RCA 42" 1080p TV. Decent tv?

[aggronieszka]

This tv is at Walmart:

http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/rca-40-lcd-hd-tv-1080prlcd4063/202930?trail=&fromPLP=true&ancestorID=&searchString=&moduleName=&startSearch=&fromSearchBox=&addFacet=

Anyone have it? Is it ok? I'm not looking for fancy shpancy. I watch tv maybe a couple hours a month. For 330 bucks, I'm tempted.

ETA: I ordered it. If it's terrible, I can return it to store.

[will888]

Sweetness of low price... RCA is not the brand they used to be anymore. I would spend a little more and get a brand name unit.

[oldpro]

Sweetness of low price... RCA is not the brand they used to be anymore. I would spend a little more and get a brand name unit.
+1 I think (may be wrong here) that RCA name is owned by some holding company and they sell the use of the 3 letter word to anybody who wants it, mostly the "low end" Chinese manufacturers.

[gnuman]

I would not touch it. Good luck on trying to get it repaired if something goes on it. There's not authorized service providers and will have to ship the unit to their depot to get it exchanged for a brand-used unit.

[DougO]

RCA is Curtis. I bought the 720p 32" going on 2 years ago and other than the obsolete tuner, it's quite good for a cheap set. Would like to compare to other non mainstream brands but there seems to be little info on these sets from online sources. Where do you plan on putting the set? If it's for the kids, they would love you to death for it. For yourself, maybe not. My Sony Bravia 40" blows the RCA out of the water but cost 3X as much money...

Curtis has online phone support but it isn't the greatest. The 2 times I phoned with questions, I was almost unable to understand the English of the people on the other end. Trying to explain the problem was frustrating because of their poor command of English. But to be fair, lots of big outfits are also using foreign trained help for their call centers. Sign of the times I guess...

[Manatus]

For that kind of price, if it breaks after a few years you're not going to bother trying to get it repaired anyway. For very light usage like you describe, I'm sure it'll be fine.

[aggronieszka]

RCA is Curtis. I bought the 720p 32" going on 2 years ago and other than the obsolete tuner, it's quite good for a cheap set. Would like to compare to other non mainstream brands but there seems to be little info on these sets from online sources. Where do you plan on putting the set? If it's for the kids, they would love you to death for it. For yourself, maybe not. My Sony Bravia 40" blows the RCA out of the water but cost 3X as much money...

Curtis has online phone support but it isn't the greatest. The 2 times I phoned with questions, I was almost unable to understand the English of the people on the other end. Trying to explain the problem was frustrating because of their poor command of English. But to be fair, lots of big outfits are also using foreign trained help for their call centers. Sign of the times I guess...

For the kids? No, it's just me. This is not my main source of entertainment. Like I said, it's in the living room, but it'll get 6 hours of usage a month, max. It's a tv just to have a tv.

I'll be happy if it lasts me a couple a years. But I don't want absolute crap either.

[Techgeek32]

For the usage you want it I think it's great. You don't need to spend more money if you watch TV only 6 hours a month.

[IntrepidRT]

I would go with a Samsung 43" plasma for $400 or less (when they go on sale - $300 on Boxing day). I just bought a brand new one (last year's model) from Best Buy for $400 and another one (this year's model) off of Kijiji for $400. When it comes to TV's, I gotta stay away from no-name brands (including LG). There IS a noticeable difference in picture quality from a name brand like Samsung, Panasonic and Sony to a no-name brand. I used to like RCA products, but then too many of them broke down too early and it seems like the only thing RCA still makes that are halfway decent are clock radios, sad.

[aggronieszka]

I received it yesterday and picture and sound are a-ok for my needs.

When I have it hooked up to my computer using mini-display to HDMI, the picture is slightly delayed while the sound is normal. I called RCA (it IS indeed Curtis) to see if there are any firmware updates available to fix it rather than lugging it in to return it. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "Hi, the video is delayed by a quarter to a half second when using HDMI from my computer."
Him: "Go ahead and try HDMI 2."
Me: "I have tried HDMI 2 AND 3."
Him: "Please reset back to defaults."
Me: (did this, but humoured him) "Ok, still happening."
Him: "Does this happen on all channels?"
Me: "IT'S PLUGGED INTO MY COMPUTER!"
Him: "Oh, you should use VGA. I recommend you go buy the adapter for it."
Me: "No, I'd really rather use what I have already and the video REALLY shouldn't be delayed. The same connections and computer plugged into another tv work great."
Him: "Well, that's my solution."
Me: "I reject your solution because it is a bad solution."
Him: "I need to escalate this. Please call back within 48 hours for a resolution."
Me: "So, if I call back in an hour you'll have an answer?"
Him: "NO! AFTER 48 hours!"

Okok, I was arguing about semantics at the end, but so far, doesn't look good.

[aggronieszka]

I would go with a Samsung 43" plasma for $400 or less (when they go on sale - $300 on Boxing day). I just bought a brand new one (last year's model) from Best Buy for $400 and another one (this year's model) off of Kijiji for $400. When it comes to TV's, I gotta stay away from no-name brands (including LG). There IS a noticeable difference in picture quality from a name brand like Samsung, Panasonic and Sony to a no-name brand. I used to like RCA products, but then too many of them broke down too early and it seems like the only thing RCA still makes that are halfway decent are clock radios, sad.

I was looking for that Samsung. Almost bought it last boxing day. Little concerned about the 720 as I hook it up to my computer. But at 300 bucks, I would buy it, just haven't been able to find it close to that cheap since.

[clrking]

I was looking for that Samsung. Almost bought it last boxing day. Little concerned about the 720 as I hook it up to my computer. But at 300 bucks, I would buy it, just haven't been able to find it close to that cheap since.

I picked this up 2 months ago, was a little hesident at first as well regarding 720 verse 1080 but for primarily ps3 usage it is a great picture quality for the price

[idiotcanuck]

I was looking for that Samsung. Almost bought it last boxing day. Little concerned about the 720 as I hook it up to my computer. But at 300 bucks, I would buy it, just haven't been able to find it close to that cheap since.

If you are just using the 42-43" 720P plasma to play media from your computer, and your seating distance is not abnormally close, I doubt that the resolution will be an issue for you. If you are planning on using the TV as a monitor for more than some casual computer tasks then the res might be an issue for text clarity.

The 2012 Samsung PN43E450 is still kind of high priced at most dealers, I know the similar 2012 42" 720P Plasma 42PA4500 is priced at $399 at BB often lately. I'm not sure how they compare this year, but you could see what the guys on AVS Forums, who own them, are saying about them. If the LG is as good or better, you could wait for one of the LG 5X points deals and/or try to get the BB HDTV In Stock Guarantee for $50 off and free delivery. YMMV though.
If you are still thinking 1080P LCD there is a current deal at BB on a Panasonic 42" LCD for $499 with $20 in points and a free $30 8GB class 10 SD card, you might also be able to wangle the above mentioned HDTVISG for $50 off and free delivery, if you can find a local BB store that is OOS of the TV.

[sonic]

http://reviews.walmart.com/1336/20510631/proscan-24-class-led-1080p-60hz-hdtv-and-dvd-combo-1-8-ultra-slim-pledv2488a-reviews/reviews.htm

so i just bought this & cannot get the dvd player to play....i typed in the seriel # & it came up "Proscan"?....what happened to RCA??
Can i exchange it from walmart?