I'm in the market to buy a television & need assistance.

[Wingspan]

Make sure it support 1080p, then go for it.

there really is no point to worrying about 1080p on a 40" screen.

[Cerevant]

1080p is overhyped - the only thing that can deliver that kind of signal is a computer/console (the Wii can't do 1080p).  1080i is the best that ATSC (over the air HD) can deliver, and while QAM (cable HD) could probably do it, the cable companies wouldn't waste that much bandwidth.  No one is shooting video in 1080p, so it would all be wasted effort anyway.

I'm sure there is someone who can tell the difference, but really...

[phattymatty]

Has anyone ever bought a TV at Costco?  I've been hearinf from a few people that they have good deals and an excellent return policy.  The people over at that AVS forum seem to have pretty good reviews of Costco for TVs as well.

[Cerevant]

I was just looking at consumer reports, and the new Vizio TVs that they are selling at Costco & Sams are crap.

[SD_Eagle5]

i've got opinions from about 4 or 5 real friend people, and then all you fake internet people, and almost everyone tells me LCD is the way to go.  why are plasmas more expensive then?

LCD is the best bet for any video game playing.

Without a doubt. Plasma's supposedly have the best picture but I can't complain with the picture on my LCD. A lot of people stay away from Plasma's because of the whole burn in issue. Best advice I can give is to 1) shop around 2) Go to BestBuy/Circuit City etc. and see if they have any floor models available. I got a 40' Sony Bravia LCD floor model for $1700. Same model goes for $2400 in most stores.

[Rome]

1080p is overhyped - the only thing that can deliver that kind of signal is a computer/console (the Wii can't do 1080p).  1080i is the best that ATSC (over the air HD) can deliver, and while QAM (cable HD) could probably do it, the cable companies wouldn't waste that much bandwidth.  No one is shooting video in 1080p, so it would all be wasted effort anyway.

I'm sure there is someone who can tell the difference, but really...

Filmmakers are increasingly shooting in 1080p.  George Lucas, for instance, shot the last Star Wars movie in 1080p for theaters with digital projection systems.

(See Below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p

As for being able to tell the difference with the naked eye, trust me, I have the Bravia 40" 1080p from Sony and I can tell the difference.  The picture clarity is phenomenal.

[ice grillin you]

can anyone tell me how to hook my laptop to my tv...i know for the video its simply vga on computer to vga on tv

but what about the audio

would it be a 1/8' out of the earphone jack on the computer to a rca into the s-video or audio in on the tv???

[PhillyPhanInDC]

can anyone tell me how to hook my laptop to my tv...i know for the video its simply vga on computer to vga on tv

but what about the audio

would it be a 1/8' out of the earphone jack on the computer to a rca into the s-video or audio in on the tv???

Here you go....too lazy to type it myself.


EDIT: Use what Rome posted. Radio Shack can hook you up on the cheap.

Be real careful with hooking your PC up to your TV, especially if you have a plasma.

[Rome]

[Cerevant]

As for being able to tell the difference with the naked eye, trust me, I have the Bravia 40" 1080p from Sony and I can tell the difference.  The picture clarity is phenomenal.

No question that HD is clearly superior to SD, but I doubt you can tell the difference between 720p or 1080i and 1080p video, especially since there is no consumer material available at that resolution.  Further, according to the wiki article you linked, if & when 1080p is available for broadcast, it will be at 30fps.  This is the knock against 1080i - it has half the framerate of 720p (60fps).  "Real" 1080p (60fps) would take twice the bandwidth of 1080i, and this would not be real popular with the cable companies.  (It would not be possible at all over the air using the current channel allocation)

Again, I'm just talking about video.  Computer / console video is a whole different ballgame.

[Cerevant]

can anyone tell me how to hook my laptop to my tv...i know for the video its simply vga on computer to vga on tv

but what about the audio

would it be a 1/8' out of the earphone jack on the computer to a rca into the s-video or audio in on the tv???

RCA.  s-video is video only.  see above.

As for video - if your TV doesn't send the nifty plug and play signals back to the PC (most don't) you will have some issues getting the video timings right.  Your picture might be shifted slightly one way or the other.

[ice grillin you]

thanks ladies

[phattymatty]

just got it

[SD_Eagle5]

just got it

Good deal.

[phattymatty]

thanks.  it seems like it's received mostly really good reviews, that and the fact that i personally know two people with it and they both like it.

and with Costco, I can take it back whenever for whatever reason.  although that's changing next month because apparently people were abusing it.  the lady said a lot of people bought tvs before football season and then returned them after the super bowl.  i wish i would have thought of that.