LCD TV Center

iLO is a Walmart private brand.

Some of the iLO screens e.g. the 23 inch are made by Tatung in Taiwan (who also make screens for Apple). Some of the larger sizes are made by Onida in India. I’d say its likely that other manufacturers will be used as time goes by.

So how does the quality compare with other brands? You could ask the question a different way - Should I go High End or Low End?

We always say the same thing - its up to you to choose which picture and features suit you best. Not everybody can tell the differences between brands. If you can’t see (or hear) any difference between different LCD TVs you’re paying for brand name and aesthetics - and perhaps warranty.

Check on the length of the warranty because LCD TVs do no thave the proven reliability of CRT TVs yet. e.g. my IBM LCD monitor died after only 18 months, but it’s hard to kill off an old CRT - they refuse to die!

Here’s an indicator of the price differences between brands (at Feb 2006).
An HD ready (needs a separate set top box) iLO 26 inch model street price is approx. $690.

An HD ready (needs a separate set top box) Sony Bravia $1,499 - $1,799 online, depending on where you shop.

Obviously there are differences in style and features, but its up to you decide what’s important to you and whether its worth the price difference.

Make sure you watch the TV you are thinking of buying for a good while e.g. 30 minutes or so, because a picture can look good initially, then become tiring for your eyes after a while.

Also bear in mind that LCD TV prices are falling fast, so if you buy a cheap model now and keep it for a year or two, a high end model will have dropped in price and improved in the mean time.

Keep an eye on the LCD Buyers Guide at www.lcdtvcenter.com