Purchases of the Week - April 23, 2011

It has been a hectic week of bargain hunting and purchasing. The living room project more or less is done for the year. Too bad I didn't have enough funds to completely re-do the living room. I wanted to get new couches, side tables and a coffee table. I'll have to set it aside and do that project in stages.

Our nice TV stand finally has a TV on it. It was quite an ordeal and an eye opener shopping for TV's nowadays. Our original plan was to get an LCD TV. But the particular model we wanted was sold out everywhere as it was last year's model. We looked again at LED TV and it only strengthened our dislike with the format. The LED TV that can handle our gaming and viewing needs is available but for around $3000 it was not an option.

Dejected and tired we were leaving Best Buy when we spotted a display TV near the entrance playing The Incredibles. It was the scene where the boy was running over water and it was seamless! No motion blurring and deep colors. Nate suspected it might be a plasma and when he checked out the back it confirmed his suspicions.

Went back to the store and found this was also an older model about to be discontinued. No in-store had it in stock so I took a risk and ordered it online with white glove delivery service. I wanted it to come to our house in the best condition possible. The neat part about this is, I actually paid less than what I had set aside for the TV including a three year warranty and delivery. Total was around $1400.

There is some glare from the window behind me but we usually watch at night which renders it moot. During the day it is tolerable. I have replaced the curtains behind me with black-out type and it's closed at all times.

Samsung PN58C550 58' Plasma HDTV
Sony 3D Blu-ray Player BDP-S580
XBOX 360 250 Gig HD

Future additions to this set up will be a receiver, center channel speaker and two floor speakers flanking the stand. That will have to wait as we will have to save up and purchase.

Of course this TV is not just free-standing on the stand. It is bolted on the back to the wall for security reasons. I would not want this to topple over and hurt a small child or our furkids.

I finally have my own XBOX and account. Gaming down here with a big screen is so awesome. Nate and I have been playing Borderlands when we have time.

Our small family is now enjoying hanging out downstairs and watching movies. The cats watch TV to from their cat tree. This is probably one of the best purchases I have made in a long time as it benefits everyone.