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Should You Buy a TV Now or Wait?

by Suzanne Kantra on February 16, 2010

With 3DTVs going on sale later this month, wireless video coming into more models and the usual improvements year-over-year in technology, will you regret that close-out deal you got on a 2009 model?

The guys at HDGuru.com did a great job of taking you through the details in a recent post. So following are some of the highlights.

It's a fairly easy "no," if you're buying a set that's 37 inches or smaller. You'll find more LCD models with LED backlighting for better color reproduction and energy savings, but in general you can feel good about your purchase.

The buyer's remorse question becomes tougher as you move into the bigger TVs–42 inches and larger. For entry level LCD and plasma models at prices well below $1,000, you'll still be smiling in a few months. Above $1,000, you'll be missing out on some visible improvements. For LCD TVs, you'll find smoother 240Hz motion technology, better contrast, deeper blacks and LED backlight technology with more sophisticated local dimming. And for plasmas, at the high end there's better blacks and higher contrast.

And then there's 3DTV. Online retailers are already taking pre-orders and delivery is expected later this month for Samsung models. According to HDGuru's latest post, Electronics Depot is offering the lowest price–a 40-inch Samsung model for $1,719.59. And while that's certainly not entry-level pricing, it's lower than what you would have paid last year for a similar level 2d model. So it's safe to say that 3D will not come at a significant premium.

If you've decided to forge ahead with a 2009 model, check out our recently updated Flat Panel TV Buyer's Guide. And as the 2010 models are put through their paces, we'll be updating our guide with new models for Our Picks.


Topics

Music and Video, News, TVs & Video Players


Discussion loading

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From Denise on February 17, 2010 :: 2:27 am


I just found out yesterday that I can get a DVD player that I can hook up to my tv and access my Netflix account for $180! So I won’t be buying a new TV anytime soon.

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From Josh Kirschner on February 19, 2010 :: 1:08 am


I assume you mean a web-enabled “Blu-ray” player? Definitely wouldn’t recommend buying a “DVD” player for $180!

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From gioco del baccara on May 07, 2010 :: 6:04 am


I had a great time reading around your post as I read it extensively. Excellent writing! I am looking forward to hearing more from you.

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From Dan on August 27, 2010 :: 12:46 am


3d TV’s are overrated I think, if you want to get a sweet TV go with a projector.  For $2k you can get a projector with unlimited size, I went with Panasonic PT-AE3000 two years ago and I’m very happy with my purchase.  My TV is six feet wide and sporting 1080p definition.

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