model that's been sitting in my living room for a couple years, and I have few complaints.

Thanks to reader sluggotor for sharing this deal!

(Credit: Dell)

Rumor has it that HDTV prices are about to dip, and this may be the first evidence: Dell has the Sharp LC42SB45U 42-inch LCD on sale for $899, shipping included. That's 500 bucks less than the original price, and a couple hundred less than I've found it anywhere else.

In addition to its 1080p resolution, the LC42SB45U (there's a name that just rolls off the tongue, huh?) offers three HDMI inputs, two component inputs, and a QAM-compatible tuner. What's interesting is that this is a brand-new model, not some closeout from two years ago--which is normally the case for bargain TVs.

Consequently, I haven't found any reviews I can share. But Sharp has an excellent reputation in the HDTV market, so this is probably a winner. And now that it's priced in line with various budget and refurbished models, how can you go wrong?

(Credit: Westinghouse)

I won't tell you what I paid for my Westinghouse LTV-46w1 when I bought it a little over a year ago, but I will tell you I love it. (I frequently refer to it as my "third child," much to Mrs. Cheapskate's chagrin.) I'll also tell you that you can now scoop one up for the extremely less-than-I-paid price of $869.

This is a 46-inch LCD with a built-in HD tuner, Clear QAM support, and output resolutions of up to 1080i. It pairs beautifully with my media-center PC, but I've also used it with a cable box and TiVo and it works just as well. Plus, it garnered an extremely impressive 9/10 rating from CNET readers.

Now for the caveats. The LTV-46w1 has only one HDMI input, the speakers bite, and the remote has terrible range. Also, this deal is for a recertified model, not a new one; make sure you read eCost's policy regarding returns and replacements. It does include a 90-day warranty.

Some folks will balk at the 1080i, insisting on a set that offers 1080p, but I'm here to tell you, I've never seen a trace of flicker or any other supposed 1080i shortcomings. The picture is freakin' beautiful.

Unless you spring for overnight shipping (which runs around $200--ouch!), you probably won't get this in time for the Super Bowl. But it should arrive in time for next week's installment of Lost, which, truth be told, is the reason I took the HDTV plunge. And I've never regretted it for a second.