HDTV Payment Options?

[theboytampon]

I am looking to buy an HDTV, nothing all that high-grade (I'm a student just entering University and paying my own way without student loans) - maybe something 30-35", at 720p (I'd like 1080p, but I realize that's not possible with my budget...)

I was wondering... is there a way I can buy the HDTV and pay monthly? It seems impossible to save up the entire sum at one time, and it requires waiting for a long time before I can actually purchase it.

Is there any stores or whatnot that allow you to take the HDTV home, and pay a monthly fee? I can pay 250$ per month, and probably 100-150$ upfront.

It's not like I plan NOT on paying for a long time. I have the money monthly, I just want the HTDV asap, rather than saving, I'd like to take it home and pay on a schedule. Hopefully without interest eating up my soul.

[Kings-Rook1]

$250x6=$1,500! My advice to you is to put away $250 each month until X-mass and then go nuts.

I do not know about Canada, but here in the states we have places where you can rent to own (Aaron's and Rent-A-Center) but they charge crazy interest (20%-30%) and high "service charges". You would probably end up paying close to $3,000 for a $1,500 LCD.

Another option is in store financing. Some large retailers offer 0% on large purchase; generally with a one year term (pay it off or else you get slammed with a year of interest on the specified anniversary date! - Best Buy I am 90% sure has a offer like this).

Also shop around, I have been watching the prices drop like mad. You can get a 32" HD LCD for about $600.00 her in Florida. It's a brand I have never heard of, but they all come from the same place these days.

Happy hunting.

[theboytampon]

I can put away 500$ each month if I save, but I don't think I have the willpower for that. :p It would take roughly three months for a good LCD set. If I start now, I would probably have enough by the end of the summer (boo!). I need a fast-forward button.

It would be nice if I could pick up a decent set at Walmart or something, and have a year to pay it off like you said. I could definitely do it within a year's period, and not have to worry about the interest.

[dellamorte dellamore]

Heard some good things about the Olevia 37 inch , and it's only around 500 us . It's a 720 p model , but that's still pretty good .

Honestly , i would wait , you can prob get a full hd model in about six months for under a 1000 , plus you know you'll want a blu ray / hd player also , so keep that in mind , the prices are dropping fast , a little patience will pay off , and i would'nt finance it , you can't really enjoy an electronic device that's not paid in full , just some personal advice . Don't get sucked in by the promise of easy credit , go in knowing what you want and that you have the actual cash to pay it off , and keep in mind what you want and what you really need , cause that's another aspect of that big purchase , how can you enjoy it when you know , or if you think the money could have went to something more important . Think of it this way , the diff between Sd and HD television is more pronounced wrinkles on Nic Cage's face .

[Kings-Rook1]

The last thing I would want to suggest is a consumer credit card (spit and curse), but an unsecured signature loan from a bank you have an account with might be another option. It shouldn't be too hard to get and the interest reasonable (6-12% depending on credit score).

15% interest (Highest rate I've ever heard a bank quote) on $2,000.00 for 12 months = $180.52 monthly payment. The only catch is you would end up paying about $2,400: $166.20 in interest over the year and about $200+/- in fees to initiate the loan.

All in all I agree with dellamorte dellamore...Pay cash! and he is right about that Olevia 37 inch, I paid $700 for the 1080i.

[NuclearMisfit]

My friend said if you get a HDTV and have cable, the channels that broadcast in HD look great while the other channels that dont broadcast in HD look like crap. So if your a tv lover does that mean youll need to find a cable company that broadcasts in HDTV?

[Kings-Rook1]

Originally posted by NuclearMisfit
the other channels that dont broadcast in HD look like crap.

I will have to admit that they don't look great, but their not that bad either. All the major network broadcast in HD on higher channels (in the 1000 using Brighthouse cable here in FL) and several other stations simulcast as well (DISC, SI-FI, HIST, ESPN, etc, etc).

The problem is not so much the HD issue but the size of the set. If you are use to a 27" and you jump to a 42" the signal doesn't improve by 56% unless you go to HD (and then it improves by 1000% IMO).

[NuclearMisfit]

Originally posted by Kings-Rook1
I will have to admit that they don't look great, but their not that bad either. All the major network broadcast in HD on higher channels (in the 1000 using Brighthouse cable here in FL) and several other stations simulcast as well (DISC, SI-FI, HIST, ESPN, etc, etc).

The problem is not so much the HD issue but the size of the set. If you are use to a 27" and you jump to a 42" the signal doesn't improve by 56% unless you go to HD (and then it improves by 1000% IMO).

I mean will the channels that arent broadcasted in HD look like normal tv channels?

[SpongeBod]

Originally posted by Kings-Rook1
I will have to admit that they don't look great, but their not that bad either.
It's true that non-digital channels don't look so hot, but most of the ones that aren't digital that you're going to watch are in HD, like your local channels, ESPN, etc.
The digital channels, although not as good as HD still look good.

If you want to get the best quality, just make sure you have your cable box hooked up through Component, DVI or HDMI.

Also, if you have a choice of more than one cable company in your town. Find out what channels each one offers. If one offers HDnet, that's the one I'd go with. Comcast has INHD channels and they don't have as many movies and neato stuff on it as the HDnet channels do.

As far as the best way to buy a HDTV. I bought mine with a no payments for a year offer from Sears. I paid it off before the year was up before intest kicked in. But Sears is the only place that did not pile all the back interest on when the year was up. I don't know if they stii do it though.

[theboytampon]

I was just wondering what options are best for HDTVs.

I'm getting a smaller one, because it's going to be for personal bedroom use. I won't be more then 8'-10' away. I was thinking 30-40", anyone know a good size for that distance?

Also, is there a HUGE leap from 720p to 1080p, because the prices seem to think so.

I will be using my HDTV for watching widescreen DVDs, mainly, for now. I plan to upgrade to an HD-DVD / Blu-Ray player later on, probably start saving for that right after I purchase my HDTV. Or perhaps a better sound system first.

Some questions. I have satellite, but I do not have the HD package. If I upgraded, would it wise to do so... keep in mind I don't watch a lot of TV other than ABC, NBC and The CW. Do you need to order HD packages to receive their HD broadcasts?

Do standard television channels (digital and analogue) look horrifically worse on an HDTV?

Will programs aired on digital channels be displayed at a widescreen aspect ratio? Like, I've seen MUCH aired on displays in stores and it's widescreen... no stretching or cut-offs. I was wondering if by using an HDTV the signal broadcasts a 16:9 image. Or will it be standard 4:3 with black borders on the sides? I was wondering if commercials air 16:9, or what. I would hate to get an HDTV and find that everything is 4:3 anyway, besides 5% of programming I watch.

On a smaller HDTV (30"), do DVDs look bad? Anamorphic, of course. Or do they appear similar to a regular SD tv? I've always imagined HDTV to be identical to SDTV, only instead of having black borders, it doesn't.

My grandparents have a LG 15" LCD HDTV with regular cable. It looks blocky, and unsaturated. Can I expect my display to appear similar or worse?