• Gizmodo
  • bestmodo
  • lifehacker
  • kotaku
  • Profile logout login

#gizexplains#gtconsumerist

Gizmodo

Share Cancel
   
Upload an image | Add an image URL
×

logging in
  • FAQ. Include # before tag:
  • #tips,
  • #dealzmodo,
  • #rumors,
  • #broken,
  • #iphoneapps,
  • #apple,
  • etc.

New York, 9:59 PM
Tue Dec 8
85 posts in the last 24 hours

FR | IT | DE | SP | JP | AU | BR

Gizmodo Team

Tip your editors:

Editorial Director:
Brian Lam | | Twitter

Editor:
Jason Chen
| AIM | Twitter

Features Editor:
Wilson Rothman
| Twitter

Senior Contributing Editors:
Jesus Diaz
| AIM | Twitter
Mark Wilson, Reviews
| AIM | Twitter

Contributing Editors:
Matt Buchanan
| AIM | Twitter
Adam Frucci
| Twitter
Sean Fallon
| Twitter
Jack Loftus
| Twitter
John Herrman
| Twitter
Dan Nosowitz

Chris Mascari

Danny Allen
| Twitter
Rosa Golijan
| Twitter
Chris Jacob

Columnist:
Brendan I. Koerner

Interns:
Don Nguyen

Kyle VanHemert

Heroes and Friends

Comment Account Questions:

SUBSCRIBE TO Gizmodo RSS

New: Breaking news and daily top stories via email
9515 Subscribers
Gizmodo
  • Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.
    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of LVP LVP
    12/07/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    Does he come with the tv?
     Reply
    LVP was starred LVP was unstarred
    Image of mxmarks mxmarks
    12/07/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    I may get totally screamed at for this, but I just wanted to say I made my first HDTV purchase this past weekend - and went with a Dynex and couldn't be happier.

    I know it may seem like I'm trying to sell something, and I assure you I'm not, I just poured over COUNTLESS articles on giz, and other tech blogs, wondering what TV to buy. I didn't have a huge budget, and using giz I realized that with the distance I'd be sitting from my TV, and the size of TV I wanted (32"), I wouldn't need anything over 720p. So with a $500 budget, I started looking.

    I found the Dynex on sale at Best Buy for $299, and did hours of research wondering why it was so cheap, how badly it sucked, why I should be getting a Toshiba or Sony instead - and found nothing of any substance really. A lot of "you get what you pay for" and "cheap = cheap!", but very few actual constructive complaints - and even fewer complaints that I found couldn't be fixed by reading Giz's calibration guide and just spending some extra time setting it up.

    So - just wanted to throw it out there - that at the price it's at, I am thrilled to finally have an HDTV at a very reasonable price. I had no idea who I was ever trading for in NHL10 on my SDTV, and now I know I've made horrible, horrible deals.
     Reply
    mxmarks was starred mxmarks was unstarred
    Image of ilovexspin ilovexspin
    12/05/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    Thanks guys. This was really helpful. It really answered many questions I had including can Adam Frucci look DAMN sexy laying down next to a car picture?

    The answer is yes and I previously did not know that.
     Reply
    ilovexspin was starred ilovexspin was unstarred
    Image of TonyWonder TonyWonder
    12/05/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    This article is an example of why Gizmodo should own all the tubes that make up the internets....
     Reply
    TonyWonder was starred TonyWonder was unstarred
    Image of shouryuuken shouryuuken
    12/05/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    dude freakin awesome. i knew most of this, but it cleared some other questions up. thanks.
     Reply
    shouryuuken was starred shouryuuken was unstarred
    Image of fleebailey33 fleebailey33
    12/05/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    Personally I have been a fan of DLP TV's But those are saddly dying.
     Reply
    fleebailey33 was starred fleebailey33 was unstarred
    Image of Daver73 Daver73
    12/05/09

    @fleebailey33: Same here. The price/performance ratio is amazing--and, there's no reason to wall-mount if you've got a big entertainment system to place it on.
     Reply
    Grive promoted this comment Daver73 was starred Daver73 was unstarred
    Image of Grive Grive
    12/05/09

    @Daver73: I'm also on this boat. Frankly, I got my DLP off a poker game (true story), so price wasn't an issue for me. However, I love it well beyond any other TV I've used regularly, even if it's by far the oldest HDTV in our house.

    It's not that unwidely - it's a feather compared to the CRTs of old. No way in hell I'm gonna nail it to the wall, as you say, but I've never been quite partial to that idea. After all, I'm going to need a stand for the BR player, consoles and whatnot.

