Anyone know HDTVs?

[jpub]

Hey guys, I'm also looking at getting a TV. I only want a 40" or so, and due to the $400 in gift cards I got for X_mas, I'm looking at Future Shop.

I'm leaning towards this one:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde ... 557&catid=

But there's also these:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde ... 400&catid=

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde ... 968&catid=

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde ... 946&catid=

I plan on hooking the following up to it:

PS2
Xbox 360
Wii
DVD Player (Supports Component)
Cable Box (SD for now, getting HD later, but it goes up to component or even std cable if I wanted).

Any recommendations?

[Berk]

I seem to recall hearing somewhere that 1080p was overkill for most ground-based TV services. Because of infrastructure shortfalls, there's no appreciable
improvement in reception between a 780p HDTV and a 1080p HDTV, even when you're watching HD surface cable.
- Grumpy Uncle Gearhead

[Sweno]

I'll echo what Berk said.

if you are planning on watching your HD content from some sort of streaming provider (cable, video on demand, netflix, etc) there is no measurable difference.
All of them over compress to the point of horrible macro-blocks showing up.

If you are planning on watching your HD content from bluray/hd-dvd, then there is a difference. Whether or not you care about such a difference is an entirely
different point.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[HoagieOfDoom]

Berk and Sweno are correct, but if only for the fact that you have an Xbox 360 it's worth it to get something in the 1080p range. Enjoy it at full HD for
gaming and some upscaled DVDs now, and you'll eventually get other things that can take advantage of it (like the cable box you mention and possibly a
Blu-Ray player). Downscaling to 720p is also an option; you'll spend less and still get a great picture.

As for the choices you listed, go with either the Sony or the second Samsung (LN40A550). I personally prefer the Sony, but at the Best Buy I worked at we sold
a heck of a lot of Samsungs, that model in particular, so it must have something going for it.

[Wiregeek]

I hate to do this like _this_, but I'm too brain fried to be diplomatic - Berk and Sweno are wrong.

a 1080p display is the only logical choice for 'going HD'. Especially if you consume broadcast media or movies or game..

1080p is the current top end - it's certain to be supported in the _next_ generation of gaming console, removable video storage, what have you. I don't
have a handy metaphor, but I cannot in good conscience recommend anything less than the highest resolution monitor you care to hook up to your PC.

Oops, did I slip into my cunning plan?

; )

In any case, I am going to weigh in on the Sony - it's the same one I plan to get for my second monitor once I've regenerated my cash flow from
Christmas.
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

[jpub]

Yeah, I'm still waffling over the Sony and the Toshiba. They have more or less identical specs, but I'm going to have to see if I can get a look at
them in store or a 360-degree view. I need to know where the side HDMI connection is on that Sony.