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[human5892]

EDIT: Despite the original thread title, I do mean "less than $200". Ahem.

I'm on a budget and I'm looking to get a new television -- nothing fancy, but big enough (27" ought to do it) and sharp enough (i.e., component and S-video hook-ups) to satisfy me for another few years until I have the money to get a nice HDTV. It doesn't have to be perfect, but I'd like something that's really solid.

Any recommendations? I've been searching online myself, but I thought I'd seek out the advice of the GAF. For reference, here's a set I was looking at that seemed like a pretty good deal.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

< = Less than
> = Greater than

Either way, there's a Panasonic set at Target that has component-in, but it's $299.00. I was going to get one, but decided to wait as I hate silver colored electronics.

 

[human5892]

< = Less than
> = Greater than

Yeah, I noticed that five seconds after I posted. I suck at the internet, math, life, etc.

 

[heavy liquid]

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid...o/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

Circuit City has this RCA 27" for $197.99. It has an S-Video input. I think it's silver only (sorry, DaCocoBrova). You probably can't do much better for under $200, but it might be worth looking around at the opened and display TV's at few Best Buys if that doesn't bother you.

 

[human5892]

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid...o/rpem/ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

Circuit City has this RCA 27" for $197.99. It has an S-Video input. I think it's silver only (sorry, DaCocoBrova). You probably can't do much better for under $200, but it might be worth looking around at the opened and display TV's at few Best Buys if that doesn't bother you.

Yeah, that's actually the one I linked to in my first post (it even has component, too!). It looks good, but some of the user reviews mention the tube going after a few months. Thanks for the effort, though, I appreciate it.

Anyone else?

 

[Cloudy]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...67765&productCategoryId=cat03003&type=product

Component and S-vid input for $219. I got it over a year ago when it was $279 but it's a great tv

 

[Saint Cornelius]

If the tube went out in the first couple of months, wouldn't it be covered under circuitcity's warranty?

If so, that's a hot fucking deal right there and I might have to cop one!

 

[heavy liquid]

Ha, I didn't even see your link hidden there!

 

[heavy liquid]

If you don't mind it being a bit smaller:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...40865&productCategoryId=cat03003&type=product

Toshiba 24" Flat Screen. I really like flat screens much better, and it also has component input. I also like Toshiba's sets better than RCA.

 

[human5892]

Cloudy: Nice find. A bit more than $200, but still a damn good deal.

Saint Cornelius: Well, the TV could still go back if the tube went out in a only a few months' time, but some of the users were commenting that after getting a replacement set, the same thing happened again. Maybe that's why the TV is such a steal...?

 

[human5892]

Heavy Liquid: nice! The three inch difference seems like it's worth the cost for the flat screen. Plus, like you, I have had much better experience with Toshiba stuff than RCA.

 

[Saint Cornelius]

yeah that Toshiba one is nice!

human: true, lugging the damn thing back to the store every couple of months isn't really a bargain

 

[calder]

I have a Toshiba 24 flat. A *great* inexpensive TV.

 

[Memles]

I think I paid like $320 Canadian for my 20" Panasonic Tau Flat Screen...so pretty.

The Toshiba looks like your best bet.

 

[Doth Togo]

Pawn shop used? Don't hate it until you try it.

 

[cubicle47b]

I've been looking for a TV for my room and you sold me on the Toshiba. And then I found out no Best Buy within 200 miles has one and shipping would be $55 which completely destroys the purpose of buying it in the first place.

I'm not happy.

 

[Meier]

I got a 20" Toshiba flat-screen last year for like $225 on sale and have been very pleased with it... that 24" at $199 is a STEAL.

 

[NohWun]

www.craigslist.org

Find someone who's moving and just wants to get rid of their (good) stuff.

 

[teh_pwn]

I haven't seen consumer reports for TVs in a while, but back a few years ago, RCA was rock bottom on reliability, like the Kia of the TV market. Something like 20% of their TVs have severe problems within a couple years. Look into that...

 

[human5892]

I haven't seen consumer reports for TVs in a while, but back a few years ago, RCA was rock bottom on reliability, like the Kia of the TV market. Something like 20% of their TVs have severe problems within a couple years. Look into that...

Wow. That would definitely jibe with the reports of the tube crapping out on the model mentioned in the thread.

