Probably Going In On a 50 inch TV Next week. Recommendations?

[silvarios]

Except that the picture will still look like crap. The TV with the best torch mode will look the best and then you get it home and wonder why you bought this model when all the reviews said another model was better. I've seen TVs that I know were superb, but the retailer had set up with bad lighting, a bad feed, and the stupid torch mode enabled.

[artie67]

Check that Laker/NO game time. Listed as the last game today at 6:30 in the L.A Times...

[vision63]

artie67 wrote:
Check that Laker/NO game time. Listed as the last game today at 6:30 in the L.A Times...

Yeah, you're right. That changes my day somewhat. Thanks.

[Will Collier]

silvarios wrote:
Except that the picture will still look like crap. The TV with the best torch mode will look the best and then you get it home and wonder why you bought this model when all the reviews said another model was better. I've seen TVs that I know were superb, but the retailer had set up with bad lighting, a bad feed, and the stupid torch mode enabled.

I hear what you're saying, and you're absolutely right that the "blast" mode they set screens to in showrooms is garbage... but I still trust my eyes a lot more than I trust any random reviewer--with the caveat that I get to grab the remotes and turn the brightness down while I'm doing my comparisons. There's no way I'd buy something that (a) expensive and (b) central in the home without at least looking at it in person.

[sekker]

Lots of great advice posted here. My preference is to view the latest features to see for myself if they mattered. For example, I personally do not see any real difference from 60 Hz to 240 Hz refresh rates on an LCD even for sports action like baseball. But it's supposed to be better for using the tv as a gaming monitor.

My additional recommendations :
1) my panasonic plasma screen still looks fabulous after 3 hard years of use. I have to recommend you look.

2) I won't buy any LCD screen without LED backlit. Less dimming issues in the long run and does not raise cost that much.

3) I'm very pleased with two Vizio model LCDs; Sam's club was a great place to shop for slightly older models at a hefty discount. Go there if you know what key features you must have. My 47" Vizio is still a good deal and was purchased over a year ago.

[Rain]

https://clevelandplasma.com/

Cleveland Plasma has been a very solid dealer for my install company. We've bought several TVs thru him (60" and up), felt we found some of the best deals, were very comfortable giving him a credit card number over the phone and his shipping service is top notch! The guy doesn't leave you until you've opened the box and the TV has been inspected.

[Article Accelerator]

silvarios wrote:
Apple TV is okay.

Such faint praise! Apple TV is terrific, IMHO.

AirPlay also works okay for sending content from iOS devices to the AppleTV.

AirPlay works great and so does AirTunes. There is nothing comparable (definitely not DLNA) to either feature.

Two annoyances with Netflix on the Apple TV that I am not sure have been fixed:
1. No visual indicator of which TV episodes have been watched.

No need. Apple TV automatically highlights the current episode if it hasn't been completed or the next unwatched episode in the list--ready for your 'click.'

2. No visual indicator whether you have already started a video

See above.