Price Paid:  $1700.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I wanted to buy a large screen TV, and this was one that I find in my price range. Very happy overall, movies are now fun to watch beings I was viewing them on a 20" TV..... : ) A tube blew after about 8 months and it takes a very long time for RCA to handle warranty claims. The tube components arced and burned a small dot onto the exact middle of the tube. This caused there to be a perfect little yellow circle in the dead center of my screen for 2 months. The company that serviced my TV was excellent and also completed 3 RCA suggested work orders. These work orders apparently "fix" this problem. TV is 100% now, I can't wait for something else to go wrong. Would not buy an RCA again.

Strengths:
Aside from the obvious larger screen, not many. Many video input options, and variable audio out is nice for hooking up to a A/V Receiver.

Weaknesses:
Tube weakness. There are 3 FREE RCA service orders that can be done on your TV if you catch it in time.

Similar Products Used:
None. Mitsubishi will be my next TV, due to past experience.

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
Buy the extended warranty. Not reliable.

Strengths:
Works well when it works.

Weaknesses:
Not reliable. Set went dead after 9 mo of use. I had a hard time finding someone to service

Price Paid:  $1900.00 from Circuit city

Summary:
I spent alot of time researching HDTV big screens. I narrowed my choice down to Hitachi Ultravsion, Toshiba Cinema series and this RCA. I did not want a widescreen. I actually liked the Hitachi and Toshiba more, I thought they were slighty sharper but they were also $600 more expensive. I am very happy with the RCA, DVD''''s are awesome. My only complaints would be no digital audio inputs and the contract could be better-there is at times some fussiness with white lettering like with captions and subtitles.

Strengths:
Price-overall picture quality as good as hitachi.

Weaknesses:
Contrast. RCA has had questionable reliabilty in the past. We will see what happens.

Similar Products Used:
Hitachi 53UDX10BA and Toshiba 53HX71