Since you're asking for opinions - don't buy a Samsung - if you're looking for the company with the absolute worst customer service in the entire electronics industry - you've found it. They are also the number 1 brand name to have problems with Macs. Viewsonic comes in a distant 2nd place here - and only because they come in with sales numbers far behind.
The quality name brands I personally recommend are Toshiba, Panasonic, Hitachi and Sony. There are others, but these are my top 4 in no particular order.
Amongst the "throw away" brands are Westinghouse, Polaroid and Vizio. I would not advise buying these brands without purchasing an extended warranty. But, you can often buy them with the extended warranty for less than others.
The "throw away" brands are those for which you cannot get repair parts for their TVs. When they break, you buy a new TV or as with a BB warranty, you get your original purchase money back so you can buy another (after that is, your TV has sat in the repair shop for 4-5 weeks and they still have no idea when the replacement part might come in - because there aren't any).
edit: watch the local BB ads and others at this time of the year. You'll find some bargains on what are classified as "last years" models. Like cars, July thru Oct are when the new models come out typically and there are quite often some good bargains to be had as they try to get rid of inventory to make room for the new models.
edit2: I'd give serious consideration to that Toshiba idrinor linked to - $444 direct from Amazon, not bad for a 1080p at 32".