Does this sound like a good deal (TV related)

[grim_tales]

My mum wants to get a new TV to replace the one in the kitchen
She was walking round John Lewis's looking at TV's, it hit her when she saw the "Digital" banner across them that it makes sense to get one ready for Digital

She says she doesnt "care" about HD though (shes not much of a technofile)

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/store ... ms=5291694

£199 (discounted from £249) with intergrated Freeview.

If I got a new TV at some point aside from HD ready what else would I need? My TV can pick up Freeview (mostly) so isnt it already "ready for Digital"

[IronMonkey]

Any TV that can pick up Freeview is ready for the digital switchover.

You will never find a HD TV that is as small as that, so I wouldn't even bother looking. The extra resolution just wouldn't be justified on such a small screen. Don't mistake the fact that it is a 1024x768 display for it being HD ready because its not. It just means that the TV is basically a PC monitor with a tuner in it, which is why its cheap.

But yeah, go for it. It'll do for the kitchen.

[grim_tales]

I'm not planning on getting a new TV for my room yet, but when I do I went an HD ready obviously. There was an ad in the Radio Times for Panasonic in which it was said Plasmas are much better than LCD screens. (If you want larger screens). Seemed bloody expensive though.

Thanks Ironmonkey

[bradavon]

As IM says as you want a small TV just get an LCD with Freeview, and as it's a kitchen TV it needs to be cheap so yes good find.

However how about a much better 19" WS for a wee bit more:

1. £229.99 -

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... 292040.htm

2. £29.99 -

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... 320503.htm

OR: Do you want a billy bargain?

1. £169 (20" too) -

http://www.currys.co.uk/product.php?sku=000367

2. £29.99 -

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... 320503.htm

Sure Freeview built in is nicer but for the price I'd say go for the Samsung (it's Widescreen) or if you want to cheaper the one above. It doesn't need to be amazing for a kitchen TV.

Personally I wouldn't mind a separate Freeview box when it's the only thing you're going to plug into it anyway + that's a really nice Freeview box.

If there are none in stock in your area lmk and I'll be happy to pick you one up, my area has them in stock. I trust you so just lmk and I'll pick you one up, then send it to you. You can then bank transfer me the cash (that way if it's out of stock by the time I get there no harm done).

p.s - But otherwise yes that TV looks fine, if a little cheap (all that plastic is messy). It'll do the job.

[grim_tales]

She's looking at this one now (seems a bit expensive)

http://www.johnlewis.com/Audio+and+TV/T ... oduct.aspx

She wants freeview built in because the TV is going on a shelf on the wall or something, and she doesnt want to put anything else underneath it.

Is the 20" AS TV Freeview ready?

The same TV as the Bravia (?) is available from Hi-Spek for £279?

http://www.hispek.com/

My mum wants "a brand she's heard of" even though we know it doesnt need to be top of the range for the kitchen

[bradavon]

She's looking at this one now (seems a bit expensive)

Yowser that's a complete rip off, it's a Sony not surprising.

If she really must bad mad prices for a 15" TV it's £289.99 here: http://www.empiredirect.co.uk/content/p ... G2000U.htm

Who btw are very good (I used them for my TV and they even called me the day before to say it was going to be shipped tomorrow) but then your Mum has a "thing" about Internet shopping doesn't she? Still if she wants to actually waste money I'm not going to stop her

It's also £279.99 at Digital Electronics but I can't vouch for them: http://www.digitechelectronics.com/model.php?ID=2522

She wants freeview built in because the TV is going on a shelf on the wall or something, and she doesnt want to put anything else underneath it.

Fair enough. Good to see she's thinking ahead.

Is the 20" AS TV Freeview ready?

Freeview Ready LOL that's funny. No btw that's why I included a Freeview STB too.

The same TV as the Bravia (?) is available from Hi-Spek for £279? http://www.hispek.com/

Both will be a Bravia, Bravia is a Sony brand.

My mum wants "a brand she's heard of" even though we know it doesnt need to be top of the range for the kitchen

I can certainly understand that. The cheapest of the branded makes (i.e - brand means quality) is either Samsung or LG.

There is a Goodmans here (I wouldn't call it good myself but at least she'll have heard of it), it's only £20 more though: http://www.catalogue.24studio.co.uk/pag ... &p=502&s=8

Neither Samsung or LG seem to make a Freeview LCD TV under 26". She may have to pay the £280-290 for the Sony, that size is will be of low popularity.

