Budget 40" TV - options?

[tenohfive]

A friend is looking into getting a new TV to replace an ancient TV. 40" is about the right size, and they've spotted this one in Sainsburys for £200:
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/celcus-40-led-full...

I'm instinctively distrustful of supermarket own brand TV's that you see on special offer (Tesco website excepted) so I've done a bit of digging and came across the Toshiba 40L1533DB for £216:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toshiba-40L1533DB-Full-H...

Any thoughts on what would be best for the £200 mark? I really don't know what I'm looking for.

[57Ford]

Yeah, I know what you mean about mistrust of supermarket own-brand electricals but let's face it, you don't sound as though you need mega picture quality and if it goes wrong in 18months, you can go straight back (often without even a receipt) and they'll just give you their latest version no questions asked. Obviously I only know this from my 'friend' as well
Compare that to spending twice as much just because it says Samsung or Panasonic on it and then having a fight on your hands if there's a problem? A fool and his money...

[kentlad]

57Ford said:

Yeah, I know what you mean about mistrust of supermarket own-brand electricals but let's face it, you don't sound as though you need mega picture quality and if it goes wrong in 18months, you can go straight back (often without even a receipt) and they'll just give you their latest version no questions asked. Obviously I only know this from my 'friend' as well
Compare that to spending twice as much just because it says Samsung or Panasonic on it and then having a fight on your hands if there's a problem? A fool and his money...

Just an FYI - most TV brands actually buy the frames & internals from Chinese producers and stamp their badge on it. If I recall what my Dad has told me (he works on TV's & used to own his own shop) Panasonic & Sony are the only three that actually completely produce their TV's. LG, Toshiba, Samsung(not 100% sure on Samsung actually) etc. don't actually use their own components. Which is why those brands are usually between supermarket & premium product prices. If you want cheap, go supermarket, there will be minimum difference between that & say an LG TV. But if you want a product to last, always go premium. Why pay £200 now for a TV that will need to be replaced in 12-18 months with another £200 TV? It's a false economy. We've had our HD Panasonic 38" for 5 years, it cost £600 new and hasn't had a single issue to date & picture remains as sharp as ever. Although now I've said that, it'll probably fall off the stand tonight...

[tenohfive]

I've had my own Panny 42er (was the forum recommendation of choice at the time) for 6 years and it's been flawless through that time. But not all £200 TV's break every couple of years, and the TV it's replacing (which cost no more) has been running for 10-15 years.

Horses for courses. When I eventually justify replacing mine I'll spend a fair amount and get something premium, but I'll enjoy the benefit of that. My friend won't. But the reason I'm posting on here is that if there's something that's of respectable quality likely to last longer than a supermarket jobby then that would appear to me to be the answer.

[red997]

my personal choice would be Panasonic;
FYI LG do make their own TV's - I've been to the factory and R&D depts in Korea