Life is too short for watching TV, probably, but if you're going to watch it, choose a high-quality set. I was recently on the hunt for a new one, so I've documented some of my search here for your benefit.
Being a bit of a sports fan, I limited my search to HDTV. I hate to sound like a commercial, but once you've seen a game in HD, you will find watching games in non-HD painful. If you've never seen HD before it's hard to explain -- imagine the old black & white shows from the 50's. The difference is actually more significant than that.
Where and What to Learn about HDTV
These sites will help you learn all you need to know ...
- Wikipedia: High-definition television
- Any research effort has to start with the Wikipedia.
- CNET: HDTV World - Everything you need to know about HDTV
- CNET is a great resource for info.
- How HDTV Works
- Do you really care how HDTV works? It just does, and it's awesome.
- FlatTV People: LCD vs. Plasma
- Plasma was king, but LCD is catching up.
- Audioholics.com: LCD vs. Plasma
- Another LCD vs. Plasma debate.
HDTV Buyers Guides
You didn't think I was going to tell you what TV to buy, did you?
- About.com: Buying A Television - What You Need To Know
- About.com gives "Basic Tips For Television Shoppers". For example, Tip #1 is "Measure the space the TV is to be placed in." Now that's a good (basic) tip.
- Bestbuy's Television Section
- Includes a nifty little "which TV is right for you" feature
- Circuit City: Choosing a New TV
- This has a lot of good info that's well presented
- ConsumerReports.org: TV types: Weigh pros, cons, and prices
- From February 2006
- ConsumerSearch: Plasma TV Reviews
- Tells you what the best plasma TV's are and where to get them.
- CNET: TV Buying Guide
- As you can expect with CNET, there's a lot of good detail.
- CNET: TV Reviews
- CNET's reviews include good info from their editors, including video reviews, as well as comments from consumers.
- Epinions: Televisions
- Consumers like you sound off on real-world experience
Where to buy your HDTV
So many choices ...
- Amazon.com
- Tons of selection, great prices ... I've made some recommendations below.
- Best Buy
- Is it really the best buy? You be the judge.
- Circuit City
- Spend $25 or more on circuitcity.com, and they will ship your order to you free of charge within 7-10 days.
- Costco
- Their return policy is incredible. This is where I bought my TV -- just because I can return it at any time for any reason.
42" Plasma TV's you can get on Amazon
I thought they sold books? Conflict of interest, anyone?
Panasonic TH-42PX60U 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009) 
Samsung HP-S4253 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Philips 42PF9631D 42-Inch Plasma HDTV with Ambilight
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Toshiba 42HP66 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Hitachi Ultravision 42HDS69 42-Inch Plasma HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Flat-Panel LCD TVs from Amazon.com
LCD's are for computers, aren't they?
Samsung LNS3251D 32-Inch LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Magnavox 32MF231D 32-Inch Widescreen LCD TV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Sony Bravia KDL-40S2000 40-Inch Flat Panel LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Sharp Aquos LC-37D90U 37-Inch LCD HDTV
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Panasonic TC-32LX60 32-Inch LCD TV
Amazon Price: $379.88 (as of 12/03/2009)
You Might As Well Be Watching This
It's a 1953 Admiral 19F1, if you didn't know
You think I'm kidding, but it's true. If you haven't seen HDTV yet, it's hard to explain the difference. If you have, it's hard to watch regular TV now. Seriously. Do you think you could handle watching your favorite shows in a fuzzy black & white picture that crops 1/3 of the screen? Go plug in grampa's old set and find out. Blech.Look: watching TV is a big enough waste of time as it is. But watching it on some old set is a crime. Step into this century and buy one of the sets listed below.
HDTV Accessories
You're about to have an awesome TV ... you need the extra stuff.
Mustang MT-ARM2 Cantilever/Arm Mount 24-36"
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Mustang MT-ARM1 Cantilever/Arm Mount 13-24"
Amazon Price: $48.11 (as of 12/03/2009)
DX Antenna DSA-20MA DirecTV Multisatellite Dish with HDTV and Multiroom Capability
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Monster Cable HDMI400/DVI-50NF Dvi/hdmi High Definition Video Male Dvi To Male HDmi Interconnect
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2009)
Netflix Movies: New Releases
Think how good these movies will look on your new HDTV!
Now that your TV is better than the movie theater, why go out?Thanks to Netflix, you don't even have to run up to the movie store. They send them to you. A shut-in's dream!
- All Hell Broke Loose
When former sharpshooter Will Drayton (Jim Hilton) moves out West after the Civil War, he falls in w...- Death Warrior
Kickboxer Hector Echavarria wrote, produced and stars in this mixed martial arts drama about a fight...- Street Players
Young gang banger Luis (Danny Gomez) leads a dangerous existence in East Los Angeles as he weaves th...- Handy Manny: Manny's Motorcycle Adventure
Handy Manny is brimming over with holiday cheer in this animated adventure that finds the bilingual...- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Choo Choo Express
Christmas is just around the corner, and the gang at the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is determined to mak...- Try Netflix free for 14 days
CafePress Let's Regular People Make Crap for You and Me to Buy
CafePress attracts mostly TV-haters ... fair warning ...
TV Related Stuff Available Right Now on eBay
eBay won't really let me narrow it down to just TV's, but you get the idea
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Videos from YouTube
I figure you're a TV fan, so here are some sports videos from YouTube
Funny Sports Bloopers
sport bloopers
Sport Science Happy Gilmore
extreme sports accident
Bar Refaeli-Sports Illustrated...
Top 10 sports most awkward int...
by barnwilliams
I'm Brian Williams. I helped start Viget Labs, a web consulting / design / development / marketing firm based just outside of Washington, DC, wi...
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