OT: If you're going to buy a new TV

[olyinaz]

then the Visio brand will certainly be in your face. They're the second largest brand in the U.S. nowadays and are available at amazing prices in stores like Wal-Mart etc. Give this a read regarding their warranty policy:

http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 ... repairable

I'm not saying don't buy one. What I simply recommend is that if you DO buy one, get the extra warranty offered by the store and factor that into the price for comparison purposes.

Good luck,
Oly

[pdentrem]

I have a shooting friend who just got a LG 3d tv. Uses the same glasses as in the theatres. CHEAP no batteries required, just polarized glasses and works fantastic. My 3 yrs old Sony is old news now.

[O.S.O.K.]

We got our Samsung on sale from Best Buy last fall - 46" LCD-LED High Def - love it. I was a hold-out with an old Sharp flat screen CRT but my wife came home with the new one and I caved

[AJMD429]

Maybe someday. Got a 20-year-old, 20" CRT one we only use to watch DVD's. Nothing but DVD's to watch here, as we don't have cable or satellite and are too far from the city for regular broadcast reception. Don't really mind, though, other than I'd probably enjoy the 'History channel' and some of the outdoor/nature/hunting shows my friends get on cable. No time to watch it, either; too much stuff to do...

[adirondakjack]

Two or three years ago I went to a flat screen. My wife, who works for a company that handles ALL the returns from Walmart, said "we get LOTS of Visio TVs back, more than all others combined." I bought a Samsung, not their cheapest, but not the top of the line, and it's been flawless.

[gak]

Little known, with all the hype on newer LCD/LED, LED, HD/3D etc, the "old" LCD 42-47" widescreens are now at great prices...and not a thing wrong with them. My 3 year old Magnavox (Philips) 1080p/120hz is still going strong--I'm still in awe over the quality picture and "flat" don't see the improvements in the newer (and higher price) tech. However, my local TV repairman, whom I've used for other electronics, says most all recent widescreens--whether straight LCD, LCD-LED or straight LED--are now made in China (or beyond) and basically junk (3 yrs 'n out)--and he's doingabrisk business. To his knowledge, the only one remaining Japanese is Panasonic, which he says is a good thing. Parts from China but at least assembled in Japan. Don't know if all this is poppycock, but he hasn't steered me wrong in other matters, so... maybe word to the wise (though can't do much about). I also meant I can't (literally) see some of the new tech very well -- asin 3D (I'm non binocular and cross dominant) anyway, so the "old" (3-5 year tech) widescreens are still fine with me.

Not specific to TVs but could be, I've seen some news stories lately that have said *some* US industries are looking to (make a) comeback back here on home turf--along with bringing back some jobs--in part due to product and management reliability and, amazingly, rising cost issues with their factories in China they might actually better back here at home..

[kenken0269]

Got me a 46" Sharp Aquos LED and it is awesome to watch. Great colors and very clear.

Also had the Geek Squad from Best Buy come out and calibrate it for be. Love it..

kenken

[Ysabel Kid]

We've been replacing the old box TV's as needed, and I have to admit, I love the flat screens. So light, and the picture quality is so good. We've decided to go with Samsung. After a lot of research, they seem to be the best overall value for your money. Not the cheapest - but not the most expensive either. We've been very happy.

[Pete44ru]

I've got a year-old Toshiba 42" HD wall hanger/flat panel in one room, and 2 tin cans connected by a string in another.

Both systems work fine. .

.

[Streetstar]

Sounds like the classic case of "you get what ya pay for" --- I shop a lot at Sam's Club (similar to a Costco for those who are not familiar with Sams) and they have a big selection of Vizio's. A layperson just can't tell by looking at them in the store nowadays --- same with appliances

They definitely have nice looking pictures for a couple hundred less than Samsung or others ----- i am building a "theater room" and was seriously considering one of their big tv's until this - i know people usually use projector screens for that use, but then the room has to be totally dark , so a big TV is more versatile,

anyway -- i will re-consider that thought now unless the warranty price is attractive.

I have limited knowledge of these things. I have an early generation Samsung plasma that was state of the art back when 42" plasma's were B-I-G -- and it is still going strong. - it might be 6 or 7 years old

I have a couple of relatively inexpensive (Best Buy house brand i think) bedroom TV's that have not hiccuped over the course of several years, but admittedly they are not used much

[Mike D.]

