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HDTV guru's needed....

http://www.rca.com/product/viewdetail/0%2C2588%2CPI700215%2C00.html?

I have the chance to get one for $850 new. Is there anything glaringly wrong with it? I'd really prefer a Samsung DLP, but for this price it seems like a hella better deal (last one, but it is brand new in the box).

I do intend to input my MSI Mega PC into it as an HTPC, and I assume this is a normal DVI input that will allow that and not some proprietary crap, right?

Share your thoughts before I buy please.

Thanks in advance for your time.
 
In order

1) It is RCA (I have had nothing but terrible luck with their TVs and I have had many)
2) It is not widescreen. This is a future investment, make it.
 
It doesn't have HDMI so you won't be able to input from the next generation of movie players (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray I think both will only use HDMI to prevent bootlegging (or make it a little more inconvieniant)).
 
Looks like a good price!

You would probably be happier if you paid a little more for the samsung though 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Isocene
Looks like a good price!

You would probably be happier if you paid a little more for the samsung though 🙂



The cheapest Samsung DLP I've seen is $1600'ish, have you seen something cheaper?




My main goal is to get this for my living room now, save for a nice Samsung and then move this RCA to my bedroom.
 
In the Consumer Reports magazine article I saw, RCA was ranked highest in number of repairs per set sold.
 
Originally posted by: Kremlar
It's an RCA, I wouldn't touch it.

wow are the new sets that bad? I have 4 RCAs in the house right now. All are 10 years or older, and they still work great.
 
Originally posted by: Quasmo
Does it do 1080P or just 1080i... it says progressive scan but that could be 720p and not 1080p

The cheapest 1080p TVs are $3800.

And as far as the RCA goes, I have only had small TVs and all have been very problematic. Never had an RCA over 25".
 
Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
It doesn't have HDMI so you won't be able to input from the next generation of movie players (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray I think both will only use HDMI to prevent bootlegging (or make it a little more inconvieniant)).

Couldn't you just get an HDMI to DVI cable?
 
Originally posted by: Staples
The cheapest 1080p TVs are $3800.

There are 2 or 3 1080P sets out right now with street prices under $1900. There should be many more by christmas.

As for the HDMI => DVI conversion it may or may not work.

Some sets have issues with HDCP when using an adapter.

The 37" Westinghouse 1080P set for example won't do HDCP using it's DVI ports with a HDMI adapter. Native HDCP DVI works fine.

If you want HDCP HDMI your best bet is to buy a set that has it.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: Staples
In order

1) It is RCA (I have had nothing but terrible luck with their TVs and I have had many)
2) It is not widescreen. This is a future investment, make it.

It's 16x9, which is widescreen. I have an RCA VCR (for 15 years), and it's been great. Don't know about their TV's. See if you can get feedback on the quality, search for reviews. If you can't find reviews, I'd pass on it. This is an important purchase. Don't get it unless you are pretty sure you will be happy with your purchase down the line. Myself, I have a front projector and I'm pleased with it. However, I don't turn it on more than once a day. I'm not that into TV. More often, I use it for DVD's, but I do watch HDTV with it occasionally. Most of the time when I watch TV it's just my 20" SD, because most broadcasts are just SD anyway.

1080p?? Are there any broadcasts in 1080p? I only see 720p and 1080i where I live. Even so, the content is usually not as sharp as the transmission - SD content or sometimes something inbetween that and HDTV.
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: Blayze
Originally posted by: Kremlar
It's an RCA, I wouldn't touch it.

wow are the new sets that bad? I have 4 RCAs in the house right now. All are 10 years or older, and they still work great.

that's why. they're OLD RCA. 🙂
Yeah, my 15 year old RCA VCR is a honey. Consumer Reports nailed it - they said it had one obvious negative, IIRC, that being that the tape transport (when recording or in play) is noticeably loud compared to the average deck. It's quite a lot louder than my JVC deck, but that PNP made it well worth it. It's also got a lot of digital features. Most of them I never use, but several of them are very nice. I think it was by and large a well engineered deck with a lot of features. It doesn't surprise me, though, that the company's offerings aren't nearly as high quality as they were. They aren't Matsuschita (Jeez, this stupid site [pardon the expression] won't let me spell Matsuschita the normal way... it says I have censored words in my text. Sheesh!), who seem simply remain on a pretty high level. I've always heard that their repair rates are among the lowest around.
 
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