Advice Needed for New TV for Astrocade and Atari

[atrionfo]

I want to buy a small TV to replace one that was stolen several years ago (actually, this will be bought FOR me, as a Father's Day gift). I currently have a 13" generic TV with composite and RF that I use for my classic systems, but I'd like a few other feature too. The features that I want are:

1) Small Size - 13"-17"

2) RF - For Astrocade and Atari systems

3) Composite - For newer systems

4) S-Video - For better quality for some of the newer systems and use with the Atari XE and C64 when using the right cable. This is the feature that I want the most. It's really the whole reason I want a new TV.

5) Front and Rear Jacks

I've been shopping online and I can't find exactly what I'm looking for (not even CLOSE). I thought that I'd be able to find an inexpensive tube-TV (in the $200 range), but it looks like these are hardly even made anymore. Can anyone recommend a quality TV for me that I can buy new? I guess I'm going to have to go with an LCD TV, but I can't find one that seems to suit my needs (most are too big). Does anyone have experience in this area? Is there a specific model that anyone uses and LOVES?

Adam

[CartCollector]

Go get yourself a Commodore 1702 (http://www.retrothing.com/2006/03/commodore_1702_.html) and a VCR for RF-to-Composite conversion. It's a great cheap monitor (I've heard) and should sell for well under your $200 price limit. I think Joe has some at the DP store, so he would be able to vouch for it.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Commodore monotors don't have front inputs, though, and having to use a VCR (which is otherwise worthless these days) for RF sucks.

I had a TV from Sony that met all of your criteria and had a very nice picture to boot. I can't tell you the model number since I just picked it up at a thrift store and then later gave it away when I got a better TV (also from a thrift store).

Picking up a used CRT TV for a good deal should be a snap these days, so that would be my recommendation if you're not finding anything new. Check craigslist.


...word is bondage...

[Battlehork]

Picking up a used CRT TV for a good deal should be a snap these days, so that would be my recommendation if you're not finding anything new. Check craigslist.


...word is bondage...

Yes to this. I picked up a 14" flat CRT Toshiba with front AV, rear AV, S-Video and Component (!) for $40 a few months ago as a classic gaming monitor.

[Lostdwarf]

about a month ago i had your exact same idea but here's what i did. I went onto craigslist and posted a post saying i need a tv 13"-19" preferebly from the 80's that I am only using it for old video game systems, i don't want to pay for it and will pick it up. Low and behold about 2 days later a woman from Montclair emailed me saying she had a 19" tv she was looking to get rid of. So i went and picked it up. Very vintage with turn knobs yes turn knobs, uhf/vhf settings. I love it for the simple fact thats what the older games were meant for =)

mike

[LucidDefender]

Yes to this. I picked up a 14" flat CRT Toshiba with front AV, rear AV, S-Video and Component (!) for $40 a few months ago as a classic gaming monitor.

14" with component? Sweet 480i glory in the best forum(except RGB, but let's be reasonable) :)

[digitalpress]

Go get yourself a Commodore 1702 (http://www.retrothing.com/2006/03/commodore_1702_.html) and a VCR for RF-to-Composite conversion. It's a great cheap monitor (I've heard) and should sell for well under your $200 price limit. I think Joe has some at the DP store, so he would be able to vouch for it.

I vouch.

In our first year or so, all of our events we used 2 or 3 1702's as our display option (check NAVA photos for proof). Then someone donated a nice big 21" Sony display that's a sort-of "box" for lack of a better description, apparently this was used at trade shows and has inputs for just about every type of connection. About a year ago I bought two 27" HDTV's for tournaments and NAVA meetings. But you know what? Those Commodore 1702's take up so little space and have such a great picture that they're used on our main islend for testing and displays quite a bit even to this day. And of course I have one in our window display. They seem to never die and they certainly never disappoint.

/vouch