I hate TV, but I need it for emergencies. What's a good CHEAP deal on a TV that will still be OK after the switch?

I can vouch for that Microsoft cam. Had it as my living room cam on my website before I got a Logitech Communicate Deluxe w/glass lens for free at circuit city. It's going to be my yard cam next. And as for Buy.com, I have never had a problem with them yet. ::knocks on wood::

@speedwell: I dont think they even make tv's with analog tuners anymore. Any tv you buy today will be okay after the switch.

Anyone know about that 42" on Newegg for $500? I just convinced the wife to let me go out and spend the dough on a new set over the weekend and then I see this, days before I'm set to move into my new house. With the right routing I could have it delivered in time to move into my new house this weekend. (But only if its good)

Is 720p still good at 42", or does it only really get debatable about going to 1080p once you go larger than that?

@Sam Wille:

720p should be alright at that size, unless you are getting it for blu-ray then obviously not =). You see a slightly better picture during HD video games and stuff if it were 1080p but typically you will not notice it at that size.

@Sam Wille: Read the reviews on wall-mounting that thing. I hear it's a doozy.

@Sam Wille: Check the hz on it an dsee what it's like. Also, realize it is 720p so you won't have the highest form of high-def but if you are okay with that concession in order to get a lower price, then okay. However, if you want 1080p, you can find a TV the same size with 1080p for just a little more. It all depends on what you want and what you are using it for.

Personally, I'm of the mind that if I'm spending that much on a TV, I'd rather get the highest one I can afford so that it doesn't become obselete as quickly. I will say, though, I was raised by a dad who always had top of the line audio equipment and TVs so I'm used to that stuff. (Plus I inherit his old stuff, so that's cool.)

@speedwell:

Costco has a Sharp 32" LCD 780p for $499. I've been watching deals for a month now and this is one of the best I've seen for a good basic TV.

They've also got a couple of 22" LCDs - a Samsung for $319 and an AOC for $229.

Costco usually extends the original warranty to two years and accepts returns for 90 days.

@speedwell: There's some good options available in tuners for your computer. If you have a laptop, you'll want a tuner card that plugs in by USB 2.0, Firewire, or ExpressCard. This can enable some basic DVR functions like timeshifting, and you can record shows to your hard drive, but the quality is dependent on having a fast enough hard drive and processor. For just watching, the drain isn't too bad. On a desktop, you can get a tuner card to do this.

Desktop tuner($50): [www.newegg.com]

Laptop Tuner($70): [www.newegg.com]

Granted, if you have cellphone service and the internet and a radio, I'd say you're 90% there. Actually, maybe keep your router/modem on a UPS and use a laptop if you'll forgo TV, since the radio can be hard to use in a disaster, thanks to the fact that most local news radio stations tend to be sporadic for me.

Or, look into getting a cheap analog set and your $40 coupon from the government and buy a TV tuner that's getting good reviews online for around $60. That's a net loss of $20, plus the price of picking up someone's old analog set at a garage sale or pawn shop. Maybe talk to your friends who are updating and see if any of them will let you take their old analog set off of their hands.

For about $110, you can get a 13 inch TV from Best Buy's store brand with a built in tuner. That's probably the simplest option, but the other options are all cheaper. If you're tech savvy, go for one of those computer tuners. Otherwise, the cheap analog set and subsidized converter is probably your best bet.

@speedwell: It may be cheaper to buy a used 25" CRT analog TV for like $50 on eBay, and then buy a converter/tuner. You could probably get a tv in good condition, and all you need, for under $99.

@Sam Wille: And if you want a 720p set, get a low-end Panny on sale for $600. It happens pretty regularly (got one at Fry's last week), and the quality more than justifies the extra $100.

@TVarmy: PS: You'll need an antenna for the TV set or converter box, as I'm pretty sure they no longer bundle them. However, I've heard that even rabbit ears antennas, which are really cheap, get a decent amount of channels. If you live anywhere near a big city, that should be enough for emergency news.

@AlteredBeast: Definitely. You can get a decent used analog TV for well under a hundred bucks (I got a 36" from a very nice gay couple on craigslist- $75!). Get a converter box coupon from the feds, and pick up the best converter box available (probably the Channelmaster CM-7000- around $20 shipped after the coupon). You'll be set for years.

I believe Best Buy has the same Toshiba HDTV for the same price in their stores, for anyone who wants it but wants it now.

Been looking at getting it for my parents.

@Sam Wille: 720p is fine for most consumers. You won't really notice the benefits of 1080p unless your set is 50" or larger, among other factors.

Just note that CBS and NBC run content at 1080i, which will display just fine on a 720p TV, but you won't be viewing the TV at its best possible clarity.

Also take into account the size of the room in which you'll be using the TV (in this case whatever room in your new house you plan on setting up). Figure out about where you're going to sit to watch it, then take the distance in inches, divide by 3 to get the minimum screen size you should get, and by 1.5 to get the maximum screen size. That should give you a good range to determine the best sized set for your room and viewing area/distance.

@speedwell:

Buy a TV tuner for your computer. The USB tuners run about $80 to $200 or so. I use an Elgato EyeTV for my Mac. Works great.

If you have a windows computer you could get a Hauppauge WinTV HVR-950 for $80.

Gee - Buy.Com has gotten its rip-off schemes posted to the "Deals" again.

I strongly recommend against buying at buy.com.

Anyone see a good deal anywhere on an external 6.4TB hard drive?

Don't forget - Southwest is having a 50% off sale on tix to Vegas between Jan 1 & March something.

Just booked for $198 total (inc fees) roundtrip from BWI.

Use LASVEGAS as promo code.

@IrvCrapper: Why don't you just go the full nine yards and accuse Consumerist of selling out and accepting bribes?

@PirateFrankie:

Vegas is getting pretty desperate.

Thanks, everyone, good thoughts here!

@TechnoDestructo: Yeah, hell with Vegas, I'm going climbing at Red Rocks. I suspect we'll be seeing more of these great travel deals in the next quarter.

Even though rewards programs are in the crapper, at least base fares might go down.

If you do some digging on newegg, there is a hitachi 1tb drive for 109.99 with a $30 mail in rebate. 79.99 for a TB of storage space isn't shabby.

That phone looks great, for 30 bucks.

@thisisasignin:

Total after taxes and shipping = $40.31
I still think its a good deal for a simple phone.

@SUNY_SteveDave:

I have no reason to believe that the site is accepting bribes.