Samsung 30" HDTV $899.95

[Dood]

BB also has a Samsung 32" 4:3 HDTV for $999. It looks much larger, but when I flipped it to widescreen the 16:9 wa sooo small (maybe 22" like mentioned above).

 

[aggie113]

If you guys want to have your questions answered you should do a search through the forums over at www.avsforum.com They have already covered almost every questions you can think of.

 

[Wag]

Also, this TV has no 720P mode (So the only mode you get progressive scan in is "EDTV" - or 480 progressive, and only 800 lines of resolution so you're losing lines with 1080i programming. Sigh..

Good luck finding any HDTV with 720p support for under $2k.

Any HDTV that can handle 1080i can handle 540p as well, which is fine and dandy for a nice HTPC setup.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: larciel
saw this at local bestbuy and picture was so blurry... *shudders*

27" flat samsung looked terrific tho

I was at a store the other day, pricing tv's and comparing them. My wife commented "I don't like those ones, they look blurrier than these ones." The sales person kept trying to push "these ones". They had the models they wanted to sell that day with as sharp a picture as possible. Can you imagine looking at an HDTV that looked as though you were looking through a coke bottle? That's how bad they had them out of focus. Take the time to play with the controls in the store to adjust the picture. My wife changed her mind on 2 side by side tv's after I adjusted the settings.

 

[MrMet]

Question for any HDTV gurus out there. I am in need of a second TV set. The one i have now is at the end of its line. I'd like to get one that is HDTV ready, rumor around here is that the cable company will have HDTV by summer. Our primary viewing on the current set is regular cable tv with the occasional DVD movie. Would any of you spend the 900.00 for this widescreen set or should I just get a 4:3 screen. I'd hate to spend money on a 4:3 then regret it later. How is this TV when watching 4:3 programs. Also how are the 4:3 sets when watching HDTV programing? (will i have to always watch tv with the black bars on top and bottom?) Thanks in advance.

 

[JoeCraw]

Would any of you spend the 900.00 for this widescreen set or should I just get a 4:3 screen. I'd hate to spend money on a 4:3 then regret it later. How is this TV when watching 4:3 programs. Also how are the 4:3 sets when watching HDTV programing?

With a 16:9 set, when you watch 4:3 programing you will get black bars on either side OR you can stretch the picture to fit. With a 4:3 set your will get black bars on the top and bottom when you what HDTV. It all depends on your viewing habits. If you plan on watching DVDs and HDTV more then get the 16:9 set. If you don't watch alot of DVDs and you don't expect to get HDTV within a year or two then get the 4:3 set.
I would get the 16:9, but that is me.

Joe

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: MrMet
Question for any HDTV gurus out there. I am in need of a second TV set. The one i have now is at the end of its line. I'd like to get one that is HDTV ready, rumor around here is that the cable company will have HDTV by summer. Our primary viewing on the current set is regular cable tv with the occasional DVD movie. Would any of you spend the 900.00 for this widescreen set or should I just get a 4:3 screen. I'd hate to spend money on a 4:3 then regret it later. How is this TV when watching 4:3 programs. Also how are the 4:3 sets when watching HDTV programing? (will i have to always watch tv with the black bars on top and bottom?) Thanks in advance.

I recently agonized over the whole HDTV or not question.

(decided not)

I found the following site VERY useful when trying to compare the 16:9 to standard 4:3 sets.

Very good 16:9 to 4:3 calculator

Unstretched it shows that 4:3 viewing area of a 30" 16:9 TV is equivent to a 24.5" diagnol TV.

 

[Oxonium]

I bought the 3097 model (almost identical to the one in this thread) from Sears back in September. So far it has been a great TV. I went with the 16:9 cuz I watch a lot of DVDs. For regular TV, I find that the Panorama setting for this TV has a pretty good picture with minimal distortion except on the far left and right sides. After watching TV in Panorama mode, you get pretty used to it which I cannot say for the Wide mode, which always has annoying distortions. Unfortunately, the default setting is Wide which not only stretches the picture, but also cuts off the left and right edges a little bit. Every time I turn on the TV say switch from component or s-video to my cable connection, it defaults back to Wide. As far as I can tell, there is no way to change the default setting to Panorama. So every time I turn on the TV, I have to change the setting to Panorama if I want to watch regular TV. Other than this little annoyance, this is a good TV at a great price.

Oh yeah, I agree that it's a heavy TV too. It really sucked moving it up to my 3rd floor apartment with no elevator. That was the last time my neighbor agreed to help me move anything.

 

[Kwad Guy]

BestBuy is having one of those customer appreciation weekends this weekend Feb 14-18. 10% off TVs (among other things) with the coupon they mailed out...Could make the Samsung deal hotter. Or is there a better TV use at BestBuy?

Kwad

 

[Shloime]

Here's the full input story on the Samsung 4:3 TVs. They have three rear inputs and one side S-VHS input. Rear input Video 2 doubles as Component 1, and Video 3 doubles as Component 2. So, you can have 0, 1 or 2 component inputs. You just have to give up one composite input for each component input. If number of inputs is the issue, I'd check to make sure that the 16:9 set doesn't have a similar arrangement

As far as picture quality goes, though the specs clearly aren't high-resolution, it looks darn good to my old. non-purist eyes. For a little over $600, the TXM-2796 gives me a flat-screen scan-doubled 4:3 TV that I can also use to experiment with HTPC gear like that Radeon 8500 and component video adapter. This should tide me over until the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection issue gets settled, and 40" plasma or LCD units come down in price to the under $2000 range (about 2 years, maybe?).

