heatherlin7

you were able to get the $699 price online from bestbuy?

we bought this today too, it will be delivered on wednesday. did LOTS of research first, and this was a good buy, overall this set has very good reviews. Granted, it is the "old" CRT technology, but it has good optics and if you don't mind going for the reliable and tried and true technology instead of the newer lcd's plasmas etc, then this seems to be a great buy. Additionally, the newer dlp projection tv's have a bulb that needs changed when it burns out (could be every couple of years) and they run upwards of $300 just for a bulb! With this tv, there will be no bulbs to replace as it is CRT. I hope for the money that we will be pleased with this set.

How do you make sure you have a 51" tv set after waiting all night if it isn't a ticketed doorbuster item? The hitachi is a 2 day price and I just don't know how to go about getting my hands on one...do you go straight to a sales associate? what if somebody else gets to the sales associate first? I know these aren't simply put on the showroom floor so there must be a way???

I have also looked for reviews but have come up empty. Still...looks like a steal and I think we might try to grab one at that price. My needs are similar to yours, no gaming, just net and home stuff, homework helper for my teen as well. Hopefully it will be a decent laptop.

Where are you in Arizona? I'm in the Prescott area and I can say three years ago, the bb up here was great for a short line. we got to the store around 4am and there were only maybe 50 people in front of us. Last year, the line was longer. we got there around 3am and there were at least double the amount of people. So...I expect it to be even longer this year. We plan on heading out the night before, around 11p.

We're looking to get the 51" hitachi also...only one in stock at our local best buy so I just called them to see if they would price match. No, they won't. According to the best buy manager at our store, it's a black friday special and there are no guarantees on even getting one??? And disappointingly, they won't price match the one they have now. We will be calling tomorrow to see if they have (hopefully) gotten more in. Otherwise, I just don't understand how they can advertise this special and not be able to have any in stock.

We viewed this in best buy a few days back and were initially disappointed, only because it was surrounded by all the plasmas and lcd's. It was sort of "tucked away" and the picture just didn't compare to all of the glitzy sets surrouding it. Admittedly, our hopes were a little dashed when we first saw it. But I've read nothing but good reviews, and have since seen blog postings where others have had the same experience, only to get it home and the picture looks great when out of the store. Granted it isn't as "bright" as the lcd's and plasmas because it is a CRT set, we're set on purchasing this as it is such a great value. And, we didn't like the issue of having to replace burnt out expensive lamps on a dlp set.

Thank you for the info....this is quite reassuring!! Definately appreciate it!

We really want the Hitachi 51" crt rear projection tv...I noticed the ad doesn't state a minimum per store, rather it says limited to warehouse quantities. My bb store only has one in stock as of today. What does this mean? Does this mean that if I don't get that one tv on friday that I won't be able to get this television? Is there any likelihood that bb will get more stock in of this model before friday?? I'd really hate to spend all night in line, only to find out that there are none, or that one other person took the only one. How do you secure these big items without a ticket? I can't imagine standing in line all night only to have someone else run in and beat me to the set. Any recommendations?

We're also looking at this Hitachi. All of the reviews I've read are great on this particular model. Sure, there are some disadvantages when you compare it to the lcd's and plasma's. being that it is CRT, the technology is being replaced by the newer. But, this is a great deal on a good tv if you don't mind a few trade offs. It is the same model that will be on sale bf. We will wait until friday to grab it for $699