well, like i said i'm not planning to spend over $700 for a flat screen. when i was at walmart the phillip caught my eyes cause of the silver frame and the screen had built in swivel (the screen can be adjust to different position), but was little pricey. the samsung wasn't bad price $698. the vizio contrast ratio # was too low compare to the samsung and phillip. the picture was little lighter for my liking. i think i'm getting 19" toshiba from curcuit city. it's cheaper than all the ^^^. $497. it has all the bell and whistle as the above, but little smaller screen.

they still have high sales to repair rates, I no longer carry them after last year with a 100% failure rate (and not the same issue)

__________________
Steve
'97 GTP VS cam, ZZP PCM, and not much else yet

Philips and LG had a partnership (was called LG/philips) and was a philips factory, samsung sources the panel from philips (according to trade papers) samsung did poorly in a few magazines although they were going against higher end sets (Pioneer has plasma not lcd totally different things)

__________________
Steve
'97 GTP VS cam, ZZP PCM, and not much else yet

That's complete BS. Samsung makes their own LCD panels... They even created a joint venture with Sony, just to make LCD panels.

Click here for a news story that talks about it

To answer the original poster... Contrast ratio is mostly marketing fluff. It describes the ratio of the brightest pixel it can display compared against the darkest... The problem is, that it doesn't describe the ratio of the two pixels when displayed at the same time. (At least that's what I read when I read all about LCD/DLP projectors when I put together my home theatre system)

Best advice, is to just go and look at the picture yourself and judge what you think is better. Numbers can be made to say anything

thanks

My two cents, if it means anything.

Just for some history, remember the company Goldstar? Made lowend electronics? That's the "G" in LG. Just saying. I'm very happy with my LG washer and dryer.

I also had one of the first Samsung products back in the early 80s when the first started selling in the US. It was a boom box and worked really well.

I have a Mitsubishi Rear Projection, HP Plasma, and Olevia LCD. I've helped my parents purchase a Samsung DLP, and I've seen Mitsubishi DLPs as well. Olevias are sold at Office Depot and Target, and price comparable to Vizio. One thing you might want to look for as well is one with a headphone jack. The Olevia is in my bed room. It's easy to block the picture out, but I can't cover my ears else I wouldn't hear my alarm clock.

It comes down to what you're going to watch and what you'll connect. I'd say you want at least 2 HDMIs and 2 RGB connections. If you just watch TV and connect a DVD player, this will cover it. But never say never - I thought the 1 DVI and 3 component connections I have would be enough on one of my TVs, but I wish I had one more to add Blu Ray in the future.

__________________
2004 Impala SS - ZZP PCM, 3.4" Pulley, K&N CAI, TOG Headers, SLP Cat-Back, 180* thermo, Autolite 605s, PRJ Performance wires, Alternator rewire, GMPP Handling kit
2000 Grand Prix GT, Commuter Car - K&N CAI, GMPP Handling kit, ZZP downpipe w/U-bend delete, ZZP Plog, Alternator rewire

well, i didn't get the flat screen as i planned, but my father picked up a nice 40" sony bravia HD tv. yeah he definitly need new tv stand!!! oh well i save money tho he gave me his old flat screen samsung. man this samsung weight like a ton.






my new tv

Try moving a Rear Projection TV - THAT weighs a ton. Just got a new 65" DLP today, and I moved it myself from the box to the TV stand. I was amazed at how light it is. Heck, the TV stand probably weighs twice as much as the TV!

__________________
2004 Impala SS - ZZP PCM, 3.4" Pulley, K&N CAI, TOG Headers, SLP Cat-Back, 180* thermo, Autolite 605s, PRJ Performance wires, Alternator rewire, GMPP Handling kit
2000 Grand Prix GT, Commuter Car - K&N CAI, GMPP Handling kit, ZZP downpipe w/U-bend delete, ZZP Plog, Alternator rewire

I have found out that Sony tube TV's weigh a ton. I don't know why but they are alot more then regular tube TV's. People are pretty surprised when I tell them that their 47 inch TV weighs under a hundred pounds.