Help me find a new HD CRT TV

Rafster · 01-20-2007, 08:34 PM

I have this TV in my room...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1130981881933

I bought the thing on Black Friday, for $269... Brand new

I'm sick and tired of it, because when I turn it on... it takes like 30 seconds on a "POST" type screen that says Insignia... By the time I turn the TV on, the show that I want to watch is basically over.

I want to get a new one, but can't find anything that works for me...

Can someone help me find a HD CRT with at least 720P, 1080i preferable TV?

It has to be less than 26.5" wide (TOTAL WIDTH) cuz I'm getting a new desk. It would also be nice if I could use the thing as a monitor... So, if it has DVI even better...

I've been looking at LCDs but they're not bright enough for what I want. My room gets VERY sunny!

I only need 3 things. Cable Input, DVI/VGA, Component/HDMI (For my Wii).

The cheaper the better. I would not be too upset about it being used...

Please let me know if you guys find anything..

As always, of course, I'll keep looking too, but many eyes are better than 2...

Rafster

GizmoQ · 01-20-2007, 11:23 PM

I just went through two month of exactly what you're talking about starting. Bought my 23" LCD TV 2 weeks ago. (1080i, 3000:1 Contrast, 1280x720 15 pin D-sub VGA, Inputs: HDMI, PC, Ant, 2 Component, 2 AV, SVideo, Speakers below screen) Was looking for the same requirements you mention, except I have a Roll Top computer desk and can't physically get anything bigger than a 24" in it. Also most of what I found with DVI had the speakers flanking the screen vice me wanting underside speakers. I finally gave in to a deal I couldn't refuse and bought a Samsung LN-S2338W for $220.

Most others meeting your specs are going for ~450-800. Let me check my notes and see which models were best contenders...

Philips Magnavox 26MF231D 26" - has HD tuner built-in
Toshiba 26HL66 26" - has HD tuner built-in
JVC LT-26X575 - has PIP
Samsung 26" - same as mine just bigger

Good luck

Rafster · 01-20-2007, 11:46 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GizmoQ

I just went through two month of exactly what you're talking about starting. Bought my 23" LCD TV 2 weeks ago. (1080i, 3000:1 Contrast, 1280x720 15 pin D-sub VGA, Inputs: HDMI, PC, Ant, 2 Component, 2 AV, SVideo, Speakers below screen) Was looking for the same requirements you mention, except I have a Roll Top computer desk and can't physically get anything bigger than a 24" in it. Also most of what I found with DVI had the speakers flanking the screen vice me wanting underside speakers. I finally gave in to a deal I couldn't refuse and bought a Samsung LN-S2338W for $220.

Most others meeting your specs are going for ~450-800. Let me check my notes and see which models were best contenders...

Philips Magnavox 26MF231D 26" - has HD tuner built-in
Toshiba 26HL66 26" - has HD tuner built-in
JVC LT-26X575 - has PIP
Samsung 26" - same as mine just bigger

Good luck

COOL!! Where did you find your current monitor for $220?

All I see is like $500+

Also, does it take a long time for it to start up? And when you turn it off, does it flash anything on the screen, or does it just turn off?

Rafster

GizmoQ · 01-21-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rafster

COOL!! Where did you find your current monitor for $220?

All I see is like $500+

Also, does it take a long time for it to start up? And when you turn it off, does it flash anything on the screen, or does it just turn off?

Rafster

Samsung has like 4 or 5 models in the 23" size, I got mine used off eBay (it still had the plastic protective layer on the frame). Again it was a fluke, has a bad spot, but I talked to Samsung repair center and they're sending me a UPS shipping label to fix it under warranty.

Most if not all large LCDs take a moment to initialize, mine takes 5 seconds before a picture appears on the screen when its already plugged in. (it takes almost 30 seconds when first plugged in - I thought it was broke

)

I don't get anything on the screen when I power off, but if I listen carefully I can hear it plays something akin to the windows startup/shutdown tones from my LCD upon startup and shutdown. Let me try it again now. Press power button on remote, screen immediately goes black (backlight still on), 2 seconds hear short shutdown tune, at 4 seconds TV powers down (backlight off). Press power button again, 3 seconds later, I hear the faint startup sound effect, 2 seconds later backlight and screen come alive.

As a side note, I am also in the market for a 32-40" LCD for my family room and realized that size does come with DVI PC input as well as built-in dual tuners (NTSC & ATSC/QAM) for PIP/POP/PSP which fill all my requirements. Except thats way too big for my desk.

And we thought the LCD manufacturers didn't listen to just the carPC hobbyists or the Tablet PC users, hell they don't listen to anybody! All small LCDs (under 30") should have DVI input, all tablets should have a transreflective option, and every automotive LCD should be standard with transreflective by now. What the hell are these companies smokin!
[Rant mode off]

For now I need to find an external HD tuner with HDMI so I can get OTA HD on this Samsung - can't wait. Do you have any recommendations for which ones are better than others?

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