So I know this isn't PC Hardware but close.

**judedeath** · 07-20-13, 07:38 PM

So I'm looking at getting a tv soon but have no idea what I'm supposed to be looking for, I want to keep it at a max of 32 inches and not much more than a couple hundred, what should I be looking for/what would you recommend?

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**Guyver** · 07-20-13, 11:29 PM

For that budget, you'd probably have to go 720p.

I bought this in 2009 I think...and I love it..and it's an IPS panel:
Amazon.com: Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-L32X1 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV: Electronics

**enf** · 07-21-13, 12:36 AM

Hey its the PC Hardware AND Technology forum, so youre in the right place.

Ive had a 32" Westinghouse LCD for 7 years now and its still going strong. I have two friends that also have 32" Westinghouse LCDs (different years, younger than mine) and they are still working very well. Small sample size but all pretty good no-frill TVs for a strict budget.

I would spend a little more and get at least 1080i. You can see a pretty good difference between 720 and 1080. Now the difference between 60hz and 120hz is negligible only because the smoothness of 120hz almost looks fake (like a soap opera), so its something to get used to, but if you just get 60hz you'll be just fine.

If you get a popular brand name, youre probably talking more than just a couple hundred. Westinghouse will limit the bells and whistles that most of these brand names upsell on their TVs. The only problem with my TV is that it only has one HDMI input so I have to switch the cable between the cable box and Blu-Ray player, but this came out 7-8 years ago when HDMI was a little more new. Im sure the newer models have a few more HDMI ports.

**Guyver** · 07-21-13, 12:58 AM

I forgot to add that my TV will do 1080i, but I have it set to 720p....and, if you do research, you'll see that 720p looks/is much better than 1080i

**judedeath** · 07-21-13, 01:05 AM

So I looked quickly and it seems the big two(Future Shop and Best Buy) don't carry Westinghouse TVs. I'm still looking around and found one at a different place which was a 22" for 150$ which seems good, they had a 32" but it's 720p.

Do you have suggestions for what I should be looking for? I have no ideas what I'm looking for, never been TV shopping before, my current TV is a Toshiba that's older than me, so pretty much anything will look better.

Is there a thing I can read about the difference between Plasma/LCD/LED/all of this?

Reading all of this is just wow, no I don't need facebook/wifi on my tv it's a tv, I have a computer/phone for that, all I need is to be able to plug in something and watch/play it.

EDIT: According to my Blu-Ray Player it's currently displaying in 480i

**Viktor_Olin** · 07-21-13, 10:34 AM

Jude, there are loads of online guides that will give you the info you're after. Here are a couple that might help:

HDTV buying guide: How to select the right set | TechHive

TV buying guide - CNET Reviews

I agree with the second article that bigger is better. Unless you'll be sitting as close to the TV as you would to a computer monitor, I'd advise getting larger than a 22 inch.

**SuperBadAce** · 07-21-13, 12:35 PM

I personally feel for the smaller screens a 720p is all you need. No reason to pay the extra money for 1080p. I own (2) 36" Samsung's and both are 720p. Picture quality is good.

Go to the stores and look at the picture qualities of different brands and sizes. Ask the sales person questions and make a decision from that.

**AetheLove** · 07-21-13, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by judedeath

So I looked quickly and it seems the big two(Future Shop and Best Buy) don't carry Westinghouse TVs. I'm still looking around and found one at a different place which was a 22" for 150$ which seems good, they had a 32" but it's 720p.

Do you have suggestions for what I should be looking for? I have no ideas what I'm looking for, never been TV shopping before, my current TV is a Toshiba that's older than me, so pretty much anything will look better.

Is there a thing I can read about the difference between Plasma/LCD/LED/all of this?

Last I checked, Westinghouse is just a name that someone slaps on whichever line of product they currently need to sell in an area that thinks the name "Westinghouse" still means something. As a name, it is now strictly part of the Brand Management world. So it's certainly possible that there are good TVs out there that also have that name on them, but I wouldn't rely on it generally.

At your budget, Plasma isn't an option. I don't even know if they make plasma that small.

Agree w/ SuperBadAce - at 32", for TV, 720p will probably be fine. If you sit very close, or regularly have a very high-quality source, then 1080p might make sense.

If you want to sit close and play HD games, then you should be looking at computer monitors (1920 x 1080) which also have inputs for your audio/video sources.

I've found this site:

The Wirecutter

... to be a useful place for a quick-look at what's decent, and how much it generally goes for. See this:

The Best Small TV | The Wirecutter

I'm sure there are better TVs, and you can probably find better prices, but if you don't want to haunt internet forums waiting to pounce then that's a reasonable way to get started. I've bought stuff they recommend. I have disagreed with them too. Check their recommendation against other sources.

Cheers,

AetheLove

**Guyver** · 07-21-13, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by judedeath

EDIT: According to my Blu-Ray Player it's currently displaying in 480i

That's just because of your current TV. When you get a TV capable of displaying progressive, it will be 480p and higher.

Right now, I use the Hopper (Dish) which is set at 720p, and a DVD player which is 480p.

**Rumble** · 07-21-13, 06:59 PM

You can get a got 1080p 32" led LCD tv for around $200 if you keep your eye on sales. Walmart had a Vizio recently for $229. So just watch slickdeals.net and amazon.

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