Buyer's Guide: Best TVs For College Kids

Every dorm room or college apartment needs a nice TV to really tie the room together. It doesn't need to be too big, it doesn't need to have all the latest cutting-edge technology, it just needs to put up a good-looking picture for a nice price. If the college student in your life (or you, if you're a college student yourself) needs a flat panel, we recommend these affordable models.

For The Kitchen or Dorm Room Samsung LN26B360 from $386.00	The Samsung LN26B360 is a modest 26-incher that will fit comfortably in a small dorm room. Even on top of a dresser or desk, it'll leave plenty of space in cramped living quarters. The specs aren't very flashy—LCD display, 720p resolution, 2 HDMI ports—but hey, it's under $400, and the whole floor will still be jealous of the lucky student that brings this back to his or her room.
Perfect For a Small Room LG 32LH20 from $429.00	The whole building will want to hang out with whoever has the LG 32LH20. At 32 inches, this TV is perfect for a big dorm room or small apartment and provides a more cinematic movie or game experience than most college kids are accustomed to. Again, the specs aren't jaw dropping—this is a 720p, and though there is a 1080p available, the lower resolution is fine for this screen size—but this is a very nice set for the money.
Great Value Vizio VO420E from $799.99	Perhaps a little bit too big for a dorm room, the Vizio V0420E makes a great set in an off-campus housing situation. According to the conventional wisdom, it's comfortable to view from between 5 to 9 feet away, so plan accordingly. It has a 42-inch LCD screen at 1080p resolution and a refresh rate of 60 hertz. Though it's a value for the money (as all Vizio products are) this is pretty big, and should be a special present for a special student.