Need advice for a new TV?

[kjnorman]

My wife just called me from home telling me our TV is on the blink.  From what she describes it sounds like something on the convergence board has died.  I was also thinking recently that the tubes would probably need replacement in abouts a years time....  I don;t know it the problems are related to this either.

Now the thing is, this is a Toshiba that is nearly 5 years olds, it already has major burn-in from many years of watching 4:3 (before we got in to HD properly) and last year the TV died on us and has had major surgery once already - ironically enough to the convergence boards - which cost a fair amount of money.  I am just not sure how much money this TV can justify in repair as it is pretty beat up.
 
Our old Tosh is a 50 inch set that looks fairly small in our living room and it does not have modern HDMI inputs for HDDVD or BR in the future, so I would like to upgrade to a 65+ or 71inch 1080p set but was hoping not to do this for another couple of years until they became cheaper and had proper 1080p inputs.  The issue is I can not afford to do this now (just had our second child..)

So, do I keep my old unit (complete with scratched up protective screen and anti-reflective coating that is rubbing off from sticky toddler hands - yep its well beat!) and get it fixed again, or are there any decent CHEAP rear projection monitors over 50 inches in size that have atleast 2 HDMI inputs and can be bought locally?

I do not care about built in speakers or tuner - in fact I would prefer not to have them.  

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Kerry

[Chinatown]

..........Yes, I do realize that they cost more.

However, the real cost is in the longevity. I have a 32 inch Trinitron upstairs and a  46" RPTV HD in the living room. The only maintenance over 6 years has been dusting the screens.  The picture & audio are superb in either analog or HD, through the "D" feed.

 By the way the were both purchased at the "Sears" warehouse on State St.  Certainly do your research, but be sure to visit them before you make a final decision. I saved a collective $1,000.00, over the retail price.

( And No!.........I do not have stock any of these companies.)

Good Luck on your purchase............

[kjnorman]

Unfortunately I have gone off Sony's after a bad experience with their customer service and a 41in rear projection set I had...

Ironically, for now I have hooked up my wife's old 29in trinitron until we work out what to do with the Toshiba.

Its only the lower third of the screen that has lost its convergence, the rest is fine, so I am hoping to be able to fix it in the service menus.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Our old Tosh is a 50 inch set that looks fairly small in our living room and it does not have modern HDMI inputs for HDDVD or BR in the future, so I would like to upgrade to a 65+ or 71inch 1080p set but was hoping not to do this for another couple of years until they became cheaper and had proper 1080p inputs.

I'm waiting for the same thing.  Thankfully my vintage Pioneer is holding up fine for now.  

I hope adjusting the convergence fixes your problem.  I know it can get out of whack occasionally.  It's supposed to stay put after it is adjusted, but I sometimes have to touch up mine a bit.

Good luck to you.