tv: smaller flat screen or larger round? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Gustoferson · 11-07-2004, 07:46 PM

I'm in the market for a new TV right now on a small budget and have been struggling with a decision between getting a smaller, but flat screen (non-HD) tv or a larger, non-flat TV.

Right now I have a 19" that still works pretty well, but its just not cutting it size-wise. I have a much larger room now than I've had before, and watching stuff from my futon is pretty dang small and I can't play many videogames from back there because I don't want to strain to read or see small things. Now granted, its not like I've got a 13" propped up there but its still to the point where I really want something larger. Also, since I'm a Junior in college now, I need to realize with any purchase of this kind I make now, I need to keep in mind how something would look in a living room of an apartment or small house very shortly down the road. It would obviously be a long-term purchase to be my main tv for many, many years. I'm not ready to spend, nor do I have, the money for a good HD-ready tv at the moment so this TV would last me until years and years down the road when I finally give in and go HD with the rest of the world.

My price range is pretty much in the $3-400 range, so my choices seem to be a 27" Flat Screen of some kind, or a 32" non-flat screen tv. I really like the idea of going with a 32" tv, despite how much a tube of that size weighs, but I have been intrigued looking at how much clearer even a fairly cheap flatscreen looks compared to the normal, curved tube. I would be looking to get a major brand name, definately no Apex or Sansui or anything else for me, but I can afford to wait for good sales at big box stores.

So what are other people's opinion's on flat-vs-nonflat tvs and any advice on going with the larger size over flat picture? I mean, I've never had a problem with the picture on my current 19" non-flat, but I don't want to get a year or two down the road and think "man, this picture just isn't up to snuff." At the same time, I also don't want to get a brand new tv and think "I really could've used one just a little bigger to help fill this room."

There is an outside chance I could wait for a flat 32" to go on sale, but it seems the prices of those are significantly higher than the difference in price between flat and nonflat 27"ers. It'd be the ultimate compromise, but I'm more interested in people's opinions between the two ideas above.

BadNick · 11-09-2004, 01:48 PM

I was also debating the flat or not TV questions for my last purchase. I didn't want to spend too much since this TV was primarily for video games so my kids don't tie up the main TV when it's time for important things like car racing ...errr I mean news. A few months ago, I bought a 32" Sharp at Best Buys for under $350 and I'm very happy with it. If you look at the "not flat" TV's you'll notice that some screens are more curved than others. Sharp is not flat, but not as curved as most. We do have a flat screen in the den and I tend to like the picture on a flat screen better but the Sharp is close and pretty darn good.

Also, keep in mind that how big the picture looks is not all in the screen size. How far your eyes are from the screen while viewing is significant. For example, in my den the couch where most of us sit while watching is less than 8 feet from the screen. So watching a 32" screen from 8 feet gives you the same picture size as watching a 48" from 12 feet. Move your TV as close to the viewing seat as you can, maybe on a portable stand w/wheels so you can roll it out of the way when needed.

I suggest getting a decent reasonably priced TV you can afford now with the idea that in a few years when flat screen and HDTV is more reasonable, you can use this one as a second TV and buy a new one for your main viewing.

bal8664 · 11-10-2004, 08:01 AM

I used to work at best buy selling tv's so i may be able to help here. Technically theres no difference in the resolution (how many lines horizontal and vertical) of any standard definition tv's, so when you say the flat tv's have a better pictrue its most likely because most brands flat tv's are thier higher quality models which render the image much better. The best makers of Tube type televisions are sony and toshiba. I'd be willing to bet that the picture on a rounded screen sony would look better than a flat RCA or magnavox. On the other hand the larger the screen the more obviosus the curve is, some of those 32" televisions are painful to watch from a side angle. For your price range i would recommend either the Toshiba 27" flat, which is about 350, or their 36" rounded which is about 380. Personally i'd go with the bigger one because i like big tvs

william · 11-10-2004, 05:45 PM

For now - go w/the larger tv. Digital tv is still on the waysides, and won't be required for a few years. HD is even further out. Yeah - it's nice to have, but not necessary. Don't buy into the factions that say you have to have it now - not true. There are a few stations that also offer HD, but it's not worth the cost.
Bottom line - buy what you can afford, the biggest you can. By the time Digital and HD are required (a few years down the road), you can buy one you can afford. (At a price you can pay). There's no need to buy into the digital and HD TV must-have category unless you have the money to waste.

