Talk Me Out of A New TV

[dmw16]

Right now I have this TV:

Text

I like it, but I wish that when i bought it I'd have just gone for a 50" or something. Anyway, Best Buy has 0% for 3 years and I am thinking about getting a new TV.

So please, talk me out of it. (or, if you must, make a compelling argument as to why it's a good idea to get one).

I'd probably have to sell my current TV at a loss since I have no where to put it other than Craigslist.

 

[olds]

If you buy a new TV, I will kill your family.

 

[kalrith]

To get a better idea of what size TV would be best for you, what is your viewing distance from the TV? Also, what sources do you view (SD channels, HD channels, Blu-Ray, PS3, etc.), and what percentage of your viewing is taken up by each? Do you have a TV stand that limits the size of the TV?

BTW, I went with a 50" plasma (Pioneer 5080) last December, and I love it. I sit 10 feet from it and watch 10% Blu-Ray, 10% PS3 games, 50% HD channels, 20% SD channels, and 10% SD DVDs. I really wanted to go with a 60", but I don't think it was worth more than 2 1/2 times what I paid for the 50" ($4,600 compared to $1,900). I also got the 0% financing through Best Buy. I make the $20 payment every month, and I'll pay off whatever's left in December 2009.

Edit: I do plan on replacing my TV but not for at least a few years. For me it's not worth it until there's a noticeable advancement in technology and a very noticeable decrease in sizes 60" and greater.

 

[dmw16]

I'd say I am 15% Xbox360, 50% HD Channels, 10% Blu-Ray, 5% PS3 Games, 20% SD Channels/DVD's.

I sit about 8-10ft away.

TV stand could take something plenty big especially if it were a flat panel.

I like my TV, but I wish I had 1080p for blu-ray. With 3 years free money, it seems like a good time to buy. Either split it into equal payments or make the minimums and then pay it off.

It is tempting...any more thoughts?

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
If you buy a new TV, I will kill your family.

Well, man, you just convinced me not to buy a new TV, and I'm not even the OP. Or did you? MAYBE I HATE MY FAMILY! Did you ever consider that, huh?!

(For the record, I love my family.)

Anyways, I'll be honest: don't buy an f'ing HDTV right now. Buy it on Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, or whatever the end of year savings day is. And for the love of G-d, don't buy it on credit - you're in the middle of a pseudo-recession, do you really need another bill? What about your savings? IF YOU LOVED YOUR FAMILY YOU WON'T BUY THE TV!

As it is, you do have a pretty decent HDTV, too.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Right now I have this TV:

Text

I like it, but I wish that when i bought it I'd have just gone for a 50" or something. Anyway, Best Buy has 0% for 3 years and I am thinking about getting a new TV.

So please, talk me out of it. (or, if you must, make a compelling argument as to why it's a good idea to get one).

I'd probably have to sell my current TV at a loss since I have no where to put it other than Craigslist.

If you have to finance it, you can't afford it. And an HDTV is definitely not a necessity.


How's that for talking you out of it?

 

[dmw16]

I could buy it cash, but right now, I'm making more than 0% back on my money, so why not take a free loan?

We have 2 good incomes with stable jobs and not very many bills. We save about 25% of our gross salary. So it isn't as tho we cant afford the thing.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: dmw16
I could buy it cash, but right now, I'm making more than 0% back on my money, so why not take a free loan?

Because credit is addictive, and it's better to pay it up front?

We have 2 good incomes with stable jobs and not very many bills. We save about 25% of our gross salary. So it isn't as tho we cant afford the thing.

Us, too. I'm still not buying one on credit.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: dmw16
I could buy it cash, but right now, I'm making more than 0% back on my money, so why not take a free loan?

We have 2 good incomes with stable jobs and not very many bills. We save about 25% of our gross salary. So it isn't as tho we cant afford the thing.

Dude, I'm trying to talk you out of it, but you aren't making this any easier on me.

How about this, the new Pioneer Kuros are coming out later this year. Wait for those.

