New TV

Soldato
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9 Nov 2008
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7,149
Sadly, my cheap Visatron 26" TV decided to barbeque itself the other night.

It's lasted me a grand total of 2.5 years which is about on par considering it cost about £250 in 2008.

So my hunt for my next bargin TV starts.

It needs to have:

*1 HDMI for the 360
*1 Scart for my Freeview box (I much prefer my box to the inbuilt thingys)
*1 VGA connection (for connecting up my desktop and enjoying 26inches of wonderful Football Manager)
*TV must be 26, no bigger or smaller - it's the perfect size for my room.
*Must be black - just cuz.
*1080i/p - I've no real idea what these are but that's what my old one played he 360 on and it looked good. It probably cheaped out and upscaled or something but ideally I want a good resolution.
*Must be as cheap as possible really.

I can't imagine this Visatron was the hallmark of quality TV's but it was perfectly suitable for me, the 360 looked great on it, freeview was fine and movies were fine so please no super duper £800 Samsungs, if this cheap piece of turd was good enough I'm sure whatever is out there now is going to be equally as good.

Now obviously you can't go linking to competators so model names/numbers and sly hints and I'm sure I'll be able to find it for x amount.

So far I have an Alba for £200 that meets everything bar a VGA connection from a well known high street retailer - if I got this is it easy to 'add' a VGA connection with some sort of adaptor?

Is this the best option?

Ta
 
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Theres a Logik prolly in same shop with the connections you need for same money ... as for being any better I'm not sure. What connections does the Alba have ?
 
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I've just picked up a SHARP AQUOS LC26SH7E for use in an arcade cab, before i took it apart i tested a few things and it seems like a great tv for the money.

£219 at RS.
 
Ha, I didn't even know they did 27" TV's. 27" is acceptable but no matter how good that TV is i'm not spending that much. £200-£225 is really my budget.

Alba has all the connections I need apart from the VGA.

There is a RS right near me in Guildford. I got my freeview box off them actually so will check them out.

What about THIS? Samsung, seems to have all the connections I want and in budget?
 
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1 in stock at Guildford, could phone in the morning and pick it up tomorrow evening. Best TV for the money then?

Anyone know anything about it apart from 'it's a Samsung'?
 
Quote ' Let us be clear about it, this 26 inch LCD TV from Samsung is an entry level LCD TV, it doesn't come with all the fancy features and the cinematic effect that one would wish on their dream home. But, if its good television viewing you want, for a low priced LCD TV that can instantly upgrade your living room, the Samsung LE26B350 will do just that for you. For one, the Samsung LE26B350 26 inch LCD TV displays impressive deep black images for its class, it provides accurate colour and has a vast selection of picture controls, not to mention that it definitely looks good. On the downside, it can be a bit, just slightly, much pricier than other LCD TV in its level, plus, given the ample space on its side, it doesn't provide any inputs in its side panel.

Small screen LCD TVs may not be what many TV enthusiasts dream of, but to any person who does not have the space or the money to spare, the Samsung LE26B350 is exceptional indeed in terms of picture quality, although it comes with a price tag that's heavier than its competitors.

To begin with, the Samsung LE26B350 LCD TV is not your run of the mill LCD TV, IT has a simple yet elegantly handsome design with a glossy black finish. Although it looks like its designs may be generic to other LCD TVs in its class, it has a number of touches that sets it apart and will surely look good in any living room. One notable design feature is the oval stand base, it matches the frame's design well especially the clear plastic that protrudes along the bottom lip running across the frame, and the best part is that the stand swivels.

Being the low man on the totem pole on the Samsung LCD TV line up, the Samsung LE26B350 is not blessed with top of the line qualities; it features only a native resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels or 720p, comparably smaller to the 1080p to upper class models. This though is not a hindrance, because with its smaller screen size, it's not really necessary to have a high resolution. Also, with the Samsung LE26B350, there are many options for tweaking the picture quality, allowing you to get the best imaging for your preferences. The Samsung LE26B350 26 inch TV has a number of menu options for adjustment, like its 3 adjustable picture modes each independent to their input. There are also controls available for colour temperature customization for enhancement of the presets, and unique to this model in its class is the availability of control to the white balance for six main adjustments.

Another must have of an LCD TV should be the availability of a good number of connection options. Sadly, the Samsung LE26B350 has only the basics and would make you wish it had more. And with ample space on its sides, Samsung has failed to provide more sockets for easy accessibility. What you will find with the Samsung LE26B350 is the simple basics; you get two HDMI ports, one composite and one component video output. There is also an analogue and optical audio out, 3.5 mm audio in, and RF inputs for cable or antenna.

All in all, the Samsung LE26B350 is a great LCD TV for someone who just wants a great looking TV with good performance for TV viewing. It's not spectacular but it is better than those in its class. For its price, it's definitely a good value.'
 
I'm driving past one tonight so I'm going to phone when they open and check.

It says last limited stock may be ex display or repaired and Guildford shows as having 1 in stock.

What are peoples views on buying ex display/repaired TVs? Should I be worried and buy the 5 year warranty they offer for £20?
 
If it is ex display or repaired then it will be at a discounted price. Just ask to see it running and then make your mind up and deffo take the 5 year cover for £20 or less as case may be.
 
Really? I googled for it and could only find it for £285 at the rainforest.

Good to know I might be able to knock them down a bit, or I'd just be happy with the 5 year warranty thrown in.
 
When I say listed price I mean at that store :) and always ask if its new or not. Even if new ask for something off or something thrown in the worst can happen is a No.
 
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