A refurbished item should be refurbished so it's like new. Most refurbs are actually just items that people have got home, decided they didn't want and sent back so they aren't bad deals. You could email them and ask them why it's a refurb. They both look like decent sets for the money. If audio isn't important to you then you should be more than happy with a system that costs $300. You might find yourself upgrading later on though when you realise that a decent set up might have more on offer than just extra sound quality.
Extra gadgets can mean anything from a digital tuner to extra inputs and ipod docks etc. Without seeing the set in person I can't comment on the build quality of that particular model but it will probably be nice enough but not as good as a Samsung or Pioneer over $1000.
Looks like a good deal. The thing you have got to remember is that most LCDs are made by a handful of manufacturers in the far east and there isn't much to choose between them below $1000. Above that the build quality tends to differ and you might get some extra gadgets for your cash.
In that case as I see it you only have a few options. Call an electrician, buy another fuse and a surge protector, send the speakers off for repair or buy a new set. I think that's the extent of the help and advice we can give you here.
If you don't mind me suggesting, ditch the idea of sitting that close to a TV because even at 1080p it might not look that great. If you have the means then a 42" with you using it as a PC across the room will probably serve you much better; maybe something like the following: http://www.amazon.com/JVC-LT42P789-42-Inch-1080p-Teledock/dp/B0017SR7HS/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234742000&sr=8-13. There's no reason you won't enjoy that VIZIO set either way though.
How far away from your telly are you going to be sitting? If it's more than 6 or 7 feet then a 1080p telly would be for bragging rights only because you won't notice the difference.
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