Crave

Despite being "only" 720p, the Panasonic TC-P50X1 is a great bargain.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Flat-panel TVs are no longer playthings of the rich. In fact, dirt-cheap models can be had in every screen size and from numerous diverse makers. Here's a guide to finding your way through the budget HDTV morass.

Bargain brands vs. name brands
Value brands like Vizio and Westinghouse, along with even lesser-known names like Dynex and Haier, compete head-to-head against the Sonys and Panasonics of the world. You can get a great deal with an off-brand, although you should still do your research. When considering a bargain brand it's always worthwhile to see how much you're actually saving versus the same size, entry-level TV from a better-known brand, especially in larger screen sizes. Maybe that couple hundred dollars savings isn't worth it to you, especially over the long lifespan of the typical TV. If you do go for a bargain brand, look around online for user opinions to spot any potential lemons. Often, however, you'll find most buyers are happy with their HDTVs, regardless of brand.

Don't forget about 720p
1080p resolution is everywhere these days, especially among larger LCDs, but that doesn't mean you can't find less-expensive 720p plasma models around. Did you know you can get a very good 50-inch 720p plasma, Panasonic's TC-P50X1, for around $900? You can send even less at the 42-inch size. Trust us, you probably won't miss the extra pixels.

You don't need a 120Hz or 240Hz LCD
If you have your heart set on LCD instead of plasma, it's worth remembering that motion blur--the reduction of which is the main selling point of 120Hz and 240Hz LCD TVs--is really difficult for most people to make out. Moreover, chances are the blur you see is inherent in the source, not the TV, and those higher refresh rate TVs can't do anything about blur in the source.

Going big? Think rear-projection
It doesn't have to be all plasma and LCD when you want a really big picture. Large rear-projection TVs are still being produced by Mitsubishi--and nobody else, aside from some older models. They can cost thousands less than similarly sized, or significantly smaller, flat-panels.

Compare in person, buy online
Let's face it: especially with HDTVs, you'll get a better price online. But we recommend checking out the set in a retail store, if you can, before pulling the trigger online. If nothing else, you'll get a good idea of how the set's external appearance looks--although picture quality is often difficult to judge under the bright lights of the store. When buying online, it also pays to try to get free shipping, and definitely make sure the online vendor has a solid return policy.

Don't buy an HDMI cable in the store
Despite the marketing hype, all HDMI cables are essentially identical--you're not going to get better performance from an $80 cable than you would from a $5 cable. That's why it always makes more sense to buy cheaper HDMI cables widely available on online retailers. We've got the full scoop on our HDMI cable quick guide, along with some recommended stores.

Westinghouse's 42-inch LCD delivers 1080p, but only a 90-day warranty.

(Credit: OnSale)

This is one of those good news/bad news deals. The good news: OnSale has the refurbished Westinghouse VK-42F240S-R 42-inch LCD TV for $499.99 (plus about $53 for shipping). That's one of the lowest prices I've seen on a 42-inch HDTV, particularly one that supports 1080p.

The bad news: Because it's a refurb, you get a 90-day warranty--and Westinghouse has a pretty poor reputation when it comes to customer service.

Now, that being said, I've owned a 46-inch Westinghouse LCD for years, and it's been a champ. The VK-42F240S-R (just rolls off the tongue, eh?) features 1,920x1,080 resolution, 2 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, and an ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner. It also has auto source detection, which I've always liked on my Westy.

I haven't found any reviews of this particular model, other than the single five-star user review on the product page. If you happen to own this LCD, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Ultimately, the good news here is quite good--sweet price on a big TV--while the bad news isn't all that bad. You're not likely to find a better deal on a 42-inch 1080p TV.

March Madness has come and gone (with a heartbreaking finish by my beloved Spartans), but the NBA finals are just around the corner. If you're still watching sports, Lost, and other stuff on a standard-def tube, it's time to take the HD plunge.

MacMall (MacMall?) has the refurbished Westinghouse TX-47F430S 47-inch LCD HDTV for $639.99. That's pretty amazing considering that this model sells new for $1,400.

The TX-47F430S serves up 1080p resolution, an ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner, 4 HDMI inputs, two component inputs, and a VGA interface for PC connections. My favorite feature: the onscreen Quick Install Matrix, which illustrates the various connection options.