 

[dmw16]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: dmw16
I could buy it cash, but right now, I'm making more than 0% back on my money, so why not take a free loan?

Because credit is addictive, and it's better to pay it up front?

We have 2 good incomes with stable jobs and not very many bills. We save about 25% of our gross salary. So it isn't as tho we cant afford the thing.

Us, too. I'm still not buying one on credit.

To each their own. I am not one to get addicted to credit.

I generally choose to leverage my money. Same thing with buying our monthly expenses on our Amex cash card and getting our 3%-5% back.

Oh well...to each their own.

 

[kalrith]

1080p is great if you sit close enough to notice the increase in resolution. Here's a viewing-distance chart that shows the rough distance at which 1080p becomes noticeable to the human eye. At 10 feet away you'll be wasting money on a 50" 1080p display. Another way to look at it is that I could've spent $1,900 on an inferior 50" 1080p display and gotten a worse picture than on the Pioneer 5080 for the same money. If I sat 6-8 feet away, then I definitely would've gone with 1080p.

If I were in your shoes, I would live with what I had until I could afford a 60" 1080p display. You could even move closer (7-8 feet) to your display to make it look bigger without suffering from the non-1080p resolution. Sitting 8 feet from a 60" 1080p display is pretty incredible. I watched Planet Earth on the Pioneer 6010 at Best Buy for a while from 8 feet away. It's not like you are thinking of upgrading from a 27" CRT. You have a nice TV, and I would stick with it until you can make a more-substantial upgrade.

Did you have a certain budget in mind? Did you have a certain technology in mind? If you stick with rear projection, you can get a 61" 1080p TV for as low as $1800, althought I would spend a little more for the LED engine. To get a 60" flat-panel TV from Best Buy, you're looking at some serious cash.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

How about this, the new Pioneer Kuros are coming out later this year. Wait for those.

:thumbsup:

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Right now I have this TV:

Text

I like it, but I wish that when i bought it I'd have just gone for a 50" or something. Anyway, Best Buy has 0% for 3 years and I am thinking about getting a new TV.

So please, talk me out of it. (or, if you must, make a compelling argument as to why it's a good idea to get one).

I'd probably have to sell my current TV at a loss since I have no where to put it other than Craigslist.

You can decide what to do with your own money. I would advise you, though, to look at other options than Best Buy. Amazon would probably save you hundreds, offer free delivery, and they too have financing.

 

[spidey07]

I'll talk you out of purchasing a 50 inch tv. At 8-10 feet you need a 60" plasma, not a 50 inch. Especially since most of your viewing is HD.

And at 0% it's like free money.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I'll talk you out of purchasing a 50 inch tv. At 8-10 feet you need a 60" plasma, not a 50 inch. Especially since most of your viewing is HD.

And at 0% it's like free money.

I disagree about "needing" a 60" plasma at that distance. We all have different standards of how closely we want to view the screen, and I don't think your statement reflects the majority of people.

Of course, 0% is "free money", but only if you're not overpaying for the item in the first place.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel

Originally posted by: spidey07
I'll talk you out of purchasing a 50 inch tv. At 8-10 feet you need a 60" plasma, not a 50 inch. Especially since most of your viewing is HD.

And at 0% it's like free money.

I disagree about "needing" a 60" plasma at that distance. We all have different standards of how closely we want to view the screen, and I don't think your statement reflects the majority of people.

Of course, 0% is "free money", but only if you're not overpaying for the item in the first place.

Well, I disagree about anyone "needing" a TV in the first place unless they use it for their occupation (i.e. TV-show reviewer). The OP certainly doesn't "need" a TV that's bigger than a 42". When I upgraded from a 19" to a 27" CRT in 2004, I thought the 27" was HUGE. It took me a while to get used to it. If someone had told me that I'd be buying a 50" TV 3 years later and viewing it from the same distance, I would've thought they were crazy. After 3 long years with the 27", shrinkage had definitely occurred.

