Have a Samsung smart TV. Got it this Christmas.
Want to like the "smart" part better than I actually do. Most of the disappointment is because I'm rural, and have a very slow DSL connection. Streaming and such is essentially hopeless. It will buffer enough to play for a few seconds, then wait and reload for a minute. Movies or games, doesn't matter. Samsung has a lousy remote for typing web addresses with, and is squirrel bait when it comes to what keyboard will work with the TV. Forums are full of threads of angst over what keyboard and mouse will or will not work with a particular Samsung smart TV.
Quite happy with the TV itself. It's entertainingly complex without being so confusing you can't do it. Nor do you screw it up so badly you can't see anything.
I will admit I wish our Vizio had a keyboard on the remote. Our laptop has a HDMI port so connecting the tv as a monitor is a cable away.
We got a 52 or 53 in Panasonic Plasma 4 or 5 years ago. It is dumb but you can not beat the picture quality. The screen is glossy as other have said so there are times when it can be a pain but the flip side of that is that it is made of glass and is more durable than an LCD. Something to think about if you have kids.
In short, we love it, have no ghosting issues and will probably get another plasma when the time comes if they are still around.
In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:
Few months ago I read the Panasonic plasmas were of the best and advice was get them while you can because they were being discontinued. Might have to look into them.
Panasonic has either discontinued manufacturing plasmas, or will any day now. Some stock will be in the pipeline for a bit. That division was bleeding money, so it was shut down.
PC inputs are becoming more rare, especially considering that more current computers have HDMI outputs.
It looks like they are stopping this month, that is really too bad.
Ended up w/ a Samsung 46" LED 1080p Smart HDTV at Best Buy today. Picture quality is great, still gotta tweak it some. Sound will definitely be upgraded w/ a sound bar... shoulda bought one there but it can wait. Not connected to 'smart' yet. Channel programming went awry when my cable company wasn't listed and had to click on 'other', now I have channels I never had and missing my favs, sort that out later but at least I has TV again.
Evidently, I repel sales people cause they're never around when ya really need 'em, especially at Best Buy. Fortunately there were HP reps there today, bought a HP Photosmart 7520 all-in-one printer on sale after the demo.
Bought a router also, gonna get to it all next week.
Not a bad day for a electro-moron like me. 
edit: I have a pair of middle of the road Pioneer speakers from an old rack system I'd saved just because. It would be a two wire thumbscrew hook up at speaker to RCA looking jack at TV L/R audio. Think that'll work OK?
I bought a Toshiba 42" LED 2 years ago and I've been super happy with it. Just recently I bought a sound bar and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=7905043&pid=1218862381353
My old roommate had bought a Samsung 47" led smart tv and had a 7.1 surround system with a sub the size of an ottoman. I loved his setup but I couldn't bring myself to spend that much money.
In reply to Lancer007:
My old Pioneer speakers are 80's vintage and mid-road... but free. New audio can be berkeleying amazing... gonna hafta hear it first before dropping big coin on it. Might be well worth it tho.
If the stuff you have sound better than the built in speakers then go for it. The ones on mine aren't bad but they aren't good, especially after upgrading.
we had LGs at work.. I would never own one. They were a constant problem and burned in too easily. Granted I am going back a couple of years, but it was enough to keep me from wanting one
I was pretty set on a 42" Smart LG after reading good reviews but after a few complaints of the set keeping rebooting went w/ the Samsung. Later was told it was the sleep timers on the LGs fwiw. In store, the LG and Samsung picture quality was comparable, the Smart LGs came w/ more apps loaded but there's plenty free or pay from Samsung. Both brands online reviews were 4.6+ outta 5 stars. From all the folks I talked to the preference between LG and Samsung was like the Chevy/ Ford thing for lack of a better example.
Glad I bought the Samsung now and the 46 is just the right size. Will need a new stand as I can't do the wall mount. Definitely needs better sound so a sound bar or speakers. Get that cable thing sorted out Monday and hook up the wireless this week.
Dunno why I didn't do this years ago.
Yes, I just bought a 6300 and I am very happy. 60" for 1099 at Best Buy.
Con: I hated the Direct TV interface and still use the DTV remote & guide
Con: It does not go straight to a TV when you turn it on you have to choose the input.
Pro: Awesome picture!
Pro: After watching it for a month I am still amazed by the picture
OK....good information so far, but I have a new twist. Late 2012 I downsized, sold off the falling-down 1904 house and the falling-down oversize one-car garage and started renting a big off-site garage/workspace and bought a nice 721 sq ft one-bedroom condo. Life is great, but long story short, I have been downsizing and selling off furniture and housewares like crazy to cram a 3-bedroom house into my new place.
I just sold off my 5-7 year old 42" Sharp Aquos LCD TV. It was just waaaay too massive for my current place. I am limited more by physical room to house the TV than most. My ideal spot for a new TV is about 26" wide (maybe 27" if I push it) and my alternate, screws-up-the-whole-layout spot is 32" wide. If I want the one of the better TVs I can get in that size range, and price isn't a huge concern, what do I get? I will be watching more DVDs and streaming from the computer and not a whole lot of broadcast or cable, FWIW. Thanks in advance!
Upgraded to HD cable and w/ the 46" Samsung 6300 series.. pretty dang cool. Was set on a Sony HTCT260 sound bar but went w/ a Klipsch Icon SB1 instead. Very well pleased so far and there's more tweaking to do yet. Returned the Belkin router, will research further options said here but still liking the ASUS for outta the box plug in and go. Velocity is my fav channel now and the sound bar kicks all the right car sounds.
Coulda saved some bucks waiting for sales and shopping around more but the system is mostly complete and I'm pleased w/ the results. Win.