Of course, features don't tell the whole story. As CNET's review of the TX-47F430S points out, the TV suffers from "ho-hum styling" and mediocre black levels.

And I'll add a complaint that, according to one user review, duplicates a problem on my otherwise-excellent 46-inch Westinghouse: The remote works poorly unless you're facing the TV dead-on.

MacMall charges a steep (but typical) $99.99 for shipping, but a $50 rebate brings that down to a more reasonable $49.99. That gets you out the door for around $690--still hundreds less than most of the 46-inch models I'm seeing.

Because this is a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days. The final disclaimer I'll add is that I've heard less than stellar things about Westinghouse service. Thus, jazzed as I am about this TV's price, I'm gonna slap on a small caveat-emptor sticker.

A 32-inch HDTV for under $300? Sign me up!

(Credit: Amazon.com)

If you missed last week's deal on the 32-inch HDTV with built-in DVD player, here's one that's nearly as good: PC Connection has a refurbished Westinghouse 32-inch LCD HDTV for $299.95 shipped.

As my daughter likes to say, that's "sweeticle." Perfect for dens, bedrooms, and the like, the Westinghouse SK-32H240S-B offers a 720p high-def picture, two HDMI inputs, and an ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner.

It also has one of my favorite features: automatic source detection. That means that if you turn on, say, your Microsoft Xbox game console, the TV automatically switches to the correct input. Of course, you have to manually switch it back when you're done, but it's still cool.

Because this is a refurbished model, the warranty lasts just 90 days. That's a definite concern, and Westinghouse doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to service. However, PC Connection is a veteran reseller, so I'm confident that it'd make things right if you had any out-of-the-box problems.

This is without a doubt the lowest price I've seen on a 32-inch HDTV. If you're in the market, it might be tough to pass up. Might be tough to keep in stock, too, so don't wait.

Update: If you'd rather not go the refurbished route, Costco has a new ProScan 32-inch LCD for $329.99. Shipping will run you a reasonable $19.99, but you may get stuck paying sales tax as well.

It wasn't that long ago that $250 was a good price on a 22-inch LCD. Now you get 26 inches!

(Credit: Westinghouse)

Holy giant monitors, Batman! Buy.com has a Westinghouse L2610NW-SP 26-inch LCD monitor for $249.99 shipped.

The specifications here are pretty solid: 1,920x1,200-pixel maximum resolution (that's 1080p to you TV fans out there), VGA and HDMI inputs (plus an HDMI-to-DVI cable), HDCP support (in case you want to pair it with, say, a Blu-ray player), and a one-year warranty.

Reviews of the L2610NW-SP are few and far between, but the Buy.com crowd was quite enthused by it (4.5 stars out of 5 on average), and Newegg buyers had mostly good things to say as well.

Given that I haven't seen a decent deal on even a 24-inch LCD in quite some time (the best ever was $199.99), a 26-incher for $250 seems like a major steal. Grab one before they're gone!

See, business users will enjoy this monitor. How do I know? No. How could I not know? Look at all the charts and graphs and stuff. That proves it!

(Credit: Westinghouse)

Westinghouse seems to have completely moved into the same 16:9 spacious flat that most other monitor vendors have begun cramming themselves into. In addition to their previously announced monitor sizes, make room for the company's 22-incher.

The Westinghouse L2220HM with its "Full HD" 16:9 aspect ratio offers a resolution of 1,920x1,080 (1080p), a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 candelas per square meters (cd/m2) brightness, a pixel response time or 5ms, and a 170-degree horizontal viewing angle.

Connection options include DVI and VGA. In addition, the monitor includes built-in stereo speakers.

The monitor is available now at a MSRP of $229.

The full specs are below.

• High 1,000:1 contrast ratio
• 300 nits high brightness
• Pixel response time of 5ms
• 0.248x0.248mm pixel pitch
• 16.7 million true colors
• Viewing angle: 170 degrees horizontal, 160 degrees vertical
• DVI-D (HDCP), VGA, and stereo audio inputs
• Built-in stereo speakers
• EPA Energy Star
• RoHS Compliant

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!