Thanks for your replies. Yesterday while looking at an Office Depot ad I saw another Acer 22" X223XPD. It was listed as having a straight out 2500:1 contrast ratio unlike Wal-Mart that listed theirs as having a 2500:1 dynamic contrast ratio. In the hours of Googling I've done regarding low priced LCD computer monitors everyone claims a larger contrast ratio is better. CNET did a review on the 2216 (700:1) but not on the 223 (2500:1 dynamic). I asked Acer but never got a reply to my contrast ratio question. If it wasn't for Wal-Mart advertising a 2500:1 "dynamic" contrast ratio there's no question I'd return my 2216 and get a 223. However, if a 2500:1 "dynamic: is the same as a 700:1 straight out contrast radio then it would just be a wash. I'm still looking for thoughts. Thanks, Gene

While any company can say 178 degree viewing angle, if you try to watch any LCD TV way off axis you will be disappointed with the contrast and brightness. And you can't compare contrast ratio from different mfgr's. There is no industry standard for how to measure this. My opinion about Sony not having more detailed specs posted. Most people buying a 19" LCD TV are using it as a 2nd or 3rd TV and just don't care about specs. It is a usually a bedroom or office TV. They just want it to work.

haus After many years of waiting, we finally went completely digital this weekend. We purchased a Sony 50 inch LCD HDTV and it is wonderful. Note that I have been reciveing digital signals for many years through my satellite receiver but playing them on a standard definition TV (and I will tell you - that was not so bad!). But now I have a HDTV and playing HD content on this thing looks fantastic. I am not sure what technology issues you are referring to - I think the digital TV technology is pretty stable now. There is still the looming issue of High Def content - but if you get satellite or cable, the number of HD channels is growing by the month. Right now I can get all the major networks who broadcast most of their programs in High Def, ESPN, Discover, etc - quite a few. Expect to pay more for these channels - I pay an additional 20 bucks per month to get the HD channels with Dishnet. Here are some tips from my experience: 1) The time is good to buy a digital High Def TV right now. I recommend doing searches for the various HDTV products on Amazon.com and reading all the reviews. I learned a lot and decided on a Sony after reading the many posts. Sony is in the process of eliminating it's rear projection lines (The Bravia SXRD and the Bravia LCD lines) so the prices at Circuit City and Best Buy are quite good. I think this is not because the technology is bad but because the prices have come down so far, the margins aren't good. I wanted a Bravia 50" SXRD but wound up buying the Bravia LCD and got it for 1399 at best Buy - that is pretty darn good for a 50 inch TV. The pitcture is fanstastic. \ 1a) Do your homework before you buy so you can get the best deal. Also - you probably should buy the extended warranty for the TV. I think ours cost $249 at Best Buy and it is a 4 year plan. Research this - most people recommend the extended warranty for a HDTV. 2) You need to think about the HD content source - either cable or satellite. If you buy a HDTV - then you will want to see your favorite programs broadcast in the HD format. Watching standard def broadcasts on a HDTV is not that great - a lot of people are dissapointred when they buy the suped up TV and the picture looks grainy. I vouch for the experience that a plain old analog TV hooked up to a satellite or cable receiver looks a lot better (crisper picture) than a stadard definition broadcast played on a HDTV. The HDTV is designed for digital HD broadcasts - feed it HD content and you will be happy. The standard broadcasts look OK on my Sony - but once you get the taste of a HD picture, standard def is hard to look at. 3) It may be possible to get over air digital broadcast of the major networks (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX). Check out this site http://www.antennaweb.org. If you enter in your address - it will tell you where the digital broadcasts sites are, how far away they are from your house, and what type of antenna you will need to receive them. Currently there are a relatively small number of stations broadcasting digital content - expect more this year and next since the conversion from analog to digital broadcasts will occur early in 2009. You can see from my post above yours that I am having trouble receiving the major networks through the over air antenna. This isn't an issue since I get the local channels in High Def through my satellite receiver - but it means that when the satellite goes out - I cannot see the local stations broadcast in digital format. I hope to resolve this issue someday. 4) As far as sound - the internal speakers that came with my Sony are fantastic. So you can buy the TV first and then add the sound system later. I already had a old surround system hooked up and am using it with the Sony - but it isn't too much better than what came inside the TV! Good luck with your purchase. I wanted mine before the Masters tournament which I love to watch every year - can't wait to see it on high def.

hellpaso, Thank you so much for posting this since I am really considering the Vizio since I love the zoom and freeze feature it has, the good reviews, how the speakers are under the LCD to make it taller and not wider and the $600 price at Sears. I am also considering a Toshiba Regza that is only $180 more that has had wonderful reviews. I just never dreamed I would be paying so much for a TV. How is the sound quality and the remote? Any negative things about the Vizio or is it as nice as it sounds to be.