Sounds like the decision has been made, but I'll just throw out some info. if anyone is interested.
Unless it's changed in the last couple months, the only 1080p LCD displays are 37" or bigger. Obviously computer monitors can do it and higher (23"+), but those until recently don't have all the same inputs (some of the newest have component, composite, s-vid, vga, dvi, and/or hdmi).
When I was shopping a year ago, a buddy had just bought the new 4096 Samsung. It's a 40" unit with a 6000:1 Contrast Ratio. What does that mean? The higher the Contrast Ratio, the truer the blacks in the picture (basically). So that was top of the line at the time. He paid over $3000 for it though, and I was looking to spend $1000. So I gave up on a tuner-based set with CableCard, etc... and found a input-only solution.
The Westinghouse 37W3 was my model. It has HDMI, 2 DVI, 2 Component, S-Video, composite, and plenty of on-screen display options. At 37", it fits nicely above my fireplace in the living room, and looks great. I use it for 360, PS3 (both at 1080p), Wii, and my Windows Media Center PC. Since the Media Center is the Sony with 200-Disc DVD changer... watching entire TV series is a snap.
And when I wanna go blu-ray or HD-DVD, well... either Pirates disc or Casino Royale still impress anyone that looks. And the picture quality on my Matrix set is amazing as well. 1080p should not be ignored, IMHO. Especially when you compare Windows Media Center running at 1920x1200 to what it looks like at 1280x800 via component on a 30" widescreen CRT tv. (yuk)
All that said, I'd have preferred an Aquos to my set when I was buying. I'd have stuck with the 1080p version which was out of my price range... but they are great sets. Funny thing is, I've seen my buddies 40 as low as $1499 refurbed, and Costco sells my 37" unit for $579 nowadays. Can't really beat that price vs value, in my humble opinion.
Good luck with your purchase, and have a great day.
o
WHOOPS. Big difference there :lol:
