As with anything - get the best you can currentkly afford. Dunno about the states but I would go for something like a 37" LCD with 1080P resolution so, in future, you can play BluRay disks. In the UK it's also important to get it with inbuilt digoital freeview tuner. A branded make, Sony, Hitachi etc. Would set you back no more than 500 UK Pounds. An unknown make, which MAY be just as good is down to 300-ish.

DeG