Black Friday 2009

Television Buying Guide for Black Friday 2008

Televisions Between 40" and 47"

40" - 42" Televisions
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rating unknown		 GFM 42" 720p Plasma HDTV
  • Model #: unknown
  • Contrast Ratio: unknown
  • Response Time: not applicable
  • HDMI Inputs: unknown
 $499.99
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(on BestBuy)		 Dynex 42" 720p Plasma HDTV
  • Model #: DX-PDP42-09
  • Contrast Ratio: 30000:1
  • Response Time: not applicable
  • HDMI Inputs: 3
 $599.99
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rating unknown		 Sharp 42" 1080p LCD HDTV
  • Model #: LC-42SB45U
  • Contrast Ratio: 2000:1
  • Response Time: 6ms
  • HDMI Inputs: 3
 $779.00
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(on Amazon)		 Panasonic 42" 720p Plasma HDTV
  • Model #: TH-42PX80U
  • Contrast Ratio: 15000:1
  • Response Time: not applicable
  • HDMI Inputs: 3
 $699.99

Meijer has the cheapest 42" HDTV on sale this Black Friday, the unfortunate thing about this television is that we can find absolutely no information on it. GFM appears to be an in-house Meijer brand, but there is literally no information about this television on the internet. Thus, the next cheapest 42" 720p HDTV is the Dynex Plasma for $599.99 during Best Buy's Black Friday sale.

While the Dynex may be a suitable television, I think it's time to let everyone know of my bias towards Panasonic Plasma televisions. While the $100 price difference may seem steep, I can personally attest to the quality and value of Panasonic Plasmas. I'm not the only one though, the TH-42PX80U has received glowing user reviews at Amazon and CNET called the TV a "[a] standout among HDTVs for the entry-level crowd."

For $80 more, you can go with the Sharp 42" 1080p LCD HDTV for $779 at Dell Home during their Black Friday sale, but not much is known about the LC-42SB45U. Sharp, in general, produces some of the best LCD televisions on the market, but whether the benefit of 1080p on a 42" television would be worth the $80 upgrade completely depends on the content you plan on watching and how far you sit away from your television.

46" - 47" Televisions
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(on Amazon)		 Sharp 46" 1080p LCD HDTV
  • Model #: LC-46SB54U
  • Contrast Ratio: 1500:1
  • Response Time: 6ms
  • HDMI Inputs: 2
 $899.99

All offered 46" televisions are 1080p, that being said, this was the easiest choice of the article. The cheapest 46" television being offered on Black Friday is the Sharp AQUOS LC-46SB54U 1080p LCD TV for $899.99 during Sears Friday & Saturday sale, which is conveniently, our pick for the best valued television of the bunch because the next cheapest 46" HDTV is nearly $200 more than the Sharp.

By Michael Brim
November 20, 2008