HD TV recommendations?

Thinking I may take the plunge soon on a flat screen HD TV. Anyone out there already schooled in what the best type/brand/size I should look for, and what I should avoid? How does the LCD compare to the "other" version?

Some HD I've seen in stores has been less than impressive. it's like it's supersharpened, then smudged, so even people look like rendered digital. Maybe it's just bad source, or I've heard that they even intentionally degrade the signals on some models with slimmer profit margins to steer you to the higher-profit models. I'm thinking 32 or maybe 37 inch would be plenty big.

Anyone with info they'd care to share?

Thanks!

and it's wonderful. Very black black, good color and the definition is fantastic. I love watching the nature and space shows on it.

32 inch.

One thing to be aware of, each brand has its own HDMI uplink thing. You can use a Sony TV with a Toshiba DVD player without any problems, but if you have two Toshiba products, they have some sort of mystical "single touch link". Now, I am not entirely sure what that will let you do that you cant already do with a universal remote, but it exists. And it annoys me that I cannot use it.

not 1080.

I know since then, like usual, the technology has just gotten amazing. And like you, I dithered between the 2 choices at the time, LCD and Plasma, the size, the brand, et al. But bottom line, I would have been happy with anything, because it's so much better than the CRT based telly I had. I still love my flat screen, because I also use it for the computer--that was cutting edge at the time, but everyone's doing it now.

You're gonna be thrilled with whatever you end up with. I don't think one is better than the other, it's just down to your personal tastes and preferences.

I love it. The picture is great. Sharp and clear but still very natural looking.

Even if you do not buy it there you will get an idea of what regular people think of the tvs they have purchased, which ones are good and which ones are not. Whatever you think is your biggest size, get a bigger one. You won't regret it, but you may regret it if you do not and wish you had purchased a bigger one.

Check out this site for viewing distances (plasma): http://www.thebestplasmatv.com/guides/size-optimal-viewing-distance/
There's other good information there as well.

Here is a good page about lcd tvs: http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-2742363240962604&output=html&h=15&slotname=5646487426&w=468&lmt=1255305967&flash=10.0.22&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebestplasmatv.com%2Fguides%2Fsize-optimal-viewing-distance%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2Fdiscuss%2Fduboard.php%3Faz%3Dshow_mesg%26forum%3D105%26topic_id%3D9073382%26mesg_id%3D9073693&dt=1255307162436&correlator=1255307162439&frm=0&ga_vid=971491956.1255306367&ga_sid=1255306367&ga_hid=1377647909&ga_fc=1&u_tz=-300&u_his=1&u_java=1&u_h=1024&u_w=1280&u_ah=988&u_aw=1280&u_cd=32&u_nplug=18&u_nmime=79&biw=1280&bih=815&fu=0&ifi=1&dtd=66&xpc=ehmTp5KSPN&p=http%3A//www.thebestplasmatv.com&rl_rc=true&format=fp_al_lp&adsense_enabled=true&ad_type=text_image&height=15&width=468&kw_type=radlink&prev_fmts=468x15_0ads_al&rt=ChBK0neRAA0JBArnR9j5TTuQEg1MQ0QgVFYgUHJpY2VzGgjVs6bm3BmPwCDu3tDEAigBSO7e0MQCUhMIto71x5-2nQIVzjnnCh3bGBWX&hl=en&kw0=LCD+TV+Prices&kw1=Plasma+TV+Test&kw2=Viera+Plasma&kw3=Best+TV&okw=LCD+TV+Prices

The past 6 months I have purchased a 50" Panasonic plasma online and a 32" Insignia from Best Buy and I am happy with both of them. Remember, what a tv looks like in the showroom has nothing to do with how it will look in your home.

i also saved $1000 by buying it online.

worth it. I have Toshiba, which is also good.
I think Phillips is total junk. I never had one that worked more than a year.
I like my Toshiba, but don't think that HD is so great. TV is tv and most of it is total garbage.
No matter how clear it comes thru'. And it ain't that much clearer.
Plus, don't forget you must pay extra for HD. Some of the channels and shows are hd only. There is some good stuff, depending what you like to watch.
Don't forget, the library has free books.
dc