Most TVs you have to hit a button or hit a menu to change the screen size. Mine doesn't like it either, but she's gotten used to it. Give it a couple of months. :)
Plus as she is flipping through the screen modes, she might discover that she likes one of the in between stretches.
Count me in the "loathe stretching" group.
16:9 content in 16:9, 4:3 content in 4:3. Having extra screen space is no reason to distort a picture just to fill it IMO.
I do want to hear if the Akai truly doesn't let you go 4:3.
I _can_ switch it to 4:3, but so far I haven't found any way to have it automatically adjust for every picture. It's not too large of a burden, since I movies and xbox = 16:9, and regular tv = 4:3.
Sorry, can't help you much; all I have hooked up to my Akai is my 360. TV watching is done downstairs on the 50". On that TV, I actually use my cable box to set the output; that is, the TV's always at 16:9 and the cable box detects a 4:3 signal and puts the bars on the sides (or stretches it, which is hideous and unnecessary). Have ye a cable box that can accomplish this feat?
I have a Samsung 30'' HD CRT. One of the SlimFit models. Picked it up about a year ago for around $900 though they're much cheaper now. The CRT picture is hard to beat. Great black levels for DVD's and such. On some of the 360 games, some shadow detail gets lost but upping the brightness usually takes care of it.
If I had to buy something now though, I'd probably pick up an LCD. The prices keep dropping closer and closer to the CRT lines.
Sorry, can't help you much; all I have hooked up to my Akai is my 360. TV watching is done downstairs on the 50". On that TV, I actually use my cable box to set the output; that is, the TV's always at 16:9 and the cable box detects a 4:3 signal and puts the bars on the sides (or stretches it, which is hideous and unnecessary). Have ye a cable box that can accomplish this feat?
Nope. Just using OTA right now. Considering football season is nearly over (really REALLY over for my team..), I don't much care about getting cable. If she wants to get fancy, she can go ahead and order it. ;/
We'll probably end up doing some sort of Media Center solution in the next few months, assuming the quality of our connection ever gets a bit better. If not, I'll probably look into getting whatever comes with Sunday Ticket and Saturday Gameday cheapest next july. 
We'll probably end up doing some sort of Media Center solution in the next few months, assuming the quality of our connection ever gets a bit better. If not, I'll probably look into getting whatever comes with Sunday Ticket and Saturday Gameday cheapest next july. ;)
Keep us updated on that, I'm very interested in figuring out a media center HD setup after I move away from my current SD TiVo.
Looks like I may pick this one up. http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.proc...
That's one of the sets that I was looking into buying when I was shopping around. Actually, that's the EXACT thing I planned on buying before letting the SO talk me into shopping around. I'd very highly recommend checking out a handful of televisions (plasma as well as LCD..) in a side-by-side comparison before buying that Westinghouse now, though.
When I first went out, I was dead set against buying a Plasma, and I was dead set against buying a brand I didn't recognize. After going out and shopping around (toting the handy laptop around to mooch off of bestbuy's wireless so I could research on the fly) I did a complete 180, and ended up bringing home my Akai Plasma.
If nothing else, I'd atleast recommend checking out the set that I have. It was the same price as the set you're looking at, but I found it to have a slightly crisper picture, and to handle black levels far better.
I would look at it but it's just too big for the space I am going to put it in. The biggest the furniture stand can be is 37".
Wow, that Westinghouse does 1080p, very interesting. I will keep my eye on the 42" version.
Wow, that Westinghouse does 1080p, very interesting. I will keep my eye on the 42" version.
The 42" is apparently a lesser TV, though that's just impressions posted by random denizens of the net and so not necessarily of importance.
*Legion* wrote:Wow, that Westinghouse does 1080p, very interesting. I will keep my eye on the 42" version.
The 42" is apparently a lesser TV, though that's just impressions posted by random denizens of the net and so not necessarily of importance.
Lesser as in not-as-good? I've seen the occasional deal pop up for that particular TV, and had been mildly considering getting one (though not without more research, of course). Any specific complaints regarging color, picture, featureset, etc?
*Legion* wrote:Wow, that Westinghouse does 1080p, very interesting. I will keep my eye on the 42" version.
The 42" is apparently a lesser TV, though that's just impressions posted by random denizens of the net and so not necessarily of importance.
Bollocks! I really want something bigger than 37".
40" or 42" would be ideal.
Bollocks! I really want something bigger than 37".
40" or 42" would be ideal.
I just saw the Westy 42 at Best Buy for around $1400 if I remember right.
I'm eyeballing this one Samsung LNS4692D 46" LCD HDTV with ATSC Tuner, Dual HDMI
I just saw the Westy 42 at Best Buy for around $1400 if I remember right.
BE CAREFUL. The 42" Westinghouse listed at BestBuy.com is not the 1080p LVM-42w2 display. It's the W4207 HD "monitor", which does not have the 1920x1080 native resolution.
I haven't looked at my local Best Buy store to see what they have (BestBuy.com, in my experience, is often lacking in things that are in the actual stores). Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled and not blindly accept "42" and "Westinghouse" together as being the right display.
EDIT: Went to my Local Best Buy, the 42" Westinghouse they were selling for $1400 was indeed the W4207 and not the LVM-42w2.