Vizeo is the BEST, and made in USA. We have two of the LCD HDs and the picture clarity and definition could not be better. No problems with either in the several years that we have had them.

[olyinaz]

Vizeo is the BEST, and made in USA. We have two of the LCD HDs and the picture clarity and definition could not be better. No problems with either in the several years that we have had them.

Mike, I have one too but I did buy the Wal-Mart extended warranty just to be safe. It looks great and was a smashing bargain, many of their TV's sport excellent specifications, several have even been cNet Editor's Choice award recipients, I would not necessarily steer anyone away from the brand, and them's the facts. But honestly I have to say that I don't think they're "made in the USA" brother. Unless I'm mistaken they're sourced from all over the place depending on model and screen size/type. Their web site states that Vizio employs 160 people. Compare that to a company like Hitachi or Samsung or Matsushita (Panasonic). I think what you have with Visio is an importer - they spec the sets and have them built by many different companies.

The other thing that I noticed on their web site is that they have responded to this story by offering a four year extended warranty with a will-replace clause (if they can't fix it). See here:

http://www.vizioserviceplans.com/page/Home-Page.aspx

It does cost however, so one must factor that in to the purchase price (as with any TV or appliance).

Best,
Oly

[gak]

Vizeo is the BEST, and made in USA. We have two of the LCD HDs and the picture clarity and definition could not be better. No problems with either in the several years that we have had them.

Mike, I have one too but I did buy the Wal-Mart extended warranty just to be safe. It looks great and was a smashing bargain, many of their TV's sport excellent specifications, several have even been cNet Editor's Choice award recipients, I would not necessarily steer anyone away from the brand, and them's the facts. But honestly I have to say that I don't think they're "made in the USA" brother. Unless I'm mistaken they're sourced from all over the place depending on model and screen size/type. Their web site states that Vizio employs 160 people. Compare that to a company like Hitachi or Samsung or Matsushita (Panasonic). I think what you have with Visio is an importer - they spec the sets and have them built by many different companies.

The other thing that I noticed on their web site is that they have responded to this story by offering a four year extended warranty with a will-replace clause (if they can't fix it). See here:

http://www.vizioserviceplans.com/page/Home-Page.aspx

It does cost however, so one must factor that in to the purchase price (as with any TV or appliance).

Best,
Oly

+1 They're decent TVs, my brother has one with no issues, but no they are not made in the US, but likemost instead China and Taiwan, of multiple Asian-sourced components, as a Vizio rep himself will tell you when pressed,

[Mike D.]

When Vizio first entered the market they touted their made in California claim. We bought our first in 2005, and it has functioned perfectly since then. Now, I understand that their products are now made by a Taiwan company called Amtran Technology. Regardless of where they are manufactured they remain a superior product to both Sony and Samsung and at a better price. Ours were purchased from Costco.

[madman4570]

Speaking as to its clarity--------
Spent 1 year on project(F15 Japan)upgrade of which to find the best display screen as for it's quality of glass/fewest pixel defect ratio/as tested in configured tests using the binary/hexadecimal box test method of each pixel.(now,dealing with LCD)
Always was-----and the key word(was)Sony was top for reliability for the other than display aspect like a normal tv's components because they indeed manufactured their own components.Now(today?)anyone's guess.

As for the best pixel for pixel quality dealing with display(defect/color/)ratio of the display itself----------------(Samsung,gets my vote)
Also their main base components seem to be about the best as for the total reliability of within the TV as a whole.

But, unfortunetly luck and also usage of how its used also bears some weight.
Probably the worst factor in aiding to the shortening of its life is relative to its number of cycles it is powered on/off.


Also remember----------
This isn't the same technology they use for the giant screens at football games; in fact, the LED screens you see in shops are actually LCDs, and the term "LED" is the invention of Samsung's marketing department.
How do they get away with this? Samsung's televisions use a series of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) — like the ones used in LED torches and alarm clocks that "backlight" the LCD panel, and anymore it's not the only company that does this.

So,anyway yep-----I want/own a Samsung

But like what Mike and some of the guys above each have and feel theirs are the best or as good also is cool.
Very possible to have a Samsung that last 2 or 3 years and a Vizio or Toshiba or whatever out last it or possibly might even have a clearer picture.Many things can happen when electronics come into play.
I say if it works/lasts good for someone-------------That's their best TV for them and are very likely to repeat with that Mfg.