Buying a new TV - does anyone still buy tube TVs?

[Pyrex]

They'll change to digital. HDTV is digital, but digital isn't necessarily HDTV.

True, but given that networks are currently broadcasting SD-Analog and HD-Digital*, when the deadline hits the most likely scenario is that they simply shut off the SD-Analog broadcast and continue broadcasting the HD-Digital signal as their sole signal; there's no good reason for them to eat the extra cost of also broadcasting an SD-Digital signal when every TV on the market (and all the upcoming tuner boxes) either display HD natively or will downconvert the HD signal to SD when it needs to be fed to a SD box.

*I suppose it's possible that someone is broadcasting SD-Digital OTA, but if they are I haven't heard of it. Also true that some of the programs being broadcast on OTA HD stations are SD shows upconverted and pillarboxed into HD, but that's neither here nor there.

 

[Ranger REG]

The TV that my parents have in their living room needs to be replaced because the picture is going bad. It's a big old Zenith console TV with a 27'' screen that they've had for at least 10 years or so.

But they're not really avid TV watchers in the first place, so they don't want to purchase a huge and costly new HD TV. My mom will watch soaps, news, and a few prime-time dramas, and my dad will watch football games in the fall, along with the occasional DVD flick. They're a retired couple and definitely not cutting-edge videophiles, so they're only looking to invest around $400.00 max for a new set. But it seems as if a good 32'' (or larger) HD TV simply can't be found for that price. So they're thinking of buying a 32'' standard definition tube TV, like this Sharp 32'' standard definition TV.

I know that signals will be going digital in February of 2009, and I know that HD TVs seem to be everywhere, with the old tube TVs on their way out. But there just doesn't seem to be many options if you're not willing to spend alot more than $400.00. It's rather frustrating for the casual shopper/viewer, like my parents.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good TV, at least 32'' in size, but in a fairly low price range? And does anyone know if the Sharp TV I linked to above is a decent buy for their needs?

First off, determine if your parents' home can catch any digital broadcasting signal in their area. That would involve doing research in the internet (see Antennaweb.org) or simply calling the nearest local TV stations and inquire.

Go down to the store and have the clerks let you see a functioning demo model so you can view what the picture would look like. Rarely do they use antenna (most TV stores would use cable/digital to show customers the best result) but ask them if they have one hooked up to an outside antenna. Go in there with the mindset of your parents (think like them) and see if they can operate the TV including programming the channels in case they got power outage and the power came back on.

 

[Redrobes]

My TV blew up recently and I was loathed to pony up a fat wedge to get a new and latest TV because I don't watch all that much any more.

I have a few large and old monitors lying around and you can certainly get them for a song if you want a tube type. I happened to have this large widescreen Sun workstation monitor that I got free because nobody wants to burn the space for it but its a doozy and very high res - higher than 1080i.

I got one of these :-

Gadmei TV-5821E XGA/VGA LCD TV BOX

from Amazon (UK) and it was pretty cheap and its a great little box. It has PAL and NTSC and goes up to 1400x900 or something like that but I run it at 1280x1024.

It takes an analog aerial signal in and scans through a wide band to lock down all the channels. It also has a composite video + stereo in for a DVB type tuner or a satellite box. No scart input tho.

It has saved the day and I have great / large TV with remote, super sharp image, adjustable RGB and all the degauss and everything that you get with a monitor and if this monitor blows up then I can get another for next to nothing. There are loads of office scrappers taking these things to landfill and replacing them with LCD.

Its great - as long as you like your TV in beige !

Theres a video of it on YouTube - its not my video I should add...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjuIYqYUQk0

Edit -- Just reading the post above - this thing stores everything when powered off. I switch the whole mains off when not in use.

 

[Ranger REG]

Never heard of a Gadmei brand.