re: ? about buying a TV

Zach, pick the models you think you like that meet your requirements for connectivity (if you understand what your connectivity requirements are). Then go to an online forum called [link=(AVSForum)]www.avsforum.com[/link].

From there, navigate to the flat panel displays forum and search your models. There will be discussions of the pros and cons and links to reviews of these models. Actually, you can learn a great amount of valuable information on this site.

My personal recommendation (and I've been in the professional video business for 18 years), is that if you are a gamer, which I don't think you are, get a very good LCD, high-end quality, which is expensive. You should be prepared to spend $1300+ (at minimum) just for the LCD, not including mount, cabling, installation and the possible extended warranty. However, if you care about deep blacks, great contrast, color saturation and an overall better viewing experience for video, then go with plasma. Panasonic makes some great plasmas. They use more electricity than LCDs though, but not enough to make a discernible difference for the amount of viewing you indicated you do. And, the great part is that plasmas are considerably less expensive and are not susceptible to the motion blurring that low cost LCDs are.

For example: BB has the Panasonic TC-P42S2 available for under $700. It's a 42" 1080p plasma that properly set up will make you very pleased with your decision for a long time. If you can go up to a 50", though, there are a wide range of sets available in plasma ranging from $700 to $4000. However, the Panasonic TC-P50G20 at $1100 is an excellent buy for all but the most discriminating buyer.

Anyway... good luck with your decision.