Buy new TV now or wait for new models?

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stone2

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Master Geek
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#115173 16-Mar-2013 13:48

Hi all, I'm in a quandary. I don't know whether I should get my new tv now or wait for the new models arriving in April.
This is the TV I'm interested in http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/televisions/led-televisions/50-led-tv/lg-55lm6410-55-full-high-definition-3d-smart-led/prod118180.html.

Will there be new models at this price range with similar features?
Do you think the new models will be a lot more expensive?

What does everyone think?
I would hate to buy now only to see next month a similar better tv for a similar price that's on offer now.

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326 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#782761 16-Mar-2013 19:37

Every month you should wait to see what is coming out next month, that way you will never get a TV that becomes outdated.

Or you could get one you like now and enjoy it.

It's the same with all tech, something better is always about to be released.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#782769 16-Mar-2013 20:23

Looks like a good buy but only 2 weeks til Easter sales and a few more weeks til Queen's Birthday sales.

Dunnersfella

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#782770 16-Mar-2013 20:24

Well it's $1 cheaper at Harvey's... so it looks like it's not going to go any cheaper.
Get one now, the entry level 55" LED's haven't had a lot of spec changes by all CES accounts.
Maybe a tweaked stand, another couple of 'smart TV*' apps...
If you like the picture, the sound, it suits the light levels in your room and it features all the right connections - pull the trigger. Otherwise you'll pay a lot more when the new ones come out.

*'well, not so smart TV'

richms

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#782777 16-Mar-2013 21:15

Newer isnt always better. In order to chase more stars on that pointless energy star crap they resort to undefeatable backlight dimming and similar nasty features. 2011 sammys got the crap backlight, the 2009 were fine.

Assume that any smart tv features are totally useless, that way if they actually do anything useful it is a bonus, rather than a disappointment when you find you can only get a small subset of youtube on the TV etc....

Richard rich.ms

corksta

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#782780 16-Mar-2013 21:44

If you go back over the last couple years of TVs they haven't changed that much specs wise, in terms of actually watching TV on them. Lately it seems to be about making them thinner as well as adding more software related features, a camera for Skype, changing the design of the bezel, etc.

Personally I just want a good TV so that I can watch TV on it, I don't care for the other crap as there are so many other devices that do it better and faster.

I'd say if you can wait for a bit then see what happens at Easter with the sales, otherwise I really can't see you regretting it by getting one now.

plod

272 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#782782 16-Mar-2013 21:54

I would wait till the new ones are released, see if the new one is worth the extra cash. If not the old tv will be on fire sale

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Dunnersfella

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#782784 16-Mar-2013 22:00

The good ones sell out early, the poor sellers hang around.
Of course, some stores will be stuck with stock you may want, but often they're stuck with it because the prices aren't that good...
I'm buying a TV in 3 months time, but I am under no delusion that the one I'm looking at on sale right now, won't be the one I pick up on the day. It is what it is, I suppose.

bfginger

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#782785 16-Mar-2013 22:00

LCD technology is stagnant so new models are unlikely to bring any noticeable improvements in picture quality year to year. Other features like codec and web app support do improve year to year but you'd be paying more for it.

Picture quality doesn't vary much from one LCD to another unless you get a cheap and nasty minor brand panel or a cheap model without 100Hz interpolation, or get one of the uncommon models with an IPS panel or local backlight dimming.

If you want the best picture quality then a Panasonic plasma with a glare filter is the way to go.

I personally wouldn't want to watch an LCD TV. But if I had to I'd want an IPS panel model because despite their drawbacks I find them easier to watch. Does that LG model have an IPS panel? This model does
http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/panasonic-55-full-hd-3d-ready-led-lcd-tv.html

If you get an LCD then turn overscan off to improve picture quality.

1080p

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#782795 16-Mar-2013 22:29

Personally, I'd wait to buy a new television. The first OLED models are being released this year. Give it a few generations of them and then buy an OLED.

richms

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#782798 16-Mar-2013 22:40

Im waiting on 4K to be available at a sane price before going any bigger. I was tempted by the cheap warehouse 50" as a stopgap loungeroom tv, but really cant bring myself tobuy a TV I cant check has 1:1 mapping, no issues with crappy colour bleed from the PC on HDMI, and its not motion plus and I dont think I could stand going back to that, even tho it will be tiny in the loungeroom.

Richard rich.ms

mattwnz

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#782803 16-Mar-2013 22:58

1080p: Personally, I'd wait to buy a new television. The first OLED models are being released this year. Give it a few generations of them and then buy an OLED.

You will be waiting a good number of years before they are down to LCD prices. Perhaps 5 years at least. Depends though whether you want to pay 10k-20k for a TV. Higher resolution is possibly a bigger step forward.

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richms

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#782805 16-Mar-2013 23:03

Based on how horrid the burn is on my SGS2's oled screen I wouldnt want to be putting that much money on an oled screen without some proof they have sorted that out.

Richard rich.ms

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#782902 17-Mar-2013 12:54

buy based on the sales, -20% on a current model set is a good aiming point.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

mattwnz

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#782915 17-Mar-2013 13:41

richms: Based on how horrid the burn is on my SGS2's oled screen I wouldnt want to be putting that much money on an oled screen without some proof they have sorted that out.

Apparently that was fixed with the s3 type screen but I had heard blues fading over time could still be a problem. But it is something that can't be easily tested. But these things will improve, but to buy now or in a gew years, you will be an early adopter and will be paying prices to match that. It was just like early LCDs, where dead pixels were a problem

stone2

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Master Geek
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#783471 18-Mar-2013 14:35

Thanks everyone fro your input.
Well here's an update if you're interested.
I bought the LG 55LM6700 yesterday and took it back to Harvey Norman this morning.
In didn't much like the colour and there was quite bad light bleeding in all four corners. Looked great on the showroom floor but quite disappointing when got home and dimmed the lights.
Have decided to keep old 40' Samsung for lounge and just bought a 32' Samsung for bedroom.

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