Prices for flat-screen TVs have come down significantly over the past few years. Finally not only early adopters can afford to buy a high-tech TV. We decided to test two fairly inexpensive LCD HD TVs and compare them. Both are available at Buy.com.

Toshiba 19HLV87 - Price: $423.92

The Toshiba has a 19 inch screen with a resolution of 1440 by 900 pixels. As an added bonus it has a DVD player built in. The remote is easy to use and the buttons are exactly where they should be to make finding them in the dark easier.

Westinghouse SK26H520S (refurbished) - Price: $339.99

Buy.com often has great sales of refurbished (used) equipment. This is an excellent way to buy electronics that might otherwise be out of your price range. Refurbished doesn’t neccessarily mean that the item was defective. It could have been returned for any number of reasons. Before being sold as “refurbished” the item is tested by the original manufacturer (and repaired if necessary.)

The 26″ Westinghouse LCD TV we ordered worked perfectly and was virtually indistinguishable from a new TV. Compared to the Toshiba 19″ screen, the 26″is significantly bigger and offers a much better viewing experience. The picture also appeared to be crisper.

And since most people nowadays already own one or more DVD players, the built-in DVD player in the Toshiba really didn’t add all that much value in my opinion.

Considering the Westinghouse has a bigger, crisper picture and you probably already own a DVD player anyway, you are much better off buying the 26″ Westinghouse for $339 rather than the 19″ Toshiba.