Be Excellent To Each Other

So we still roll a sdtv and the GF wants to buy a HDTV. But which? I'm guessing a Sony Bravia as my parents one is nice from the little I've seen. That sensible?

It needs to 40" have a collection of hdmi and scart ports and do 1080p. Anything else? I'm worried about input lag when gaming, anything to look out for for that or is that all sorted now?

I'm thinking to get it from amazon or richer sounds unless people have views on that.

Thanks for the help.

My Samsung's have a "gaming mode" that turns off the image processing and therefore reducing the lag. All panels have lag to a lesser or greater extent.

Ooh samsungs look cheaper and nice. And a gaming mode seems something I would like. Was thinking something like this. http://www.richersounds.com/product/lcd-tv/sony/bravia-kdl40ex503/sony-kdl40ex503

Don't want to ignite a debate but if you're looking 40" up and spending a decent wedge I'd go down the plasma route.

This has a decent summary of the pros/cons of each.

Although burn in problems associated with computers/consoles has been much reduced, I don't think it has been totally eliminated. This would be an important consideration for people who want to do heavy gaming on such a panel. They do look nicer though but I've saw too many fried plasmas in my old job (although this was 6 years ago).

I bought a 32" LG LCD a couple of years ago and have been so pleased with it I bought a 26" for the bedroom and a 50" plasma for the living room since then.

Obviously there are better TVs out there, but for value for money I personally don't think they can be beaten.

Samsung all the way.

I've done a fair bit of gaming on panasonic plasmas and they've all been totally OK*. The biggest problem with image retention was if we watched a lot of tele in 4:3 with bars down the side (like, for hours), and then went to a full-widescreen picture - the edges were clearly a bit funky for a while.

It went away after 20-ish mins viewing, or turning the screen off for a bit.

*It was free, and a replacement would've been free too, so I had no need to worry about burn in or anything. I wouldn't say I abused it, but I didn't give a crap about 'running in' or any of that over toss, and gamed for as long as I wanted. Nor did I freak out about the on-screen logos on cable TV.

Worst Xmas Carol ever.

Most truthful, though.

We got a 37" LG three years ago and I've been really happy with it. At the time I signed up for a months free trial with Which? and the best were Panasonic or Sony with LG being the next best and the price being much more sensible.
In June I got a new 32" for the bedroom and it is a Samsung. I don't know if it is because it is three years newer or because it is a Samsung but the picture appears to be slightly sharper than my LG. Jen's parents have a Samsung in their house and I always think the picture is slightly better there as well.
So I think I'd recommend a Samsung, the styling is pretty nice as well. Might be worth checking out the likes of Comet and Currys and seeing what deal they have. Often you'll get a stand/bluray player/surround sound as part of a deal. Get a price from your preferred retailer then check it at other places. Doesn't do any harm!

Do they do them down to 19/21 inches yet and reasonably cheap? I can't seem to click with xbox on a big telly.

My old Panasonic had image retention from Viva Pinata but the new one has had no retention at all no matter what I've played. It certainly doesn't seem to be an issue at all now.

You do pay more for a Panasonic but you get some bloody good telly for your money.

I've got a Samsung plasma and when I got it I deliberately set the brightness and contrast too high as apparently after a few weeks they would reduce.

No such luck. It still burns your eyeballs out nearly two years later. That reminds me I really must sort that out. On a TV show where you look out the window of a house it just looks like pure white.

The only downside to my TV is that it's only 720p with upscaling. Mind you at £450 two years ago I can't really complain and we don't use HD any way.

Samsung is best. They heavily invested in screen R&D and put themselves ahead of the competition about 5 years ago. I read somewhere that Sony use some screens made by Samsung, or using Samsung patented technology, in some of their TVs or something.

I've been happy with our Samsung. So much so that it's getting replaced with another and this one moved into the other room. I'd arrived at this one:

http://www.froogle.richersounds.com/pro ... s-le40c580

Does anyone know of any good reason not to get it (like here's another one that's just as good but cheaper)? The Built-in Freeview HD is part of the attraction with this one.

There is an official Samsung 22" of Champions:

http://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/download/file.php?id=3573

Namely the Syncmaster P2270HD or variants. Mine if pluged into a Xbox, a PC, Amiga, Megadrive, Dreamcast, Atari 7800 and loads and loads of machines.

You will need a switched SCART splitter mind as it only has one SCART input. It's full 1080p and is great for gaming.

Ummm... Just turn down the brightness and contrast. Am I missing something?

That's not the problem any more, it's all the LEDs he's stuck on it.

Id go with a Panasonic or a Sony regardless of technology

Must say Im happy with my Panasonic plasma.
Get 5 years warranty regardless and you are laughing.

Had an LG that was nothing but bother, but likely it was just that particular model.
other people have no issues with LG. Put me off the brand for life, tho.

Me being lazy

I have a Samsung, and it's glorious.

You want to put at least 1/3rd of your budget into the cabling, or there's just no point.

Right, need to start checking samsungs then, as they seem the winning brand with Beex. No one have a sony one?



I've heard a lot of good from monster cables. Especially the super-oxidised-ultra-gold-plates that impede all the impedance preventing dis-harmonies in my ones and zeros.

Yup, 46" Bravia. I sold it last month for £320.

Some advert in the paper mentions VAT free Sonyieseys in John Lewis.

I have an ex-Mr Dave Samsung. There is something slightly weird about the backlight, but it's still working and otherwise awesome.

The Sony VAT thing is no matter where you buy 'em from iirc (although John Lewis have 5 year guarantee on all TVs sold there, which no where else has for free (that I am aware of)).

Also, Sony are giving you a free PS3 and 2 pairs of 3D glasses when you buy a 3DTV from a Sony Centre, although the cheapest is £1k iirc, and other places probably sell the same models for cheaper.

No, you deserve a treat after grafting away on your kitchen, hall stairs & landing and nursery.

Always buy your TV from John Lewis.

And get them to price match, obvs.

Yes. Apart from wen you buy them from DABS for £13 a month because you had no money upfront but needed one for your 360.

WORST INCENTIVE EVER.

Buy our TV and get a free limb amputation!

PS3 isn't that bad, there are some excellent games for it.

Although the pad might make you want to cut off your hand.

I've imagined you said that in the same voice my BBC owning mate used to say it in the 80's.

Glass houses FTFY!

Hah. That's meant to be a secret, you gobshite.

Anyway I fitted a new door handle on the porch door on Saturday. A mere six years after I removed the old one.

CONGRATS!

I may be wrong here, but with their free extended guarantee I didn't think they did price match, as there is no comparable deal.

Thanks, man

Congratulations!
Jesus, this place must be the most fertile geek breeding ground the world has ever seen.

I've seen the results of your hard labours on here, I don't think anyone would say you were lazy.

Obstinate and contrary on the other hand...

Oh fucksticks. I thought you'd mentioned and had yays on here already.

I could lecture you on how awesome the CPC was, but I'll let this do the talking:



Somehow I think the Acorn users would be struggling to put together a video of 10 awesome games, let alone 100.

Oh man, TEH COLOURZ! That video's just made me all nostalgic.

You said he was a CPC user in the first quote, hence the glass houses thing.

Do not let the mistake of letting logic get in the way of 8 bit rage.

Frightening, isn't it?

Congrats, Mark.

I'm still surprised someone let Zardoz sleep with them. Twice.

That practically makes me your Dad, son.

New telly got yesterday. Is most lovely, Freeview HD is pretty lush. I found it also has a network socket and all the media sharing stuff works a treat, plays MKVs and everything. Seems a very good buy for the money.