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Best big-screen TV values under $1,000

One undeniable trend in TVs is bigger screens for less money, and 2012's crop of LCD and plasma models goes bigger than ever.

For example, I reviewed a 60-inch Smart LED TV from Vizio that clocked in right beneath the magic $1,000 barrier, and its picture was better than that of many spendier LED sets. Even better is the same-size, same-price U50 plasma from Panasonic that trades smarts for improved picture quality. Meanwhile, one of the most popular TVs around is LG's own 60-inch, $999 PA6500 plasma, and while it can't beat either of those in a picture quality race, it's still a pretty good deal.

Below you'll find in-depth reviews of all three of these TVs, as well as two other sub-$1,000 sets that also qualify as "very good" values in my book (a 7 or higher in the Value subcategory) and still make the "big-screen" cut -- larger than 50 inches in this case. I've arranged them in descending order of overall CNET rating.

What is refresh rate?

With 120Hz, 240Hz, and even 600Hz, refresh rate gets a lot of attention in the marketing of new HDTVs.

What it is and how it works is interesting, but why it exists is even more so. And it can have a profound effect on the picture quality of your HDTV.

Curious?

1080i and 1080p are the same resolution

There still seems to be some confusion about the difference between 1080i and 1080p. Both are 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution. Both have 2,073,600 pixels. From one perspective, 1080i is actually greater than Blu-ray. And, you can't even get a full 1080p/60 source other than a PC, camcorder, or some still cameras that shoot video.

True, 1080i and 1080p aren't the same thing, but they are the same resolution. Let the argument commence... … Read more

TV buying guide

Shopping for a new television can be an overwhelming experience. Confusion plagues even the most careful shoppers, and TV manufacturers, retailers, salespeople and numerous Internet sources can create more uncertainty as they push extra features, new technologies, and add-ons in the incessant pursuit of profit.

I hope that this guide, which I created in 2002 and have updated every year since, will help you cut through the confusion with unbiased information so that you can select a new television. It won't answer every question, and when you read it, it won't tell you "the perfect TV for … Read more

Vizio's new big-screen line includes 60-inch LED TV for $999

Is it too early to think about holiday shopping? Not if you're a TV maker like Vizio.

We recently reviewed two impressive, high-value Vizio TVs, the 32-inch E320i-A0 and the 47- and 55-inch M3D0KD series, but the company is just getting warmed up. Today it announced a slew of new big-screen TVs, highlighted by the 60-inch E601i-A3, which is available now for $999.

That's just about the lowest price I've seen for a 60-inch LED TV with smart TV. The E601i-A3 offers Vizio's VIA apps suite, which has one of the most comprehensive content lineups around, … Read more

Futuristic nighttime snowboarding mesmerizes

In theory, snowboarding in the dark sounds like a fool's activity, but Swedish energy-drink company Burn makes the idea cool in a wild video called "Black Snow."

In the short vid, we observe seasoned European snowboarders Stale Sandbech, Ulrik Badertscher, and Gigi Ruf riding a futuristic artificial-snow course filled with LED-infused rails and obstacles set against a pitch-black night. Before the action kicks off, a voice channels Jeff Bridges' Kevin Flynn character in "Tron" and emits a solemn sentence: "When you find your passion, it will light up the darkness ahead." That's followed by a healthy dose of futuristic techno music. … Read more

How to clean a TV screen

Cleaning a TV screen seems easy. Windex, right? Wrong. Most modern HDTVs have special coatings on their surface that can be ruined by strong cleansers.

But at some point, every HDTV screen needs a good cleaning.

Here's how.… Read more

Xfire safety laser light makes a portable nighttime bike lane

Here in Albuquerque, we have a 5-feet-to-pass law. You need to give cyclists that much room when you go around them in a car. It's easy to visualize when you have marked bike lanes, but some drivers push the limits on unmarked streets, especially at night.

If bicyclists carried their own bike lanes with them, it might help alert motorists to give them proper room. That's where Xfire's clever Bike Lane Safety Light comes in. The light uses two 5mW red lasers to create bike lane markings and five red LEDs for increased visibility overall. … Read more

HP slides out 11mm-thick 24-inch display

Hewlett-Packard is adding a new thin X series monitor -- this time a 24-incher.

The new HP x2401 24-inch-diagonal LED backlit monitor has an 11-millimeter profile encased in a glossy black-piano finish and brushed-metal case.

Sporting a resolution of 1920x1080, it taps MVA (multidomain vertical alignment) to deliver good viewing angles and 5,000:1 and 10,000,000:1 static and dynamic contrast ratios, respectively.

DisplayPort and HDMI ports are built in. And wall mounting is also possible.… Read more

4K TV vs. OLED TV

On one side, there's 4K: four times the resolution of your current TV. LG, Sony, JVC, and others have all announced or shown upcoming 4K displays.

On the other, there's OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode. Significantly better picture quality than your current TV, plus lower energy consumption, and even thinner cabinets.

So what's more exciting?… Read more