Finally gonna get a new tv, as the old square thing we have now is about finished.

Hoping to buy one that is about 40 inches. Has anyone any advice where i can get a good deal, any good makes, what to look out for etc. It will be used for more or less tv only (haven't got sky hd), with the odd dvd.

WHen I bought mine the advice I was given was that LCD is better up to 40 inch and plasma better over 40 inch. I guessed that exactly 40 inch meant that either were equally good.

If you're gonna buy a new one you'd be aswell to get one that does the full monty HD (i.e. 1080p) unless you're planning on getting another new one in a couple of years as that's where the broadcasting is headed towards.

Also, apparently the higher the contrast ratio the better the picture, e.g. the cheapies at about 1000:1 give you a dogshit picture, you're better off paying a little more for a proper make with a 20000+:1 contrast ratio.

It'd probably also be silly to buy one now unless yours is goosed, as they'll be about £100 cheaper in the Christmas sales.

i have been reading a hell of a lot after deciding i want a new one. AVforums is a good place to look in order to make a decision. I have decided on plasma as a lot of people have said its much better for the standard def stuff.

I have a 42" LCD LG and its brilliant, however if I was going to buy one now would get an LED one

Absolutely, LED is the future. Ripper mentioned 20'000:1 contrast ratio's, LED offer up to 5'000'000:1

Not cheap though!

LCD v Plasma - its a dead heat.

led are definately the future however its quite a new technology and for the price are not worth the money at all. Or so i read anyway.

For sd i would say based on the general consensus on avforums, plasma is a long way ahead of the others.

I was thinking that, but you have to look at it in the long run, if you buy an LED one now it will last a lot longer and be still at the top end in about 2 years time, in which case a plasma or LCD one wont.

The manufacturers thrive on the nuggets who think like that and buy the latest version at the silly top end prices Mr Compo. The same telly that is £2k this year will be less than £1k in a year's time. I paid £499 for a 40" Toshiba 1080p 50000:1 contrast telly last December. It'll be sufficient for my needs for several years, at least until the LED ones are about that price as like all electrical equipment they drop in price quite quickly. Blu-Ray players were £300+ a year ago, now you can get proper make ones at less than £100.

If you want to pay silly money and get the absolute dogs bits of a telly then fair play, but the ones around the £500 mark will be sufficient for what most people want or need if you shop around.

but at the minute there are only something like 8 hd channels so for standard viewing led and lcd (at the moment) are behind plasma. Its each to their own personal preferance. Even the whole 1080p is debateable. All depends on your viewing distance. At 42" you need to be around 6-8 feet in order for it to be seen. My viewing distance is 10 feet so have been told i will barely see a difference between 1080p and 720p at that screen size.

agree with you I only paid £450 for my LG a year ago, cousin worked in currys so got staff discount, and its great for what I want. All i was saying is if he has the money buy an LED one my aunty has just got one and its brilliant.

There are well more than 8 HD channels Mr B.

And if you sit 6 to 8 foot from a 42" telly you're gonna knack your eyes.

Hope that helps.

Check out digitaldirect.com
I've just bought a Sony 40W5500. 40" LCD. Same one is £849 in Tesco. I paid £677.
4 year warranty too. I've uused this company before and they're very reliable.

indeed Sky now says there are now 30, although half of them you probably won't watch.

The 6-8 feet thing proves my point. To get the FULL benefit of 1080p HD you need to be sitting that close. Any further away and you start to lose clarity, therefore rendering 1080p less useful aka pointless (at 42"). the only way to keep the detail at 10ft+ would be to buy a 50" or higher.

Fook me i actually (nearly) sound like i know what i'm talking about!!!!

When are you going to get some balls and feel the full effect of me ripping you apart on Fifa (In HD)?

The inlaws just bought a 42" lcd LG one and I must say that Im very impressed with the picture quality. Its as good as my 40" samsung and was half the price

anyone with a 40 incher is going to be a favourite with the ladies, indeed

LG and Samsung tellys are made in the same factories though, so it's highly likely to be of similar quality!

Looking for a new TV ? .Hot uk deals is the best site ..

i have just ordered this.....great deal!

http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-televisions/1112286-lg-42pq3000-345-73-good-deal.html