    I used to recommend everyone to give them a try before limiting themselves to the LCD/Plasma debate - especially since I don't know anyone with a wall-hung TV. It's made me very sad to see that it's almost impossible to find them around here anymore.
     Reply
    Grive was starred Grive was unstarred
    Image of irfan irfan
    12/05/09

    @Grive: I had a Samsung DLP until this april, and I couldnt stand the distortion from the optics (bowing/pincushion), the washed out picture in daylight, the poor off angle contrast. Granted that was a 2006 model and kinda sucked, but it left a sour taste. I also didnt like how the pop deteriorated as the bulb dimmed.

    Price to size its still terrific tho.
     Reply
    Grive promoted this comment irfan was starred irfan was unstarred
    Image of Grive Grive
    12/06/09

    @irfan: I've known DLPs to be somewhat hit-or-miss, and the solution methods will annoy purists, since you lose perfect 1:1 mapping.

    Which is a position I fully agree with - it's a big setback. I don't know, I find my 57" Mitsubishi to be the best display I have - I'd take it over the LG and the Bravia (the other two HDTVs we have) any day. Heck, it's the one where all the HD things go. Maybe I just got very lucky with it. It's either a 2005 or 2006 model (got it used in mid/late 2006), still on the original lamp, and the picture is beyond any expectations.

    I'm not saying everyone should buy DLPs and that LCD and plasma should burn in hell. Just that it pained me to see it fall on the sidelines back when all three (well, four, if you count those sacrilegous CRT HDTVs) were vying for marketshare at the beginning. Everyone was asking "LCD or Plasma?" and almost everyone forgot the DLP. That's why I said "give it a try" - it's not for everyone, but I feel it deserved more attention than it got, at least in my neck of the woods.
     Reply
    Edited by Grive at 12/06/09 1:44 AM Grive was starred Grive was unstarred
    Image of Duckspwn Duckspwn
    12/05/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    Frucci, I want a picture of you, same pose, except with a hot pink bikini on. Go.
     Reply
    Duckspwn was starred Duckspwn was unstarred
    Image of Wburg Wburg
    12/05/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Ultimate HDTV Cheat Sheet and Buying Guides
    Great article! Does the "ignore contrast" device include computer monitors?
     Reply
    Wburg was starred Wburg was unstarred
    Image of ninjamurf ninjamurf
    12/07/09

    @Wburg: Yes. They play the same stupid games with the numbers. I think it was shown in the past that most "professional" monitors were only 400-500/1 or something and anything beyond that was trivial as long as the black point was low enough. Thing is the ratio is just the white point divided by the black point. So if you just "turn your lamp up" you end up with a higher contrast ratio. But you could turn your lamp up to a blinding amount for the test, record some ridiculously huge number, and throw that on your box. Problem is, you completely wash out and destroy any picture so it's irrelevant. What you really want is a really, really dark black point...and adequate enough lighting to get your white point to something viewable. Which, is not, btw, a million to one.
     Reply
    Wburg promoted this comment ninjamurf was starred ninjamurf was unstarred
    Image of Wburg Wburg
    12/07/09

    @ninjamurf: Thanks!
     Reply
    Wburg was starred Wburg was unstarred
    Image of DJJS DJJS
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    Insignia LCD Panels= LG.
    Insignia Plasma Panels = Samsung.
    Insignia Blue Ray Player = Samsung.
    Just Dynex sucks.. !
     Reply
    DJJS was starred DJJS was unstarred
    Image of PlayerX PlayerX
    11/19/09

    @DJJS: Also, for those who didn't know, any Apple LCD = Samsung
     Reply
    matt buchanan promoted this comment PlayerX was starred PlayerX was unstarred
    Image of matt buchanan matt buchanan
    11/20/09

    @PlayerX: actually, the new iMacs use an LG panel.
     Reply
    matt buchanan was starred matt buchanan was unstarred
    Image of Charlesincharge Charlesincharge
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    Ok that article + comments made me realise that I wasn't considering enough features in my tv shopping.

    I am just graduating so I only have 500 bucks for a small TV or monitor with TV tuner. I will mainly use it as a computer monitor, then dvds and gaming (xbox) and then TV (Hd when I will be able to afford it).

    Any recommandation. I know my budget is lame, but my non-hd tv is broken so that's all I can spend and I am totally lost.

    Thanks !
     Reply
    Segador approved this comment Charlesincharge was starred Charlesincharge was unstarred
    Image of Segador Segador
    11/19/09

    @Charlesincharge: There are plenty of 32-inch and below models that will fit your needs perfectly. Obviously, they won't be top-of-the line sets, and most will be 720p, but they'll look good and work fine.

