new TV suggestions

mdehoogh · 02:40 PM

Hi all, I normally use a second monitor on my PC to watch TV (usb tv tuner) and netflix/hulu.

I picked up an aTV3 for $40 a few weeks ago and would like to put it to use so I'm thinking about buying a dedicated TV. I want something in the 37-42" range and saw a Toshiba 39" that was recommended in another thread recently. I stopped in today to check it out and saw an Insignia 39" TV right next to it and now I'm debating between the two.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+...&skuId=6266483

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...9764&cp=1&lp=8

Toshiba has a higher rating, though fewer reviewers.

Anyone have an opinion between these? I don't really want to spend much and I understand that neither will have a great picture. I have a 4:3 19" HP monitor currently, so it's safe to say that anything is a step up from that. The Toshiba is LED (I think it's just edge-lit) with a much thinner bezel which I like. The picture also looked better than the Insignia but the Insignia is 25% less in price. One of the sales reps at Best Buy told me that Insignia uses LG displays. Any truth to that? The 2yr geeksquad warranty is $30 vs $50 between the two.

Thoughts and opinions?

edited to add; the Insignia goes back up to $349 tomorrow

Pyromonkey83 · Dec 27, 2012, 08:19 PM

Insignia does indeed use LG displays. What the rep didn't tell you was that Insignia uses DEFECTIVE LG displays.

As someone who worked for Best Buy for 3 years, take it from me, you do not want an insignia unless you plan on using it for a month and then throwing it away.

Toshiba is fine, but I would recommend Vizio. Recently Vizio has made great strides on panel quality and reliability. It should also hit roughly the same price point as the Toshiba.

mdehoogh · Dec 27, 2012, 11:32 PM

Thanks for your reply. I went back tonight to check them out and was leaning towards the Toshiba until I saw one of the insignia's on the open-box shelf for $179 (with plastic cling wrap still attached). The guy I was talking to earlier was still there and he said it was a Christmas return that came in some time today. I tested it out and didn't see any dead pixels or any other defects.

At half the price of the Toshiba, I couldn't pass it up. The geeksquad 'insurance' was less ($29 for 4 years) due to the lower display price so it was a pretty good deal. I hope that I don't have any issues with it but even if I do, the geeksquad protection should cover me

rusty2192 · Dec 28, 2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyromonkey83

Insignia does indeed use LG displays. What the rep didn't tell you was that Insignia uses DEFECTIVE LG displays.

As someone who worked for Best Buy for 3 years, take it from me, you do not want an insignia unless you plan on using it for a month and then throwing it away.

Toshiba is fine, but I would recommend Vizio. Recently Vizio has made great strides on panel quality and reliability. It should also hit roughly the same price point as the Toshiba.

My 47" Insignia has been going strong for 3.5 years now. The only little issue is one of the volume buttons on the tv not working, but I rarely use those anyway, so it isn't a big enough deal for me to go through the hassle of filing a warranty claim (I also got the extended warranty.)

Sure, it isn't the best picture in the world, but it was also a ton cheaper than any of the name brands at the time.

MacLovin78 · Dec 28, 2012, 08:59 AM

I just bought the Toshiba 39" for my mother in law and I was very impressed with it. I would highly recommend over insignia. But it looks like it is too late.

heisenberg123 · Dec 28, 2012, 09:17 AM

ive always had great luck with Samsung

mdehoogh · Dec 28, 2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacLovin78

I just bought the Toshiba 39" for my mother in law and I was very impressed with it. I would highly recommend over insignia. But it looks like it is too late.

The Toshiba did look much nicer and I had pretty much decided to get it until I happened to see the insignia on the open-box shelf. I was only able to view the standard BB 720p feed that runs on their TVs and one local channel (1080i) since there was no antenna. It looked decent enough, certainly not as good as the ~50" Aquos that was next to it but it should be a huge upgrade from my current setup.

I haven't set it up yet but I've got a few weeks to test it out and return it.

SantaRosa2.2 · Dec 31, 2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisenberg123

ive always had great luck with Samsung

+1 on Samsung, I really have no love for Samsung products as a whole, but they do make a nice TV.

Primejimbo · Dec 31, 2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisenberg123

ive always had great luck with Samsung

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantaRosa2.2

+1 on Samsung, I really have no love for Samsung products as a whole, but they do make a nice TV.

Samsung is the way to go for TV's, and I would stay away from Insignia also.
Best Buy isn't the place to compare TV picture quality between TV's, they just use crap cables, fittings, and so-on. You can buy one from their, but places like ABT are better places to compare TV's.

Dec 27, 2012, 02:39 PM	#1
mdehoogh macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2012	new TV suggestions Hi all, I normally use a second monitor on my PC to watch TV (usb tv tuner) and netflix/hulu. I picked up an aTV3 for $40 a few weeks ago and would like to put it to use so I'm thinking about buying a dedicated TV. I want something in the 37-42" range and saw a Toshiba 39" that was recommended in another thread recently. I stopped in today to check it out and saw an Insignia 39" TV right next to it and now I'm debating between the two. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+...&skuId=6266483 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...9764&cp=1&lp=8 Toshiba has a higher rating, though fewer reviewers. Anyone have an opinion between these? I don't really want to spend much and I understand that neither will have a great picture. I have a 4:3 19" HP monitor currently, so it's safe to say that anything is a step up from that. The Toshiba is LED (I think it's just edge-lit) with a much thinner bezel which I like. The picture also looked better than the Insignia but the Insignia is 25% less in price. One of the sales reps at Best Buy told me that Insignia uses LG displays. Any truth to that? The 2yr geeksquad warranty is $30 vs $50 between the two. Thoughts and opinions? edited to add; the Insignia goes back up to $349 tomorrow Last edited by mdehoogh; Dec 27, 2012 at 02:40 PM. Reason: sale ends
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Dec 28, 2012, 09:17 AM	#6
heisenberg123 macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hamilton, Ontario	ive always had great luck with Samsung __________________ 15" i7 Quad Core MBP (Early 2011) 2.0GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB HD, AMD Radeon HD 6490M(Intel HD Graphics 3000) OSX Lion 10.7.3 16GB Samsung Galaxy SIII with 32GB microSD
	1

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Dec 27, 2012, 08:19 PM	#2
Pyromonkey83 macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2009	Insignia does indeed use LG displays. What the rep didn't tell you was that Insignia uses DEFECTIVE LG displays. As someone who worked for Best Buy for 3 years, take it from me, you do not want an insignia unless you plan on using it for a month and then throwing it away. Toshiba is fine, but I would recommend Vizio. Recently Vizio has made great strides on panel quality and reliability. It should also hit roughly the same price point as the Toshiba.
	0

Dec 27, 2012, 11:32 PM	#3
mdehoogh Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2012	Thanks for your reply. I went back tonight to check them out and was leaning towards the Toshiba until I saw one of the insignia's on the open-box shelf for $179 (with plastic cling wrap still attached). The guy I was talking to earlier was still there and he said it was a Christmas return that came in some time today. I tested it out and didn't see any dead pixels or any other defects. At half the price of the Toshiba, I couldn't pass it up. The geeksquad 'insurance' was less ($29 for 4 years) due to the lower display price so it was a pretty good deal. I hope that I don't have any issues with it but even if I do, the geeksquad protection should cover me
	0

Dec 28, 2012, 08:59 AM	#5
MacLovin78 macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2008	I just bought the Toshiba 39" for my mother in law and I was very impressed with it. I would highly recommend over insignia. But it looks like it is too late.
	0


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