Archive for December, 2008

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Panasonic Viera TH 42PX80U 42 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV




Treat yourself with the new Panasonic Viera plasma 42" HDTV, you'll enjoy watching your favorite shows and sporting events on the large 42" screen TV in high-definition. The Panasonic Viera Plasma gives you intense colors and the sharpest images. You can use this to display all your favorite photos from your digital camera with the built-in SD card slot, giving you your own photo galley inside your living room. 1000000 - 1 Dynamic, 15000 - 1 Native Contrast Ratio 16 - 9 (Widescreen) Aspect Ratio G11 Progressive 1080p HD Plasma Display Panel Type Motion Adaptive 3D-Y/C Digital Comb Filter Two Full-range (L,R) Speakers, 20Watt (10% THD)(8ohms, 70Hz-17kHz) Integrated ATSC Tuners ATSC / QAM / NTSC Receiving System SD Card Slot, Photo Viewer Input Ports - 3 x HDMI (1 Front), 2 x Analog Audio Input (for HDMI), 2 x Composite Video (1 Front), 2 x S-Video (1 Front), 2 x Audio Input (1 Front) (for Video), 1 x Composite Video output, 1 x Audio Output, 1 x Digital Audio Out Approximate Unit Dimensions - 28.6 (H) x 40.2 (W) x 15.2 (D) with Stand Approximate Unit Weight - 61.8lbs with Stand

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Very pleased
Shipping by TAF was prompt and within promised window, with evening delivery. Both the box and TV have hand grips. Pedestal assembly easy. TV weighs less than a CRT half its screen size! Actually fits a built-in space that seemed suitable for nothing bigger than a 37", until I carefully considered all the measurements.

Instructions in clear English (or you can learn equivalent Spanish and French). Assembled in Mexico, rather than China. Remote control is very well balanced. Buttons "fall right to hand," but are not designed for fat fingers. Frame has the shiny black finish of a grand piano.

The picture is beautiful compared to a standard analog tube, even before HD service. Text and scrollers are really sharp. No screen-lag in action scenes. Regular DVDs played on an upconverting player are smashing at 720p, and could hardly improve on a 1080i or 1080p TV (Blu-Ray discs would be a different matter). Anti-glare protection is somewhat effective. Three different wide-screen modes for use when viewing regular 4:3 shows (two of them make everyone look like big, ah, linemen).

4 Stars Solid TV
I was given this TV as a gift - man, what a gift. It's a beautiful specimen. Not too huge, just a sleek, standard HDTV. I am not really blown away by the incredible picture - although it's crisp and much clearer than normal tv. It's great, don't get me wrong. But i'm not sure it's really improved my overall television viewing experience. But i digress - it's a great tv, picture is mighty fine, but i did have a really bad experience with the delivery. The folks that J&R hired to deliver the tv - Urban Express - did a crap job. I was supposed to get the white glove service - where they delivery the tv and also hook up to your cable and install the tv, etc - but instead, got something quite different. The 2 guys come in, they take the tv out of the cardboard box, attach the base, and place the tv on my tv stand. As they start to leave, i ask them if they can help me hook up/connect the TV and make sure the HD portion works to maximum effectiveness (because this was the service we paid extra for - delivery and white glove service). Well, long story short, they said sorry, can't help you, that will be an extra $168 or something. I quizically say ok, well thanks but no thanks, and they take off. So - idiot that i am - i spend 25 minutes trying to set up the damn tv, with no luck, and then lo and behold the guys come back to apologize and say they were really responsible for setting up and connecting the tv. They come back inside, futz around for 10 minutes, and proclaim "sorry - we don't know how to set this up." They say they have to get a "specialist" to help. 1 hour later, they're back with the new guy, who takes 30 seconds to get everything up and running. So the delivery guys really sucked in my opinion. Ha - all good now!

5 Stars First HDTV?
If you're purchasing (or thinking about purchasing) this TV, chances are, this is your first venture into the wonderful world of HDTV's. This was the case with me. I'll keep it short. I got this tv for around 765, shipping included. This TV was SO worth it. I haven't regretted the purchase for 1 moment. The black levels are deep, the colors are vibrant, and there are no false contours that I have been able to perceive. All things I was worried about before the purchase. I could not tell you the difference between a 1080 and 720 on the 42" screen. The picture is impeccable. If you have the money and are wondering if the purchase is worth it, just know that this TV completely satisfied my needs. And if you're new to the HDTV world, it will satisfy yours, too. (Just do it... )

1 Star Horrible Experience
I bought this TV from adorama through amazon. After connecting to power outlet, I watched this TV only for 10 minutes. After that, it turned off automatically. I tried connecting to different power outlets and it doesn't work. Once, it turns off, the remote also doesn't work. I requested for an exchange/return to adorama and they said they cannot take it back because of their return policies. So, I called panasonic customer care, and since they couldn't help me in fixing through phone, they sent their authorized dealers (Advanced Electronic)to pick up the TV to fix it.