They did, however, have two "open box" LVM-42w2's for $1500. No new ones on display though.
$1500 is just out of my price range right now, and I eventually need to get two TVs (one for the bedroom, one for the living room). So I think I'll just get a 32 or 37" Vizio from Costco for the living room now, and move it to the bedroom when I can get a 1080p 42 or 46" TV a few months later, after I've been working and earning paychecks (real ones, not crappy-job-on-campus ones) for a few months.
So I think I'll just get a 32 or 37" Vizio from Costco for the living room now
OK *Legion*, that sounded like a good plan, but you and I both know we can't walk out of the store with a TV smaller than 42", we're just too proud and too demanding of BIG TV RIGHT NOW for that.
Selling a bunch of crap on eBay and Craigslist, hopefully I'll manufacture enough scratch for the good Westy or at least the 42" Vizio.
Hey guys, I've been searching the internet for advice about a gaming/hd TV and this forum seems to give the best advice/info (thanks to all your knowledge). I know a little bit when it comes to tv's, but i haven't really kept up with all the new lcds/plasmas/dlps out there. I have an old CRT 25" tv that i need to replace since I am getting an xbox 360. I'm not looking for a big tv, probably something in the 26"-32" range because it's going in my room and I am going to be sitting approx. 3-5 feet away from it. I was thinking of purchasing the Samsung TX-S3082WH but I have read many negative reviews concerning bowing, horizontal lines, tilting, discoloration, and dying within months. Allow me to add that I work in Best Buy (mobile electronics) so I will get the tv's cheaper than retail price. I guess my price range would be $600-$1000. Keep in mind, I get approx. $200-400 off retail price. Thanks ahead for any advice.
Best Buy has the 32" Westinghouse LCD going for $699 (the one without the DVD player built in). If I were buying a TV that small, I would run to the store to buy immediately.
And if you WORK for Best Buy and can go cheaper than that - WTF are you still reading this for? Go!
Best Buy has the 32" Westinghouse LCD going for $699 (the one without the DVD player built in). If I were buying a TV that small, I would run to the store to buy immediately.
And if you WORK for Best Buy and can go cheaper than that - WTF are you still reading this for? Go!
Yeah.. I'd say this is fine advice. 32" LCD display for $500ish?
Do it.
If you should end up hating it.. pack it up and return it. You work there. I can't imagine it being a big hassle
Yeah, I could get that Westinghouse pretty cheap, too. But is the 1000:1 contrast rate good enough for next-gen gaming? It also doesn't have two HDMI ports. I was hoping to have one for my PS3 (which I'll buy next summer) and one for an upscaling-DVD player. Like I said, I haven't kept up with tech. so I don't know if a 1000:1 contrast ratio is more than enough for my purposes OR LCD's like Samsungs' with a 3000:1 is better suited for my needs. I want to make sure I get the right tv, although you are right Thin J, it's not a big hassle to change something out.
I'm pretty sure constrast ratio is unregulated and manufacturers can claim whatever they want.
Yeah, I could get that Westinghouse pretty cheap, too. But is the 1000:1 contrast rate good enough for next-gen gaming? It also doesn't have two HDMI ports. I was hoping to have one for my PS3 (which I'll buy next summer) and one for an upscaling-DVD player. Like I said, I haven't kept up with tech. so I don't know if a 1000:1 contrast ratio is more than enough for my purposes OR LCD's like Samsungs' with a 3000:1 is better suited for my needs. I want to make sure I get the right tv, although you are right Thin J, it's not a big hassle to change something out.
In my opinion, you will find 1000:1 to be completely sufficient. Leap is right in that contrast ratio claims can be unreliable or misleading.
Multiple HDMI ports is a nice feature, but there's always HDMI switches to help you with multiple HDMI inputs. You're not stuck with just one HDMI port forever.
After taxes ($48) it comes out to $748.9893 for me. I wonder when Best Buy opens up...
edit: The samsungs use DYNAMIC contrast ratio compared to most sets that use CONSTANT contrast ratio.
Oh man, my brother-in-law (in a month) is working at Best Buy and can help my fiancee and I get a TV they carry with the discount.
Too bad they're not carrying the 1080p Westinghouse anymore! I may get the 720p 42" Westinghouse due to how cheap it would be.
J&R and Crutchfield sold out of the 1080p monitor as well.
You guys have pretty much got me sold on the Westinghouse, but I have one last question. For a few extra dollars, do you think it would be worth it to purchase the Toshiba 32HLC56 over the Westinghouse LTV32w6? I can see they both pretty much have the same specs (except for contrast ratio which you all told me is misleading), but as far as picture quality goes, which is better? Although I work at Bestbuy and I could see picture quality myself, I think their TV setups' suck and what you take home can be completely different from what you're seeing.
I've always thought the sharp 42" was always the best looking LCD. Its going for a little over 2K at most retailers. Does 1080p too.
I'm petting my new LTV-32w6 right now.
Best Buy had it setup next to some other HDTV's that looked alot better till I switched from TV to HDTV input on the screen and told the salesguy to get me one immediately or feel my wrath. He ran off to fulfill my desires to frag everyone here in HD with a slight whimper.
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