Get a 47-inch LCD HDTV for $639.99
The Westinghouse TX-47F430S may not be the top LCD in its class, but for a refurb with a price tag that's less than half of where it started, it's hard to complain.
March Madness has come and gone (with a heartbreaking finish by my beloved Spartans), but the NBA finals are just around the corner. If you're still watching sports, Lost, and other stuff on a standard-def tube, it's time to take the HD plunge.
MacMall (MacMall?) has the refurbished Westinghouse TX-47F430S 47-inch LCD HDTV for $639.99. That's pretty amazing considering that this model sells new for $1,400.
The TX-47F430S serves up 1080p resolution, an ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner, 4 HDMI inputs, two component inputs, and a VGA interface for PC connections. My favorite feature: the onscreen Quick Install Matrix, which illustrates the various connection options.
Of course, features don't tell the whole story. As CNET's review of the TX-47F430S points out, the TV suffers from "ho-hum styling" and mediocre black levels.
And I'll add a complaint that, according to one user review, duplicates a problem on my otherwise-excellent 46-inch Westinghouse: The remote works poorly unless you're facing the TV dead-on.
MacMall charges a steep (but typical) $99.99 for shipping, but a $50 rebate brings that down to a more reasonable $49.99. That gets you out the door for around $690--still hundreds less than most of the 46-inch models I'm seeing.
Because this is a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days. The final disclaimer I'll add is that I've heard less than stellar things about Westinghouse service. Thus, jazzed as I am about this TV's price, I'm gonna slap on a small caveat-emptor sticker.