11-07-2004, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gustoferson Crazy Location: Chapel Hill, NC	tv: smaller flat screen or larger round? I'm in the market for a new TV right now on a small budget and have been struggling with a decision between getting a smaller, but flat screen (non-HD) tv or a larger, non-flat TV. Right now I have a 19" that still works pretty well, but its just not cutting it size-wise. I have a much larger room now than I've had before, and watching stuff from my futon is pretty dang small and I can't play many videogames from back there because I don't want to strain to read or see small things. Now granted, its not like I've got a 13" propped up there but its still to the point where I really want something larger. Also, since I'm a Junior in college now, I need to realize with any purchase of this kind I make now, I need to keep in mind how something would look in a living room of an apartment or small house very shortly down the road. It would obviously be a long-term purchase to be my main tv for many, many years. I'm not ready to spend, nor do I have, the money for a good HD-ready tv at the moment so this TV would last me until years and years down the road when I finally give in and go HD with the rest of the world. My price range is pretty much in the $3-400 range, so my choices seem to be a 27" Flat Screen of some kind, or a 32" non-flat screen tv. I really like the idea of going with a 32" tv, despite how much a tube of that size weighs, but I have been intrigued looking at how much clearer even a fairly cheap flatscreen looks compared to the normal, curved tube. I would be looking to get a major brand name, definately no Apex or Sansui or anything else for me, but I can afford to wait for good sales at big box stores. So what are other people's opinion's on flat-vs-nonflat tvs and any advice on going with the larger size over flat picture? I mean, I've never had a problem with the picture on my current 19" non-flat, but I don't want to get a year or two down the road and think "man, this picture just isn't up to snuff." At the same time, I also don't want to get a brand new tv and think "I really could've used one just a little bigger to help fill this room." There is an outside chance I could wait for a flat 32" to go on sale, but it seems the prices of those are significantly higher than the difference in price between flat and nonflat 27"ers. It'd be the ultimate compromise, but I'm more interested in people's opinions between the two ideas above. __________________ ...And then I found $5!

11-09-2004, 01:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	I was also debating the flat or not TV questions for my last purchase. I didn't want to spend too much since this TV was primarily for video games so my kids don't tie up the main TV when it's time for important things like car racing ...errr I mean news. A few months ago, I bought a 32" Sharp at Best Buys for under $350 and I'm very happy with it. If you look at the "not flat" TV's you'll notice that some screens are more curved than others. Sharp is not flat, but not as curved as most. We do have a flat screen in the den and I tend to like the picture on a flat screen better but the Sharp is close and pretty darn good. Also, keep in mind that how big the picture looks is not all in the screen size. How far your eyes are from the screen while viewing is significant. For example, in my den the couch where most of us sit while watching is less than 8 feet from the screen. So watching a 32" screen from 8 feet gives you the same picture size as watching a 48" from 12 feet. Move your TV as close to the viewing seat as you can, maybe on a portable stand w/wheels so you can roll it out of the way when needed. I suggest getting a decent reasonably priced TV you can afford now with the idea that in a few years when flat screen and HDTV is more reasonable, you can use this one as a second TV and buy a new one for your main viewing.

11-10-2004, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
bal8664 Crazy Location: Rochester, NY	I used to work at best buy selling tv's so i may be able to help here. Technically theres no difference in the resolution (how many lines horizontal and vertical) of any standard definition tv's, so when you say the flat tv's have a better pictrue its most likely because most brands flat tv's are thier higher quality models which render the image much better. The best makers of Tube type televisions are sony and toshiba. I'd be willing to bet that the picture on a rounded screen sony would look better than a flat RCA or magnavox. On the other hand the larger the screen the more obviosus the curve is, some of those 32" televisions are painful to watch from a side angle. For your price range i would recommend either the Toshiba 27" flat, which is about 350, or their 36" rounded which is about 380. Personally i'd go with the bigger one because i like big tvs

11-10-2004, 05:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
william Psycho	For now - go w/the larger tv. Digital tv is still on the waysides, and won't be required for a few years. HD is even further out. Yeah - it's nice to have, but not necessary. Don't buy into the factions that say you have to have it now - not true. There are a few stations that also offer HD, but it's not worth the cost. Bottom line - buy what you can afford, the biggest you can. By the time Digital and HD are required (a few years down the road), you can buy one you can afford. (At a price you can pay). There's no need to buy into the digital and HD TV must-have category unless you have the money to waste.