Something else I noticed: on RCA's official website, that model -- which is going for <$200 at Circuit City and Walmart -- has an MSRP of over $300. Maybe the model was originally priced that high, but was quickly slashed by retailers as the terrible quality over time became evident.

In any case, I'll definitely not be going with an RCA.

Doth Togo and NohWun: Nice ideas. I suppose it doesn't have to be brand new...

 

[tedtropy]

Wow. That would definitely jibe with the reports of the tube crapping out on the model mentioned in the thread.

Something else I noticed: on RCA's official website, that model -- which is going for <$200 at Circuit City and Walmart -- has an MSRP of over $300. Maybe the model was originally priced that high, but was quickly slashed by retailers as the terrible quality over time became evident.

In any case, I'll definitely not be going with an RCA.

Doth Togo and NohWun: Nice ideas. I suppose it doesn't have to be brand new...

In all fairness, the TV set we have in our living room is an RCA and has been kicking for well over 10 years now. I also have an RCA set in my room that's over a year old and has given me no problems. Hopefully we're just in the lucky '80 percent'.

 

[Eminem]

dude, check any wal-mart near you.


i got an Apex 27" flatscreen for $180 there. has run flawlessly.

 

[Saint Cornelius]

Apex scares me. It just screams "cheap". I have no basis for that rationale, however.

 

[human5892]

Apex scares me. It just screams "cheap". I have no basis for that rationale, however.

Hahah, I'm the exact same way. I even came across some decent-looking Apex televisions during this search and kind of disregarded them immediately...without any specific reasoning. I guess my thought process is something like, "They price their products lower than comparable competition; therefore, their products must be of cheap quality."

The funny thing is, my DVD player is an Apex and has given me no problems in the 3+ years I've had it.

 

[Fatalah]

APEX dvd players rock. They run like.....any VCD and SVCD I pop in!

By the way, Toshiba's a good brand. My parents have a 15 year old one in their room and it runs great. Sharp is pretty bad, and so is RCA.

I'd go with the Toshiba. But I'm gonna be looking for cheap wide screens of small size when the new consoles come out.

 

[calder]

Funny enough, we bought my dad a 27" Apex cheapo tv for christmas, and my Samsung is just a bit better in every way despite the smaller size. I was home for thanksgiving last weekend and playing PS2 on the Apex brought it's minor shortcomings in every category home. The Apex isn't bad (and it was like $20 cheaper than my 24' Samsung) but I'm sure happier with the Samsung for myself.

 

[Saint Cornelius]

The funny thing is, my DVD player is an Apex and has given me no problems in the 3+ years I've had it.

Really? I bought my wife a Sony DVD player a few Xmases ago and that thing is FUCKED. I'll get her an Apex this year!

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Thomson makes RCA's sh!t for the most part. Take that as you will... Has Zenith gotten any better?

I like Samsung sets at the lower price point. XBR's on the high-end.

 

[human5892]

Really? I bought my wife a Sony DVD player a few Xmases ago and that thing is FUCKED. I'll get her an Apex this year!

Yeah, it hasn't given me any problems whatsoever. The menu system is pretty rudimentary and unattractive, and I couldn't vouch for the picture output at higher resolutions (I've only got it hooked up through composite at the moment), but for simply playing DVDs at a reasonable image quality, it seems to work pretty well.

Calder: thanks for the comments. It sounds like the Apex sets function exactly how they're priced: as a slightly-inferior budget alternative.

 

[COCKLES]

Basic rule of thumb.

No-name brand <<<< Tube blows in under three years.

Toshiba, Sony, Samsung ect >>>> 3 Years

In the UK we have tons of cheap TV retailers. Beko, Matsui, Bush, Orion - cheap as fuck, but as in the case of my widescreen Bush, blew up 1 month after 3 year insurance warranty ran out. Terrific picture quality while it lasted tho!

'brova has the right idea. If your going cheap. Go cheap Korean or Asian manufacturer.

Avoid those shitty Western made brands! Sorry Doc Brown (circa 50s)

 

[Ecrofirt]

That's why you make sure they bust before the warranty is out.

 

[Meier]

One night after I praised it, my TV just blew out. Heard this sort of pop and thought it was my PS2 fucking up or something but nope -- same on every channel. Just see a sliver of the screen and everything else is black =(