If the OP wants a sizeable upgrade, then I 100% recommend going with a 60". A 50" TV is 42% larger than a 42", which is a decent but not substantial upgrade if you already own the fully-functional 42" and will have to sell it at a loss. A 60" is 104% bigger than a 42" (that's right, it's more than twice as big!). Go to this calculator; click 16:9 at the top; select 3 TVs; and set them as 42", 50", and 60". That will give you a good comparison of the sizes.

To use myself as an example, I think he'll think the 50" is HUGE when he gets it, but serious shrinkage will occur 6-12 months down the road, and then he'll be posting another thread titled, "Talk Me Out of Another New TV", when the new 60" Pioneer Kuros come out. I wouldn't have bought my 50" plasma (even thought I love it!) if I owned a 42" HDTV already.

 

[Muadib]

Did you buy your house yet? If not, wait until after you do.

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
You can decide what to do with your own money. I would advise you, though, to look at other options than Best Buy. Amazon would probably save you hundreds, offer free delivery, and they too have financing.

I agree with Rio! Unless you can get BB to price match, Amazon is almost always the better way to go. They offer 0% financing too, but I think it's only for 2 years.

 

[bruceb]

I agree, a 50 Inch Plasma is a reasonable size. I also agree, that Best Buy does not always
have the Best Price (at least not for the buyer, always in their favor) .. Amazon, yes, you
can get good prices, but because of the size of the item, it will not qualify for free shipping.
Personally, for a large set like that, I prefer local pickup or delivery. Less chance of damage
by UPS or Fedex. As to financing it, depends on wether or not you get the best price for the set
and if you are not forced into a Maintenance Program. 0% for 2 years is always a good deal, but
not if you are paying say $100 or so more in unit cost. And if you buy it local, in most states you
pay Sales Tax

 

[Rio Rebel]

Bruce, no offense, but you should verify before you make statements that you aren't sure about.

Amazon offers free "white glove" delivery on any tv over 27 inches. They also have 24 months at 0% interest.

Now that being said, I also am hesitant to buy televisions over the internet. I have three large tv's, and I bought them all locally, because I like to see them first. It's all a matter of taste. Probably the most cost-effective way to buy one is to check out the models you are interested in locally, and then buy on-line if it is cheaper there. The only problem there is that local stores never calibrate their tv's, and you can almost never get them to show you a variety of source material, so you're still sort of stabbing in the dark.

 

[TerryMathews]

Personally, I don't buy LCDs over the internet unless I get a 0 dead pixel guarantee, which is unheardof on new products (I get it on refurb computer LCDs from a reseller I buy from though...). The extra $100 or $200 is worth it vs. ending up with a set you're unhappy with.

As far as the OP, if you're really getting fixed 0% for 3 years I would go ahead and get the biggest TV you're ever going to want, be sure you want 50" and not 60". Check the fine print though and make sure BB hasn't left themselves an out to up the APR except for missed payments. $4000-$5000 on a 3 year loan that jumps up to 20% APR can crush your budget. That's like taking on another (cheap) car payment.

 

[bruceb]

Rio .. apparently they changed their policy since last time I checked out tvs on amazon.
You are correct about the white glove delivery .. sounds like a good way to ensure the
product gets to the buyer in perfect condition.

 

[Geraldo8022]

With the price of gasoline you are likely going to be spending a lot more time at home and a tv is great company.
There are more and more HD channels coming out all the time.
You can wait for the Kuros to come out, but with this technology being what it is you can always play that waiting game.
If you have your financial situation inhand, and it sounds like you do, then zero interest on something want anyway is finance smart.
The economy needs your help, and if these other guys on this forum would leave the Anandtech website long enough to see what is going on in the USA they would know that it is your patriotic duty to get your George Bush Legacy Tax Rebate and spend it on something made in Taiwan.
the summer Olympics are coming. (or maybe that is next summer)
Ok, summer is coming and you will be spending a lot of time indoors and out of the heat.
Oh, wait, I was supposed to...