Need buying advice for major tv purchase

[2A Batterie]

I'm trying to buy a new tv for my Dad and while I've researched online, I want to get input from tech-heads that I trust (the MR community). I'm looking for something that is around 42" and wall-mountable. I'm also looking into just purchasing a monitor, as oppossed to a tv set w/tuner and speakers, since my Dad has a comcast tuner and a seperate stereo receiver. He could also hook up his PB to the monitor. What are the pro's and con's for a tv vs. monitor? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what brand(s) to buy or stay away from? I've done some research into LCD vs plasma, but I'd also like to know of anyone's opinion. Thanks!

 

[h0e0h]

I'm trying to buy a new tv for my Dad and while I've researched online, I want to get input from tech-heads that I trust (the MR community). I'm looking for something that is around 42" and wall-mountable. I'm also looking into just purchasing a monitor, as oppossed to a tv set w/tuner and speakers, since my Dad has a comcast tuner and a seperate stereo receiver. He could also hook up his PB to the monitor. What are the pro's and con's for a tv vs. monitor? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what brand(s) to buy or stay away from? I've done some research into LCD vs plasma, but I'd also like to know of anyone's opinion. Thanks!

Samsung SPR4232 right around 2K. Has tuner, but still, you don't want to buy some off brand piece of junk. That plasma uses the new gas, so its rated to last 60000 hours (27 years at 6 hours a day). If you have any other questions check out the HDTV Thread here.

 

[itsbetteronamac]

I would choose a TV over a monitor. They tend to have a much nicer picture for watching TV, Videos, or anything with motion. I would make sure that it has DVI, COMPONENT, and 1080p. That way you know you are set for whatever future technologies come out. Also, at that size it is probably smarter to go with plasma; LCD is just way to expensive at that size. Like the other guy said, try and get one that's rev 2. or has "New Gas." To note plasmas suffer from burn in, but the "new gas" is supposed to help, and as long as you don't leave a company logo on all the time; you should be ok.

As from brands: Pioneer, Samsung, Panasonic, Dell. (I personally don't like sony plasmas.) *I do own a new sony TV though Oh! And in that order.

 

[h0e0h]

I would choose a TV over a monitor. They tend to have a much nicer picture for watching TV, Videos, or anything with motion. I would make sure that it has DVI, COMPONENT, and 1080p. That way you know you are set for whatever future technologies come out. Also, at that size it is probably smarter to go with plasma; LCD is just way to expensive at that size. Like the other guy said, try and get one that's rev 2. or has "New Gas." To note plasmas suffer from burn in, but the "new gas" is supposed to help, and as long as you don't leave a company logo on all the time; you should be ok.

As from brands: Pioneer, Samsung, Panasonic, Dell. (I personally don't like sony plasmas.) *I do own a new sony TV though Oh! And in that order.

Sony is no longer manufacturing the plasma tv, so now all the Plasmas with Sony's logo on them are contracted by another manufacturer. They do, though, include home theater systems... but no tuners intergrated.

BTW, plasmas with the new gas are on approximately the 5th revision.