My family still has a cathode-ray tube television in our house, as we simply have never purchased a new set, but my brother and I are considering purchasing a new television set for our parents as a Christmas gift this year. The new television in question shall obviously be an LCD-screen device, but I am not certain about the brand or model that we should purchase, as I am not familiar with the various brands and of televisions. That is rather ironic, as I am very familiar with the various brand and models of computer monitors, which are very similar to television sets (although I use my computer much more often that I use my television, so that may be the reason for which I have better knowledge of computer monitors than I do of television sets).
I shall certainly be conducting my own research (i.e., checking the prices of television sets at various stores and vendors and reading reviews), but can anyone here make any recommendations for a new television set? I am seeking a model with a screen size between 30 inches and 40 inches and ideally, less than $400 in price, if that is possible. For the display type, I am seeking an LCD screen, as LED screens are still slightly too expensive presently, and plasma screens, from my research, are too inefficient in terms of power consumption and heat generation.
What recommendations can anyone here make? I shall greatly appreciate any feedback that anyone here can offer, and I await your responses.