With the release of Xbox right around the corner, I'm giving serious thought to buying a HDTV -- probably a 32- or 36-inch model. Anyone have any advice on what I should get? Will I be able to get 1080i out of an Xbox and a HDTV that's only HDTV "ready," or will I need a separate tuner for that?

The tuner is for getting HiDef broadcast television.

Right now the best 32" (biggest that will fit in our entertainment center) I've been able to find is the Sony WEGA XBR450; it's a beautiful set, and retails for between $1700-2000 depending. They have a 36" version, and a 40" monster as well, but in addition to price (the 36" version goes for around $2300) the size and weight of the bigger sets is prohibitive for many settings.

I hear good things about Philips and Panasonic too, and I've always had good luck with Mitsubishi, but I know little about their HDTV tube offerings. There's a lot of HDTV projection/rear projection choices, not as many tube choices it seems (and the tubes are inch for inch much more expensive).

BTW, the Sony's are all 4:3 sets; the only non-plasma 16:9 sets I've seen in common use (tube sets) are generally much more expensive (RCA's 38" model is around three grand, and it's the cheapest I think). Right now that's not an issue unless wide screen movies are your number one viewing thing. The 4:3s usually have a bunch of electronic tricks to help out when in 16:9 mode, but you still get letterboxing. On the 16:9s, you get letterboxing or distortion when watching normal 4:3 brouadcasts, generally.

I'm sticking with our eight or nine-year old Sony plain jane TV for now though. Maybe in six months to a year HDTV will offer more choices and less cost.

Thanks for the help. Everyone I've spoken to thus far has recommended the KV-32XBR450, so I'm thinking that's probably the way I'm going to go if I decide to take the plunge any time soon. Sure wish $2,000 bought a little more TV, though! Perhaps I will wait a while longer after all...

Well, a lot depends on the size of the viewing room. A 32" TV is plenty big if you're in a living room like mine, which isn't very big. A full on home theater though might require a back projection box. I would say try and look at the TV in a setting as closely approximating the one you'll put it in--for two freakin' grand, any store that won't move a few things around to give you a good look isn't worth shopping at.

Thought I saw an add for a more theatrical (16x9) 40" XBR Sony TV; don't think it's HD though.

--- Alan

I got a floor model RCA 61' 16:9 with a HDTV tuner & dircetTV system built in for $3599. :)

It's good to live in a part of the US with the lowest inflation rates.

The per-state inflation rate actually varies noticably? I can't find any info with the usual suspects of economic sites.

Actually, yeah. I leave in Alabama (collective groan from the audience). Having been to NYC, Denver, Atlanta, LA, Philadelphia, Chicago, you name it...Alabama has lower prices on EVERYTHING. Any large investment, where the prices are capable of variance, a person can usually get cheaper in Alabama. Not to be down on us but, people have called Alabama & Mississippi "3rd World States" because we are two(if not the two) poorest states in the nation, despite their being INCREDIBLY large amounts of money being here(All the money is in the hands of a slim few, just like a 3rd world nation). Despite all that Alabama is a great place ti live, beautiful, clean, TONS of outdoor activities and you'll get more for your dollar here than anywhere else.

And if anyone makes fun of you for living in Alabama you can always say: "At least I don't live in Mississippi!" ;)

And you have that great song Lynyrd Skynrd wrote for ya'll!

Oh, you mean cost-of-living. Yeah, the South is dirt cheap to live in.

Since this seems to be vaguely relevent:

Did you guys know that Tulsa has one of the most favorable average salary/cost of living ratios in the country? I think we're like third.

In spite of that freakin' outrageous sales tax...

Bet ya didn't know that...