Who thought buying an HDTV would be so hard?

[Steve]

The Media Center PC has been converted from Windows to Linux and now things run a little smoother, save a few currently missing features (they'll come with time, though).

So, time to get rid of the 32" CRT Widescreen that's got some serious issues. To be fair it was free, so one can't complain.

Anyhoo, as a News Editor, it's essentially my duty to keep up with the latest technologies... know the industry inside-out. Now if only I was a HEXUS.lifestyle editor, maybe I'd have an easier time working out which telly to buy.

I'm a cheapskate, so low prices are goooood. All I really want is a 27" - 32" LCD, sub £500, with HDMI and a decent enough panel. I couldn't care less what it's spec sheet says, if it looks OK, I'll buy it.

So off to Cribbs Causeway I pop. I look around Currys.digital, John Lewis, PC World, Comet and Currys.

John Lewis is expensive, but one can always hope that they don't realise how much they should charge for something and get it a bit wrong. But no luck there.

The real pain was when I went into Dixons Stores Group stores. It seems that the majority of their wonderful HDTVs, certainly all of the models I had even the slightest interest in, get the worst video source connections possible.

Two of the stores seemed to have simply coaxial aerial connections into the televisions. I think the another store may have used composite!

I asked a store assistant if I could see some HD content on a few of the televisions. Unfortunately, only the hulking massive 50"+ tellys were near any component/hdmi video links. Go figure.

I'd seen a few reasonably looking HDTVs, but had no idea how good their panels were, thanks to the horrific standard definition being displayed through them. Seriously, I could hand draw at better quality at 25fps.

Anyway, I finally ended up in Currys, a little disappointed by my venture. After a good look around, once again it was all coaxial crap. However, a store assistant was willing to follow me around with a Samsung HD PVR box of some sort, hooking it up to HDMI interfaces as we went along. I asked him if it was a pain in the arse having to this, and he seemed to agree. I suggested they sort it out, but he said most people want to see what normal TV looks like...

... normal TV? Normal TV looks like... crappy normal TV, unless the upscaling is really bad, in which case it'll look like even crappier normal TV.

At least I now have a rough idea of what I want, but DSG, will you please get HD sources and component repeaters for all your HDTV displays? Leave the coax stuff in there too... just in case people want to see what 'normal TV' looks like.

K? Thx.

[dangel]

I suggested they sort it out, but he said most people want to see what normal TV looks like...

... normal TV? Normal TV looks like... crappy normal TV, unless the upscaling is really bad, in which case it'll look like even crappier normal TV.

Ah but you see I would agree with him - i'd be interested to see how 'normal' sky looked just to see how the thing i'll be seeing most (non hd sourced stuff) looks. Most people buying a new TV have _no idea_ about HD (aside from it's a good thing to have) and won't plug in a Sky HD box or a blu-ray/HDDVD player for some time as all HD sources are seriously overpriced or lack any sort of range of content right now. The unwashed masses want 'big telly' is all

[Steve]

I've written a complaint to them. I said that while the 'normal TV' point was valid, they still really need HD sources readily available, or else they may as well still sell SDTVs to me.

[directhex]

... normal TV? Normal TV looks like... crappy normal TV, unless the upscaling is really bad, in which case it'll look like even crappier normal TV.

good times

in my brief tenure at pc world, we were banned from using 3dmark to show off the LCD section - we were forced to run an 800x600 full-screen movie on an old p2-400 box they provided

[ikonia]

I would have loved to see you work at pc world.

[luap.h]

I know exactly what you mean, I went to our local Currys in Northern Ireland, and it was exactly the same. A load of HDTV's connected up to aerials that weren't even tuned in right!! Only the LG stand and the Philips Ambilights had HDTV content.

I hate the DSG group stores, they're always a mess and there are never any prices on the shelves

[fat jez]

Steve,

Take a look at Richersounds (www.richersounds.co.uk). They have 26" LG sets at £399.99. 1 HDMI, 1 VGA, 2 SCART, Component, S-Video, etc. Picture quality looks pretty good from what I could tell from the naff signal in Comet at Cribbs. Plus Richer should have some in stock today or tomorrow at their Whiteladies Rd store.

Just don't even think about buying the one that has my name reserved against it!

Cheers,
Stephen

[Steve]

My name is Steve, so is yours... I'm in ur Richer Sounds, stealin ur telly.

[Funkstar]

Well whichever one of you Steves gets to Richersounds first and buys the TV, can you let me know if it is any good?

It certailnaly sounds like a decent set for the money.

[fat jez]

My name is Steve, so is yours... I'm in ur Richer Sounds, stealin ur telly.

Oi! Get your thieving hands off!

I haven't had a call from them, so I don't know if they have had any delivered. Comet were expecting some in, but they were a lot more expensive (£499.99, although you get 14 days to find them cheaper and they will refund the difference, providing the goods are in stock locally).

Cheers,
Stephen

[Tom Scott]

Steve, if you're looking for a "budget" LCD, try the Hyundai imagequest A321.

194 page thread on avforums about it: http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339023

I've had mine for about 4 months now, HD looks absolutely superb on it (whether via DSub or componant, not use the HDMI yet), the scaler for SD pictures is very nice as well.

Its got 2 Componant in, 1 HDMI, D-Sub, Coax, 2 Scart (1 full - 1 half), very good contrast ratio and a brilliant 8ms response time!


£514 inc at scan! http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=417322

[fat jez]

Richer Sounds in Bristol have 1 LG RZ26LC2R available that is currently unreserved, if anybody is interested

Cheers,
Stephen

[Steve]

Nah. I'm going back to Cribbs tomorrow looking for a ~£500 32" LCD.

I'll get something, and the pleasure of harassing the sales assistants will make it worthwhile.

[fat jez]

Nah. I'm going back to Cribbs tomorrow looking for a ~£500 32" LCD.

I'll get something, and the pleasure of harassing the sales assistants will make it worthwhile.

You'll be lucky! I went all round Cribbs and that was what a 26" will cost you.

Cheers,
Stephen

[Steve]

Nah, I snooped a few potential purchases. It wasn't the prices or models that I had issue with, rather the quality of the displays.

[fat jez]

Nah, I snooped a few potential purchases. It wasn't the prices or models that I had issue with, rather the quality of the displays.

Any suggestions? I couldn't find anything bigger than 26" for £500. John Lewis were absurdly expensive for some quite small screens.

Mind you, the LG I am getting is for a bedroom, so I don't need anything bigger.

Cheers,
Stephen