 

[aldamon]

I did some research online and someone posting something interesting on a bulletin board. Apparently, you can turn the 3096 into a 3097 (turn on PIP, BBE sound enhancement, etc.) using the option menu:

"Turn off the TV, press Mute + 1 + 8 +2, then Power, and proceed with caution. You can enable PIP, plus BBE sound enhancement, through the "Option" menu."

Can anyone confirm this?

Anyway, with the 24 months of interest-free financing, this set would only cost me $37.50 a month (after the $100 deduction). Hmmmm, but I already have a 27" 4:3. Still need some convincing.

 

[OrlandoTiger]

Shloime (or the rest of you 4:3 HDTV set owners),Im curious why you would get a 4:3 hdtv.Since there seems to be stretch mode available on a 16:9 for use with non hdtv programming and within the next few years most signs point to a vast amount of even network programming to be in 16:9.Im not implying you didnt have your reasons,just wondering what they are Maybe Im off in one or more of my assumptions?
Aldamon Ive read that the pip can be menu activated but there are other features on the 3097 arent an option on the 3096.

 

[Kwad Guy]

Does anyone know if the 30" 16:9 set carries the $100 rebate if you buy it in-store. BestBuy.com rebates
are NOT applicable to in-store purchases. If you buy it in-store, does a $100 rebate print out?

Kwad

 

[Mac]

Just did a quick check on S&H from B&H and this deal sinks like a rock... $198 by truck to Florida.

 

[Technocrat]

Myself I have a 30" 16:9 and I would never get another 4:3 TV again. I would opt for the 3097 because it has 3:2 pulldown. That works with Digital Cable and not just Progressive Scan DVD's.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: DestruyaUR
Hmm - Best Buy ALREADY has a damned good deal. They have a 100 dollar digital coupon with the online purchase of any digital TV.

Didn't this deal expire? I can't find a valid link anywhere.

 

[OrlandoTiger]

Kwad, the offer is for a gift card and that offer is B+M applicable (I think its still valid in store as well) it was on the print ad last week.
Mac if you arent a long way from the store,why not borrow a truck if you dont have one and save delivery fees?A few people can handle it ok...
Aldamon I think that coupon was for last week only.I suspect a conspiracy trying to prevent us from picking this up (along with some grand plan) for 500 this week

 

[bigal]

Tweeter here in MA is selling a 30" HDTV 16:9 Samsung TXM3098WHF for around $1400, does anyone know bells and whistles this model has?

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: bigal
Tweeter here in MA is selling a 30" HDTV 16:9 Samsung TXM3098WHF for around $1400, does anyone know bells and whistles this model has?

Sure.

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: GreenButton
I bought this TV at the end of January. It kicks ass. For 4:3 material it has a stretch mode called "Panorama" that stretches the picture and minimally distrorts the picture. 480p dvd and xbox play are sweet. I wholeheartedly recommend this TV to people looking for an entry level HDTV. Anyone with a good deal on an OTA/SAT HDTV receiver? I have a hard time spending $500 for a box to receive free programming.

How big is your room?

 

[thholr]

cant find mention of the 100 coupons on best buys site, anyone have any links to it . Maybe I am blind.

 

[DestruyaUR]

Originally posted by: thholr
cant find mention of the 100 coupons on best buys site, anyone have any links to it . Maybe I am blind.

You're right. Seems Best Buy is smarter than we thought. Where the 100 dollar digital coupon offer was is now just a banner for a sale on DVD players and DVRs.

 

[treasurehunter]

Doesn't anyone find the lack of DVI (or Firewire) to be a substantial limitation of this set, in terms of protecting yourself against possible obsolescence due to future HDTV copyright arrangements? I realize that even a DVI port isn't a guarantee that things will work properly in the future, but it seems to me better than nothing. I mean, I realize this TV sells for a low price and can't have everything, but should it then only be considered by people planning to upgrade anyhow in the next 2-3 years?

 

[MrMet]

Originally posted by: treasurehunter
Doesn't anyone find the lack of DVI (or Firewire) to be a substantial limitation of this set, in terms of protecting yourself against possible obsolescence due to future HDTV copyright arrangements? I realize that even a DVI port isn't a guarantee that things will work properly in the future, but it seems to me better than nothing. I mean, I realize this TV sells for a low price and can't have everything, but should it then only be considered by people planning to upgrade anyhow in the next 2-3 years?

What does the lack of firewire have to do with the TV? I a newbie to all the HDTV technology. Is it used for video cameras or dvd players and such?

 

[aldamon]

Originally posted by: treasurehunter
Doesn't anyone find the lack of DVI (or Firewire) to be a substantial limitation of this set, in terms of protecting yourself against possible obsolescence due to future HDTV copyright arrangements?

Yes, and I have decided to pass on this set.