1080p 37" TV at Costco $1400

MH_Stevens wrote on 1/31/2006, 10:44 AM
Like Liam and many others I have until now gone with the bigger Dells for my top end PC monitors and small TVs but I think I am going to buy this to replace my Dell 2405 in the entertainment system. Costco (on-line only) has the 37" Sceptre 1080p (NOTE: P) TV for $1400. It has HDMI/HD tuner etc. and the specs are quite impressive with contrast ratio of 1000, brightness 600 and an 8ms refresh rate. Does 1920x1080 in monitor mode.

Comments

Coursedesign wrote on 1/31/2006, 11:27 AM
That sounds pretty astonishing, let us know how it turns out!

At that size, the resolution is too low for long term use as a computer monitor, but I'm sure you can live with your 24"...

Just don't see a 30" computer screen (this means not walking into any Apple store or any store with the new Dell 30").

OdieInAz wrote on 1/31/2006, 4:27 PM
sceptre.com lists the resolution as Pixel Pitch (mm): 0.4275 X 0.4275 mm. I can remember 20 years ago when 0.35mm dot pitch was considered fuzzy for a computer terminal.

I had a previous generation Sceptre (32" I think) and it died at 13 months. Powersupply went out (wonder if it had some of those bad capacitors that afflicted Dell and Apple). I bought it on a VISA card, and they took care of the repair.

Another thing to think of is SDTV - it really sucks on a big LCD if you don't have good upscale in the TV or DVDplayer. I think upconvertering with a Faroujda (?) chip is something good for TV. DCDI is trademark name that is sometimes advertised.
MH_Stevens wrote on 1/31/2006, 5:09 PM
I would have been happy with a 32" but I have not found a fairly priced 1080p in that size. BestBuy had one but it was well over $2G I think. Costco is a good bet for returning stuff.

MH_Stevens wrote on 2/4/2006, 2:15 PM
Here is a review I found:

http://www.ecoustics.com/secrets/volume_12_4/sceptre-37-inch-lcd-hdtv-11-2005-part-2.html

MH_Stevens wrote on 2/7/2006, 2:35 PM
When will 1080P be the standard resolution for LCD TVs? Is this too early in the technology or has it matured? Why are there so few around now, and why does SONY not have a 1080P in their great XBRVega range?

JJKizak wrote on 2/7/2006, 2:43 PM
They kind of do but the way Best Buy display's them they don't look very good. Looked at one today (Sony) very unimpressive.

JJK
Coursedesign wrote on 2/7/2006, 5:01 PM
Circuit City seems better currently for seeing 720 vs. 1080 side-by-side.
Ben1000 wrote on 2/7/2006, 6:11 PM
Howdy...

Just had this unit delivered. I hooked up my MCE PC's DVI connection with the included (yea!) cable, and it looked SPECTACULAR. Very sharp. you could easily use this as a standard computer monitor.

I did have an issues with some vertical bands of dancing pixels on the left edge of the screen. Doing a google search on the problem led me to a forum with a fix (changing a setting on a hidden service menu) which worked, and now the picture is crystal clear...

Only had it a few hours, but so far, I'm very impressed with the price4quality of this unit...

Best,

Ben
MH_Stevens wrote on 2/7/2006, 7:41 PM
Great: Post the access to the service menues please.

How does over the air HD, SD and other sources such as cable, satelite look?

Has anyone compared sets such as this with the 1080P DLP rear projection sets with Contrast Ratioas of up to 5000?

Michael


Ben1000 wrote on 2/7/2006, 8:00 PM
Howdy...

Access to the hidden menu is accomplished by pressing the third and fourth buttons on the TV (not the remote) counting from the left.

Haven't tried other sources. Just DVI.

Ben