They came and took the TV by Oct. 20, and still now they have not fixed it. I tried calling them several times and they are not picking up the phone, and I called panasonic customer care center to get the status. Even they couldn't help me for last two weeks. It's been around a month, I bought this TV and not even watched it for 10 minutes. I will not suggest this TV to anyone. It's horrible experience.

5 Stars PERFECT PICTURE
THIS NEW PLASMA PANASONIC REPLACED A 1 YR OLD VIZIO LCD 32 INCH AND WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE! IM NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE SPECS OF THE PANASONIC(WHICH YOU CAN FIND EASILY BY OTHER REVIEWS AND PRODUCT DESCRIPTION), BUT I MUST SAY I LOVE THIS TV. IT HAS A MUCH BETTER, BRIGHTER, CLEARER PICTURE THAN MY VIZIO. THE SET UP WAS EASIER AS WELL...I TOOK IT OUT OF THE BOX, PUT THE STAND ON, RUN A HDMI TO MY HDTV CABLE RECORDER, PLUGGED IN TO ELECTRICAL SURGE PROTECTOR AND PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON...I DID NOT ADJUST ANY SETTINGS...AND WAS AMAZED AT THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURE. I CAN STOP WATCHING TV NOW...WHICH IS THE ONLY DRAWBACK(LOL). I RESEARCHED HDTV'S FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND ALMOST BOUGHT THE SAMSUNG, BUT THE PANASONIC HAD A BETTER PRICE. GET THIS TV AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY REGRETS. BTW, I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HAD NO PROBS AT ALL.

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Panasonic TH 50PX75U 50 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Panasonic TH 50PX75U 50 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV




Are you ready for superior digital and HDTV? The Panasonic TH-50PX75U HD Plasma TV does more than turn your living room into a home-theater -- it also makes it an art gallery. The high-definition, Progressive Scan 50" display creates intense colors and the sharpest images. Its vibrancy and clarity also brings out the best in your personal photos - the built-in SD slot and GalleryPlayer software lets you play your favorite works of art, or best personal photos, on your Panasonic HDTV from your PC. The new EZ Sync HDAVI Control lets you operate all of your home theater components by pressing a single button on your remote. Gorgeous images and one-touch controls - it's a combination that's hard to beat, and the Panasonic TH-50PX75U HD Plasma TV delivers. Displays up to 29 billion colors Two built-in 10 Watt stereo speakers (10W+10W, 70 Hz-17 kHz, 10% THD) Motion Adaptive 3D-Y/C Digital Comb Filter Virtual Surround Sound, AI (Artificial Intelligence) Sound Built-in NTSC Analog / ATSC QAM Digital Tuner (for HDTV and Digital Cable) Video Noise & Motion Pattern Noise Reduction Aspect Control for TV/AV modes - 4 - 3, Zoom, Full, Just, H-Fill Picture Modes - Vivid, Standard, Cinema, Custom-Photo SD Card slot for JPEG photo viewing; includes GalleryPlayer software V-Chip Lockout Sleep/On-Off timers Closed Caption decoder Video input labeling & picture memory Channel search On-screen display languages - English, Spanish, French Includes pedestal stand EZ Sync HDAVI Remote Control (through HDMI interface) Input Connections - HDMI-HDCP, analog audio(HDMI), Composite video, S-Video, audio in(for video), Component(Y/Pb/Pr) -- 2 rear each Output Connections - Composite video, audio out, Digital Audio (optical) -- 1 rear each Dimensions(WxHxD) - 47.7 x 31.3 x 3.8 (47.7 x 33.1 x 14.6) Weight - 83.8 lbs; 99.2 lbs. with stand

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Best TV for your money!
I have had this TV for over a month now and I love it. It replaced a dead Mitsubishi 52" DLP that was only 2.5 years old that cost twice as much. After my last mistake, I did much research before buying.

What I found in all my reading is simply this.

1. Unless you just have to keep up with the Jones, all you really need is 720P. Use your money to go bigger. Blueray is the only source that truly takes advantage of 1080P. Add in the cost of the moves, it is not worth it.

2. No matter what make and model you read about, someone, somewhere has written a bad review of it. You will go crazy looking for a TV that everyone agrees is a good buy.

With that said; I finally came to my senses and went to Consumer Reports.com for good advice. The Panasonic TH-50PX75U received the CR Best Buy award. I've had good luck with other Panasonic products so the answer was clear.

