Which HDTV

[rizzlaking]

With all the choice and constantly changing prices i am trying to get some advise on which HDTV to purchese.
As my 360 is the main reason for me to be buying one of these i thought i would try and get some other owners opinions of what they have bought and how they rate the performance especially on the 360.
I am trying to gauge some pros and cons of differant models to help me make the right decion.
so come on folks get yer specs up and tell me what you think? was it money well spent?
I have a budget of around 600 Pounds this could be streched but ideally would be less - i have been looking at the Dell w2600 (26ins screen) for just under 500 notes but have seen mixed reports, and with so much choice where do you start (are budget HDTV's worth it or would i be better of spending more money - is there that much of a differance?)
I have recently bought a new PC and would like to use the TV as a monitor aswell so would be great to hear from anybody who uses there HDTV as a monitor aswell.
Thanks in Advance your response would be really appriciated.

[Curry]

Looked at the Samsungs that MS uses to promote the 360 with? They're really good and fit a smaller budget afaik (600 isn't too much).

[Studley]

This is the one which Curry is talking about, it comes in various screen sizes and some have a freeview digital receiver built-in, but this one falls nicely within your budget and just also happens to be the one that I own

http://ws1.kelkoo.be-direct.co.uk/sh...d=SAM-LE26R41B

If you want to download a manual for the TV (i.e. to check what connections it has on the back - there are loads and I'm not much of a techie), you can download this PDF - warning, it's a bit large, about 14MB:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/co...927E-00Eng.pdf

[Curry]

Checking the specifications, it has 1 DVI-compatible HDMI port, 1 component connection and 1 VGA connection (apart from some other junk).

Hooking up the 360 to Component and the computer to VGA should be just fine in that case, but you will get letterboxing or stretching because the 360's 720p output is shown on a 1366x768 screen. An alternative solution would be to connect the 360 to VGA so it can use the 1366x768 solution (15 quid cable required), and hook the computer up via DVI (check if your graphics card supports this, most of the last 3 years do).

[Rival24]

If you connect your computer to the DVI/HDMI port you can't use the native resolution (1366x768 ) and picture quality will suck. I've got a Samsung Le32m61b and it works the same way.

[Studley]

Ah, sorry - I completely missed the bit where you mentioned using it as a TV as well. Yes, just for the sake of trying it, I hooked my laptop up to it a while back and it was all a bit underwhelming.

[Curry]

Huh, isn't DVI capable of doing 1366x768?

[Rival24]

Originally Posted by Curry

Huh, isn't DVI capable of doing 1366x768?

DVI is, but the actual connection on the TV is a HDMI connector. Every signal put in there is automatically up or downscaled to 1280x720.

[Curry]

That's a bitch. My best bet would be a VGA-switch then, connect both the computer and the 360 to a box like this. You most certainly want both of them at the screen's native resolution.

[Neejoh]

A while back we bought the Samsung LE32R51B, not sure if it's a global release though (can't find it on the samsung.com, but samsung.nl has it...).

From my own experience, I can tell you that it's a VERY sweet HDTV! It has awesome pictures, looks pretty slick and has some cool features.
The only downside on this TV are the inputs. Some inputs deliver crappy pictures if you compare it to the component input. They're not bad, but I've seen better.

Still need to try that VGA cable instead of the component I'm using at the moment

[vandenbond]

I have a Panasonic 61 LCD Projection TV--every time I play oblivion I feel like I'm on the horse. The only way to play is huge---go big, or go home.

[Curry]

61"

That begs for photos

[Rival24]

Projection TV's aren't very popular around here, probably because of the huge size.

[vandenbond]

For sure smaller TV's have a little better picture just based on size--but having it be an LCD display really helps it. I am convinced that LCD tv's are the best for video games...I tried it on a 45 DLP samsung and it had a harder time staying perfectly sharp and clear with all the motion. I'll see if I can grab some pics at lunch. I will say it look amazing on a 27 inch Toshiba flat panel LCD as well--amazing. But size matters....

[vandenbond]

Originally Posted by Curry

61"

That begs for photos

here you go: just click on my msn site--it's under photos

http://spaces.msn.com/vandenbond/Per...=1&_c=blogpart

[Rival24]

DUDE .... DUDE!!

Can i be your friend? Yours is like... 2 times as big as mine

[vandenbond]

Curry asked, I abliged

[Neejoh]

Originally Posted by Rival24

DUDE .... DUDE!!

Can i be your friend? Yours is like... 2 times as big as mine

DUDE, DUDE! That's a pretty weird thing to say

But I gotta agree, that's one hell of a tv you've got there And indeed, 2x mine too
(And 7000 GP isn't bad either :9)

[Curry]

Originally Posted by vandenbond

here you go: just click on my msn site--it's under photos

http://spaces.msn.com/vandenbond/Per...=1&_c=blogpart

Dude, yours is HUUUUUUUUGE!

Nice telly

[Curry]

This is the one I'm waiting for: http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2006/03/hands_on_with_t.html

[TRIGGER M4N]

Curry, that looks sweet.
Wish I could post my picture

[Rival24]

Originally Posted by TRIGGER M4N

Curry, that looks sweet.
Wish I could post my picture

Why can't you..

[Hoffer]

I've got a 50" Sony LCD rear projection. It is awesome playing my 360 on it.

[TRIGGER M4N]

Originally Posted by Rival24

Why can't you..

Have not got a picture

[Curry]

Originally Posted by Curry

This is the one I'm waiting for: http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2006/03/hands_on_with_t.html

Scrap that, turns out the 42" isn't true HD. So now aiming for his slightly smaller brother

And then on this cabinet in high gloss black.