We're selling our 27 in WEGA to the in-laws (and not even ripping them off - damnit!), so it's time to upgrade. I'm not going to make the leap to HDTV or even HDTV ready at this point. "Just wouldn't be prudent at this juncture."
I'm looking for a sub-$900 dollar (preferably in the $500-$750 range) 36 incher that, put simply, doesn't suck. I'm not married to flatscreen either if it means I can get a bigger tube. My list of must-haves is short:
1. Component and S-Video inputs in addition to standard RCA inputs.
2. Quality of construction, good brand reputation. I want this sucker to last.
3. Ideally 36", but if I can get more of these features/better quality for the price range in a 32", I might go that way.
That's about it. After a while, I wasn't impressed with my low-end WEGA. The horizontal separation produced by the Trinitron kinda bugged me. The smoothness/softness (without sacrificing sharpness) of some of the non-flat screen monitors actually looks better to my eyes. (side note - I love Trinitrons for computer monitors, but at TV resolutions, they just don't like quite right to me.) Also, the WEGA took forever to warm up and produce an image when first turning it on. When viewing black images, often some faint blue diagnal lines could be seen as well. That ALWAYS bothered me. So I basically am ruling out another WEGA or any other flatscreen that has these issues.
I've got a little 19 in. Toshiba in the bedroom that's almost 15 years old and works like a charm. Are they still that good? I've read some favorable reviews, but I was wondering if anyone here can share their recent experiences with Toshiba or Panasonic? I know RCA is the kiss of death - has Zenith improved, or do they still vomit up Abe Vigoda?**
Any help or opinions will garner muchas gracias.
I just realized that many of the phrases in this post sound filthy when taken out of context. YES.
**"vomit up Abe Vigoda" is stolen from another chewer whose name I've forgotten. You deserve your props for that nugget, oh nameless one!
I'm looking for a sub-$900 dollar (preferably in the $500-$750 range) 36 incher that, put simply, doesn't suck. I'm not married to flatscreen either if it means I can get a bigger tube. My list of must-haves is short:
1. Component and S-Video inputs in addition to standard RCA inputs.
2. Quality of construction, good brand reputation. I want this sucker to last.
3. Ideally 36", but if I can get more of these features/better quality for the price range in a 32", I might go that way.
That's about it. After a while, I wasn't impressed with my low-end WEGA. The horizontal separation produced by the Trinitron kinda bugged me. The smoothness/softness (without sacrificing sharpness) of some of the non-flat screen monitors actually looks better to my eyes. (side note - I love Trinitrons for computer monitors, but at TV resolutions, they just don't like quite right to me.) Also, the WEGA took forever to warm up and produce an image when first turning it on. When viewing black images, often some faint blue diagnal lines could be seen as well. That ALWAYS bothered me. So I basically am ruling out another WEGA or any other flatscreen that has these issues.
I've got a little 19 in. Toshiba in the bedroom that's almost 15 years old and works like a charm. Are they still that good? I've read some favorable reviews, but I was wondering if anyone here can share their recent experiences with Toshiba or Panasonic? I know RCA is the kiss of death - has Zenith improved, or do they still vomit up Abe Vigoda?**
Any help or opinions will garner muchas gracias.
I just realized that many of the phrases in this post sound filthy when taken out of context. YES.
**"vomit up Abe Vigoda" is stolen from another chewer whose name I've forgotten. You deserve your props for that nugget, oh nameless one!
