What I did recently in the same situation as you was looked around online; Best Buy, Circuit City, and found about 8 or 9 in my price range with the features and inputs I was looking for. Then I went and actually looked at the TVs in person with a DVD I was familiar with and factored everything in, then made the decision. Anyone who claims to know about home audio/video will probably tell you the same. Good luck on your choice and make sure to post pictures and let us know what you picked out. For your budget, there's a LOT of choices. Shop wisely.
Joe