    I'd start at Walmart- they have extremely low prices on entry-level models, some priced at $400 or less.
     Reply
    Segador was starred Segador was unstarred
    Image of snoop_dizzle snoop_dizzle
    11/19/09

    @Segador: He should probably shop for a t.v. on Amazon. He will likely get a better deal and of course a bigger selection.

    Supposedly buying a t.v. from Amazon is pretty good too. I think you get free shipping, and if anything goes wrong they swap it out.
     Reply
    Segador promoted this comment Edited by snoop_dizzle at 11/19/09 6:58 PM snoop_dizzle was starred snoop_dizzle was unstarred
    Image of anabbeynormality anabbeynormality
    11/19/09

    @Charlesincharge: The LG 32LH30 would be my choice.

    [www.amazon.com]
     Reply
    anabbeynormality was starred anabbeynormality was unstarred
    Image of SwatLax SwatLax
    11/19/09

    @Charlesincharge: Like other's have said, you'll be able to find a quality 32" LCD for less than $500.

    FWIW, I was in a time crunch a few months back and had only hours to buy a TV, so I didn't have much time to research or be picky. I walked into WalMart, found this 32" RCA 720p as an open box deal for $250. It's not a Kuro, but it's got all the hookups you could need and it's worked without a hitch for me.

    [www.walmart.com]
     Reply
    SwatLax was starred SwatLax was unstarred
    Image of Charlesincharge Charlesincharge
    11/24/09

    thanks for the advices...unfortunatly concerning amazon.com I live in Canada and can't get it here. I'll look for the Lg model mentionned and drive to the closest wal-mart as well !
     Reply
    Charlesincharge was starred Charlesincharge was unstarred
    Image of Gundem Gundem
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    One of the better informative (read:non-news) entries on Giz.

    Good job Matt.
     Reply
    Gundem was starred Gundem was unstarred
    Image of Nerval77 Nerval77
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    Informative write up, but I have to say "go big or go home" is currently the most tired and lame phrase in the English lexicon.

    Here's a tip: if hosts on CMT are using it, it should have been shelved Looooong ago.
     Reply
    matt buchanan promoted this comment Nerval77 was starred Nerval77 was unstarred
    Image of matt buchanan matt buchanan
    11/19/09

    @Nerval77: go big or go to hell.
     Reply
    matt buchanan was starred matt buchanan was unstarred
    Image of John Mahoney John Mahoney
    11/19/09

    @matt buchanan: That's the spirit
     Reply
    John Mahoney was starred John Mahoney was unstarred
    Image of Nerval77 Nerval77
    11/19/09

    @matt buchanan: Yeah, there ya go! That's a usage we can even appreciate! By turning into a pun you can co-opt while still acknowledging how trite it is.
     Reply
    Nerval77 was starred Nerval77 was unstarred
    Image of dragon:ONE dragon:ONE
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    And now, stupid question: How reliable and decent is a Vizio TV? Every time I hear Vizio, thoughts of Walmart and poor quality pop into my head.
     Reply
    dragon:ONE was starred dragon:ONE was unstarred
    Image of chauncy that billups chauncy that billups
    11/19/09

    @dragon:ONE: I've had one for about 4 years. I've since upgraded, but it's been great. the XVT series is probably pretty good.
     Reply
    chauncy that billups was starred chauncy that billups was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    11/19/09

    @dragon:ONE: I think Vizio is a bit like sharp. They give you a lot for the money, but that lot does not include reliability or affordable repairs.

    If you want a throw-away tv. It's fine. I used to say the same thing about Samsung years ago, and Samsung has hugely improved upon their quality levels over the years.

    At least Vizio is an actual brand, instead of some cheap manufacturer making tvs under a licensed name like Westinghouse or RCA.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of dragon:ONE dragon:ONE
    11/19/09

    @Lite: hates Illinois Nazis: I'd rely on Samsung, actually, for a TV. I've seen their products and they seem to be reliable and live up to the tasks.

    And I'd personally go for a Sammy over one a Viz any day.
     Reply
    dragon:ONE was starred dragon:ONE was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    11/19/09

    @dragon:ONE: Right. Notice I said years ago. Back in the mid 90's they were shit for reliability. Great picture, but the damn things broke easily.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of jimothy jimothy
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    It's a shame DLP is basically kaputt. I bought a 61" Samsung DLP with LED light engine for around $1,500 a year ago. Nothing in LCD or plasma competes at that price and size. Sure, they aren't as sexy-thin and their black levels and viewing angles could be better, but they give an outstanding picture, suck very little power, and made going big affordable.

