Go Big or Don't Go at All

That is a popular statement for a number of topics. When it comes to men and their televisions it is most appropriate. This past March we were kicking around the idea of going somewhere warm for our vacation but we knew we would be dong more traveling in the next couple of months. With that thought, we decided to put some money into the house. More specifically our family room needed some updated furniture and a move to flat screen TV. So the search began. Would it be a 42 inch, 47, 50, 55, or 60 inch? How about technology, did we want Plasma, LCD, or the new LED units. Then there is the refresh rate... 60 Hz, 120, 240, or the newest 480 Hz models. So much to think about. Then other factor was going to be price. How could I find the very best TV and have someone pay me for it. Yes!

Ok, so that might be a little unrealistic. Being somewhat computer savvy, I know the faster a processor is, the better the computer. You would think this applies to television technology. Well it does and doesn't. Before I get ahead of myself I will admit that we had decided on the Visio 55 inch 480 Hz LED unit. It was on the cart and in checkout at Costco when my debit card crashed. It was a Saturday late afternoon and I had made some purchases on it earlier in the day. Those and the TV hit the card limiter. I headed home to get a check as Costco does not take credit cards (I really didn't want to go that route anyhow). Driving back to Costco we decided to take one last look at Best Buy. I have had very little luck with Best Buy sales people regarding the level of knowledge they have on hat they sell. But alas I ran into the exception. The whole 480 Hz thing is at this point a marketing thing and not true 480 Hz refresh technology. I found out that most bargain 240 Hz units are really 120's that have been double sampled. Without going into the nuts and bolts, it is misleading the public and marginally legal marketing. I though it was odd that Visio was the only manufacturer that had a 480 Hz set. That should have been a light bulb at he get go.

The crazy thing about this diversion into Best Buy was that there was an LG (one of my leading contenders all along) 55 inch true 240 Hz LED set that was an open box item. Not only that, it had been returned within the 30 day return that Best Buy offers. I asked the salesman two questions, why the return and how long had it been on the shelf. He said the gentleman wanted the newest Samsung which was unavailable when he purchased the LG. When the Samsung became available he brought the LG back. The unit had been on the shelf for three days.

So here I have it, last years top of the line 55 inch LG for less than half the original cost, or pay more for the Visio. That my friends is called a no-brainer.

Yes LG, Life's Good... Doug