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CRT does have a nice picture, but it can be improved by alot with an ISF calibration... if you don't mind paying for the additional expense. Calibrating the set gives you nicer picture and can result in improved longevity.

As for weight, yeah this set is fairly heavy... lots of glass. It weighs 120lbs approximately. Size however, is excellent. The "SlimFit" is really compact, hard to tell its a CRT.

[quote="Justin from Detroit"]gonz, how exactly did you get that set for $699?[/quote]

Actually I got em for $599 each

I bought two of them... (one a gift for the in-laws)
and [url=http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4082976&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.PAN+DVDS52S]this DVD player[/url] as well. The mgr. knocked cash off the TVs, and gave me the DVD for $59. Came to $1370 out the door for everything. Helps to know people I guess :thumbsup

You being in Detroit, 4hrs away, I can likely get the same deal for you, if you feel it's worth the drive.

Anyhow, the TVs can be had for roughly $699 from stores online. [url=http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_code=SAM%20TXR3079&showcase=t&JRSource=channel.samsung.07-6452755]See here for example.[/url]

gonz, how exactly did you get that set for $699?

CRT with a built in HD tuner, sounds like a winner! CRT will give you the best picture usually. They are just soo heavy and too small for me :)

The Samsung Slimfit is 32" diagonal (by CRT standards) and 30" wide (by widescreen standards). It's a 4:3 / 16:9 switchable aspect ratio TV capable of 1080i resolution, by way of component cable input (x2) or HDMI cable (x1)

I know you can't beat it pricewise, featurewise it even has a built-in HDTV tuner. CRT is viewable at any angle, and you can count on it lasting a long time. Plus, CircuitCity delivers if necessary.

The more I use it, the more I like this set.

just stay away from LCD's with a high refresh number (I think that's what it's called) The higher the number the more blurry the picture tends to be.

so stay away from lcd tvs... i take it... well a 32" is what i want...

[quote="_gonz_"]I'm still seeing flat screens die within 3 months, and I'm feeling 3yrs is being optimistic. However, I'm not talking $2000+ sets, mostly 13" to 20" which may be using old technology to reach a low price point. I hate the fact that pixels die, and theres no way to avoid it... and Plasma's picture fades. It just seems like inherent technology issues make the investment unwise.
In addition, when shopping for televisions, all LCDs I looked at (watching Sabres hockey) felt like I was watching a blur. The puck blurred, the players blurred, I think it could give you motion sickness. Even the best set the particular showroom had, a Sony, was not very pleasing. This was a pretty big turn off for me. DLP seemed to do better in that regard.
[/quote]
Ahh yea, cheaper LCD's do have smearing and all. Just look for one with the lowest delay on it. The lowest I've seen in computer monitors was 2 ms.

Don't forget that showrooms usually have their signal split quite a few ways and that local cable companies have pretty compressed HD formats too.

[quote="William from NOLA"]DLP is no longer the best, it's been beaten out by LCOS. Sony has their version called SXRD.
Flatscreen LCD's have an expected lifespan of about 15 years. Plasmas have an expected lifespan of about 60,000 hours or around 8 years. Of course those are optimisic, but I don't think 3 years is accurate for the current ones.
[/quote]

I'm still seeing flat screens die within 3 months, and I'm feeling 3yrs is being optimistic. However, I'm not talking $2000+ sets, mostly 13" to 20" which may be using old technology to reach a low price point. I hate the fact that pixels die, and theres no way to avoid it... and Plasma's picture fades. It just seems like inherent technology issues make the investment unwise.

In addition, when shopping for televisions, all LCDs I looked at (watching Sabres hockey) felt like I was watching a blur. The puck blurred, the players blurred, I think it could give you motion sickness. Even the best set the particular showroom had, a Sony, was not very pleasing. This was a pretty big turn off for me. DLP seemed to do better in that regard.

Back to my Samsung:

Anyways, I got my HDTV digital cable box yesterday, so more appropriate viewing material ... the Samsung does quite well with HDTV channels. I can say this, black is VERY black, wow.

I also find the new cable box an improvement with Fox News or other non-HD channels. True that you can see more flaws, if present, but this is not a distraction... it's really only there if you look for it. Non-HD movie channels look great, even with old movies.

This cable box has component outputs, last box offered only composite or S-video. My DVD player (en route) will give me HDMI, for comparison. I hear component video connection can result in a little darker picture, but it remains to be seen, could just be a myth. My calibration is done via DVD, and since the HD player isn't here yet, the TV has not been calibrated yet.

I think dollar for dollar, this TV offers alot of bang for the buck. I felt uncomfortable getting into (other than CRT) technology which is still evolving, and still quite expensive. Even HDTV itself is still evolving. By going this route, if I want to upgrade in 5 years, it won't be such a big deal.

not really going to get ISF DIY.. ISF tuning is done by an ISF trained professional.
[url]http://www.imagingscience.com/[/url]

I haven't heard of a tv having an iris before I started looking recently, I assumed they were relatively new on tv's. Whether the iris helps or not, I like the picture of the tv.

I'm going to need to find some ISF diy stuff if I can.

There are a few projection sets just under $2k that are 50"+. None of which will be above 720p or even have high def though. I don't think anyone should buy a tv without high definition today. If it lasts more than 5 years, you better hope that your cable company isn't entirely high def by then! I know that all air broadcast will be.