Personally I'd still say nearly £300 for a 15" TV is a complete rip off, get the unknown brand (normally I'd avoid them but it's a kitchen TV). You're basically buying a £30 Freeview box and £100 PC Monitor with a Scart socket for well over double the price.

[grim_tales]

I would too, seems she's gone for the Sony. We bought it from Hi-Spek.
Its' better than our old TV by miles (but thats not hard). I've tried to explain an arial upgrade is needed if she wants to watch Freeview properly (so the BBC channels/C5 work all the time). ATM I can't even get the "radio" channels on Freeview (on my box I get "missing signal".

[bradavon]

Personally I'd have paid the extra £10 and got it from Empire Direct but at least she's paying a fair (for a Sony) price.

She will be getting a decent TV that's for sure.

Regarding what I said earlier the cheap TV from Argos does look butt ugly though but then it's only a Kitchen TV and at the end of the day it's only £80 more (even so like I said £280 for a 15" TV???).

It's a hard call. Personally too I don't like own cheap/nasty electronics.

I suspect I'd get a 17"/19" which would even out the £300 price tag for me. 15" really is small (17" is surprisingly bigger). Actually that's a good point, why so small?

I've tried to explain an arial upgrade is needed if she wants to watch Freeview properly (so the BBC channels/C5 work all the time). ATM I can't even get the "radio" channels on Freeview (on my box I get "missing signal".

It's an age thing . I guess it depends how much it annoys her. At least she bought a Freeview TV that's worth mark in itself.

My Nan is the same, she doesn't want all this digital malarkey. I'm not worried I gave her a Freeview box for her birthday a few years ago and know come switch off she'll be using it properly like everyone else.

[grim_tales]

She doesnt want a very big TV as we'll mostly be sitting round the kitchen table when its on and eating etc, so very close to it, or she'll be watching it while doing something else in the kitchen. Too big and it won't fit on the shelves? Dunno??
I saw a Panasonic LCD in Hi-Spek BTW (32" HD ready) for 780 pounds (something like that) which I thought was a good deal for when I buy a new set.

[bradavon]

Fair enough but tbh 15" is very small but 17" is not, which isn't big say like a 20".

Check out the differences between a 15" and 17" (neither look big but one looks small). It's to late now anyway. 20" is big though.

I saw a Panasonic LCD in Hi-Spek BTW (32" HD ready) for 780 pounds (something like that) which I thought was a good deal for when I buy a new set.

It's a fair price for a Panasonic but you can get 32" Toshiba with Freeview for £617 direct from Toshiba, provided you buy it by the 25th of December here (this is a special, if you click into see more info the price jumps):

http://gottatoshiba.com/promotions/pock ... ocket-lint

OR £639.99 here, no rush (it was £599 earlier today):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... dforums-21

Does the Panasonic have Freeview?

Sure you have a Freeview box but personally I'd get a Freeview model regardless (you can then plug your Freeview box into a DVD or Hard Disk Recorder giving you your all important two tuners).

[bradavon]

Grim: You should be able to get a decent branded 32" LCD for under £700. Easily without Freeview but also with if you look around.

[grim_tales]

Thanks. I'm not looking to get one just yet, maybe next year
I need to upgrade the ariel remember
I'll need a new DVDP too....

Yes the Panasonic had freeview. According to IM Panasonic/Pioneer are good if you want something which will last. How long I don't know, my Philips CRT has lasted 4 years and counting.

[bradavon]

There is a Sanyo on Empire Direct with as well as HDMI and Component has 3 Scarts (2 RGB) but tbh yes you may as well (if you're going to do it you may as well do it properly). The Sanyo I saw was 26" but I'm sure they do a 32" too.

That said you're happy with RGB Scart so at least the Sanyo you could get a better DVDP later.

If you do get the Toshiba you need the one with the T in the model number, as they make an identical one without Freeview.

According to IM Panasonic/Pioneer are good if you want something which will last. How long I don't know, my Philips CRT has lasted 4 years and counting.

TBH once you get past the cheap makes they all should last, including Samsung. In terms of build quality I don't believe there is anything between Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Toshiba or Samsung (and probably LG too).

It's in the extra features and picture quality (which of course is subjective) you pay the extra price. Looks too of course. With Sony and Panasonic you would expect rock solid performance, you're paying a premium for them.

Philips however used to be very good but over the last few years I've heard nothing but bad reports. My old TV was Philips too and served me very well but today I wouldn't buy one (they make decent shavers though).