    Samsung doesn't sell any DLP TVs, and Mitsubishi only sells traditional, bulb lit and color wheel sets, and the outrageously expensive LaserVue.
     Reply
    yantelope promoted this comment jimothy was starred jimothy was unstarred
    Image of yantelope yantelope
    11/19/09

    @jimothy: I'm rockin a 52" Mitsubishi DLP. The picutre quality is so good on the DLP it's a shame they died. I still don't understand the obsession with thinness because very few people actually mount their TVs on the wall and even then you still have to have a place for your speakers, receiver, xbox, and everything else so what's the point?
     Reply
    yantelope was starred yantelope was unstarred
    Image of ninjamurf ninjamurf
    11/19/09

    @yantelope: Ding ding ding, we have a winner! I don't NEED a TV that is only an inch thick and I definitely won't pay extra for it. What about a review for the "rest of us"? You know, the people that can actually afford to give up a whopping 12" of space on one wall for a TV if not more? The people that DON'T have space issues and don't mind getting a "fatter" set if it brings the price down? I have a beautiful 57" JVC D-ILA that I picked up for $1800 2+ years ago. Oh, and that included the stand, which I need to hold all my home theater equipment, xbox, center speaker, etc. anyway.

    Oh, and I understand that it's becoming the "standard" but I couldn't care less about 1080p as I don't have a BluRay player, which is the only way to really get 1080p content onto that TV. Nobody broadcasts in 1080p and no broadcaster even has it on their radar to broadcast in 1080p. 720p/1080i is just fine for me even if those sets won't exist in a couple more years. Same with the whole 240Hz/120Hz crap.

    So, I won't pay extra for...
    thin TV's
    1080p
    240Hz/120Hz

    Hmm, apparently this article didn't offer me anything now that look at it?
     Reply
    LVP promoted this comment ninjamurf was starred ninjamurf was unstarred
    Image of torgreed torgreed
    11/20/09

    @yantelope: Most people I know actually don't need space for their speakers, receiver, turntable, PS3, Wii, LaserDisc player, Popcorn Hour, and so on. They need a place for the TV. MAYBE the decoder box for Satellite or Cable, but those are pretty compact today: they're not a standard 17" rack width, and definitely not as deep as a PS3 or Xbox, let alone a good AV receiver. Even DVD players are pretty shallow, even when still 17" wide.

    I hear there's a class of people called "married", and one of the symptoms of that condition is that hi-fi gear must be hidden in cabinetry. That leaves just the TV for wall-mounting.

    Me, I've got all that crap and more, and so I care most about "can I pick the TV up and move it myself".
     Reply
    yantelope promoted this comment torgreed was starred torgreed was unstarred
    Image of yantelope yantelope
    11/20/09

    @torgreed: hahaha! I'm married and I had cat 5 cables stuck to the ceiling with staples! Alas you are right, women for some reason irrationally insist on things looking "pretty" but I still think if you're going to put your TV on a cabinet a slim DLP will fit there just as well as an LCD.

    #tips
     Reply
    yantelope was starred yantelope was unstarred
    Image of LVP LVP
    11/20/09

    @ninjamurf: So you don't play video games?
     Reply
    LVP was starred LVP was unstarred
    Image of ninjamurf ninjamurf
    11/21/09

    @LVP: I play lots of video games? Whats your point? That I need a 1" thick, 1080p, 240HZ HDTV to do it on? You have been misled if that's the case. Oh, and btw, I do MOST of my gaming on my computer anyway?
     Reply
    ninjamurf was starred ninjamurf was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    11/19/09

    In reply to Giz Explains: The Difference Between a $600 TV and a $6000 TV
    The other thing not mentioned here. Most LCD sets cannot refresh 1080 lines per frame in 120 and 240 hz modes. It tends to be around 900 lines instead.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

Login

Enter your username and password.

Please enter a username.
Please enter your password.
logging in
Login via Facebook | Sign Up | Forgot Password?

Reset Password

Please enter your email address to have your password reset.

Please enter your email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
requesting password reset

Register

Registering will give you a user profile and the ability to add other users as friends. To become a commenter, however, you need to audition.

Want to know more? Consult the Comment FAQ and legal terms.

Please enter a username.
Please enter a password.
Please confirm your password.
Passwords are not identical.
Please enter a valid email address.
registration sent, waiting for reply

Submit Your Comment

You don't need to login to comment. Just enter your email address below.

See how your address will be displayed in the Comment FAQ.

Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
logging in

Login with your Facebook or Gizmodo account.

Sign up here.



  • Archives
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Legal
  • Help
  • Report a Bug
  • FAQ
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.