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I just bought an HDTV

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sid1089
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I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:22 am

Hey guys.

I was looking for a fairly large (around 40 inches) HDTV for some time now. My dad was bent on getting this 32 inch(a bit smaller than what I wanted) Sony:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10101456&catid=23521&logon=&langid=EN

It is 720p and 32 inch but Sony for around $720 including taxes.

BUT, I saw this other 40 incher just beside it. It looked pretty good, but none of the TVs was hooked up to HD sources. This one was 1080p, 40 inches but the brand was "insignia". The salesman told me that it was Bestbuy's brand and that the panel inside was actually a Samsung panel. Can that really happen? or is the salesman just BSing me?

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0770HDS0010097827&catid=23524&logon=&langid=EN

1080p 40 inch but Insignia for around 1000$ including taxes.

I bought the insignia one. But now I am having second thoughts on my decision. I can still return it. Should I consider the specs or should I just blindly put my faith on the brand name, Sony?

EDIT: grammar
Last edited by sid1089 on Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Usacomp2k3
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:25 am

Let your eyes be the judge.
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sid1089
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:33 am

Usacomp2k3 wrote:
Let your eyes be the judge.


The eyes are definitely the best judge. But unfortunately, my eyes aren't that great. Besides, the store didn't have any of TVs hooked up to HD sources.
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Usacomp2k3
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:38 am

sid1089 wrote:
Usacomp2k3 wrote:
Let your eyes be the judge.

The eyes are definitely the best judge. But unfortunately, my eyes aren't that great. Besides, the store didn't have any of TVs hooked up to HD sources.

I take it you haven't opened it yet?

We got a couple of 42" Insignia TV's at work a while ago. They were 1080p, and probably very similar to the one you have. I brought in my xbox with the hd-dvd drive, and movies look great at full 1080p. The screen was pretty good, blacks were decently low, and unless you watch all your TV in an unlit room, perfectly acceptable. I'd have taken that TV in a heartbeat.
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JdL
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:39 am

If you want a technical analysis, I would say that the specs alone look excellent. Not having seen the TV myself I can't say whether they translate into good picture, but if you factor in the 32" 720p vs 40" 1080p, I have to say that the 40" wins hands-down.

Good choice!
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sid1089
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:37 pm

All right guys. Thanks.

I just hooked up the TV to the laptop. Playing some WMVHD samples on it. It does look pretty awesome.

I just had another question. How can I hook it up to my media center in the other room? Do I have to get a media center extender or can I just manage with really long component cables?
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Flying Fox
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:09 pm

sid1089 wrote:
I just hooked up the TV to the laptop. Playing some WMVHD samples on it. It does look pretty awesome.
Test with some black scenes from some dark movies. If you are used to watching movies with lights off then try that too. See if you can tolerate the blacks.

sid1089 wrote:
I just had another question. How can I hook it up to my media center in the other room? Do I have to get a media center extender or can I just manage with really long component cables?

What kind of "media centre"? A PC? If you have like an XBox360 then you can do the media centre extender thing. Not too sure without more information.

I would have suggested you to look at this, but if you are ok with this set you can stay with it. The price was decent.
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sid1089
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:41 pm

Flying Fox wrote:
sid1089 wrote:
I just had another question. How can I hook it up to my media center in the other room? Do I have to get a media center extender or can I just manage with really long component cables?

What kind of "media centre"? A PC? If you have like an XBox360 then you can do the media centre extender thing. Not too sure without more information.


I have a Media center PC with Vista media center.


Flying Fox wrote:
I would have suggested you to look at this, but if you are ok with this set you can stay with it. The price was decent.


My original budget was around $750. I already overshot it by $250. That 47 incher comes to around $1300 with taxes and shipping. :o
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JdL
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:30 pm

sid1089 wrote:
I have a Media center PC with Vista media center.


You're going to NEED to get a DVI-to-HDMI cable. Can be bought for $10-$30 from NewEgg.com. Component cables will not have anywhere close to the same quality as HDMI. Any reason for not moving the TV near the Media Center?
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sid1089
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:59 pm

Okay. I got myself a DVI-HDMI adapter. Now I need to hunt for some inexpensive cables.

Thanks a lot for all your help, guys.
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Usacomp2k3
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:22 pm

monoprice is your friend.
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titan
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:55 pm

sid1089 wrote:
Okay. I got myself a DVI-HDMI adapter. Now I need to hunt for some inexpensive cables.

Thanks a lot for all your help, guys.

Usacomp2k3 wrote:
monoprice is your friend.

Yup.
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Nitrodist
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Re: I just bought an HDTV

Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:58 am

titan wrote:
sid1089 wrote:
Okay. I got myself a DVI-HDMI adapter. Now I need to hunt for some inexpensive cables.

Thanks a lot for all your help, guys.

Usacomp2k3 wrote:
monoprice is your friend.

Yup.



Have you guys seen shipping to Canada? I ordered 5 100ft Cat-6 cables shipped to Manitoba... 7-14 business days. Shipping was $55. Cost of the actual cables was like $40.
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