I couldn't be happier with the decision. The picture is absolutely beautiful even if watching non-HD programming. The sound is excellent. Most importantly the price was very easy on the wallet. Throw in no taxes and free shipping, what a deal! Oh, but wait, with the 30 day price guarantee, I saved even more.

Stop thinking about it and just do it. This is the best TV on the market for the price.

5 Stars Total satisfaction
The performance of this HDTV has been flawless. I chose to not get a 1080p set to save a little money, and this set has proven my decision right. I base that on the observation that at 9 feet away, where I sit, I cannot see the individual pixels. In fact, I have to be less than 4 feet to see them on this 50" screen. Be prepared, though, if you're new to HDTV sets. While your old analog set had almost nothing to adjust, these HD sets have many adjustments and settings. The manual is quite good, however. If you do need help, their customer service line answers quickly and the folks will talk you through it. Another plus for me was that "Consumer Reports" rates Panasonic HDTVs as the most reliable.

1 Star Two Panasonic Lemon's in a row
Panasonic TH-50PX75U 50" 720p Plasma HDTV

I got this Plasma as a replacement from Circuit City for my first Panasonic 50" plasma TV that I paid $3200 for. The previous plasma's HDMI input went bad after 1 1/2 years. I have had this new TV for just 6 months and now the same thing has happened to this one. The screen just went green when using HDMI. It took 6 weeks and a lot of hassle to get the first replacement from Circuit City. One of the clerks there told me you have to complain for a month before they will replace the TV.

5 Stars Incredible picture, awesome value
This TV is stunning! I connected it to DirectTV yesterday...just watched Star Wars Episode 1 broadcast in HD...amazing...picture was so good I almost actually liked Jar-Jar.

I investigated HDTVs thoroughly before buying- here's how I picked this one.

(1) Plasma vs. LCD. In this price range, the picture's better on plasma TVs, hands-down. LCDs are brighter and have more contrast, but that comes with a big sacrifice in terms of the amount of details visible in the image. The image is more lifelike and shows more detail on the plasma displays. Burn-in and screen life are much less of a concern with today's plasmas and should really no longer be used as a reason to go LCD.

(2) Panasonic. The only plasma TVs with better images than Panasonic are the Pioneers, but those are way too expensive. The image just looks better than other plasmas...deeper blacks, more realistic colors, more details visible.

(3) 720p. This was the toughest decision. I was really on the fence between 1080p and 720p. 1080p is obviously the higher resolution, and in this line-up the 1080p TVs have a 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio as opposed to the 15,000:1 for the 720p. However, these are just specs on paper; the HD channels only broadcast in 1080i or 720 p anyway, so it doesn't make a difference when watching TV. I haven't bought a blu-ray player yet and probably won't until the prices come down some more...so there's no advantage for me yet in DVDs. Finally, in reality, I am sitting about 8-9 feet away from the TV in my living room...at that distance, the difference between 720p and 1080p is not really noticeable anyway...even you have Blu-ray. So given these factors, I went with 720p because the cost difference was about $500.

Some people have complained about the reflection/glare on the screen on this TV. At night (when I watch TV), there's not much reflection when the TV is on (I watch in cinema mode)- in dark parts of the screen you can sometimes get a bit of reflection, but it's not any different than that what you get with a regular CRT TV, and it doesn't detract from the viewing experience.

I ordered from Amazon- the TV was shipped and arrived right on time. Spent this weekend watching...the HD channels look great on the 50 inch display. I also bought an HDMI-DVI cable and was able to very easily hook up my laptop to the TV- used the laptop to watch DVDs, and even Youtube looked good at 50 inches! I highly recommend this TV to anyone. You won't go wrong.

5 Stars pictures a thousand words, so look at picture
great HDTV, stop looking

all the other reviews say it all.

I am so pleased I bought this beauty.

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Samsung LN52A860 Ultra thin 52 1080p LCD HDTV with 120Hz refresh rate




Marketing description is not available.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Fantastic, Thin Flat Panel
I have had this TV for 4 days so far, and I can't say enough positive about things about it. The set up was easy, and the amount of control you have for the picture settings is very in depth. The extra warranty of the 860 (18 months instead of 12 months for the 850) is a nice perk. The blue TOC (Touch of Color) is barely noticeable, it really looks black/graphite grey unless you look very closely. The good news is that the 'halo effect' that some owners of the 750 have complained about is non-existent on the 860. I also love the swivel stand because I did not wall mount this TV even though it is exceptionally thin.

Plugged in my HD cable box and new Blu-ray player via HDMI and everything has worked perfectly so far. The picture is stunning, and there are so many functions and features that I just haven't gone through all of them yet.

On the flip side, there is a lag if you are using the little circle dial on the remote. Better off just clicking up, down, left, or right instead of spinning the dial around and waiting for the TV to react.

I don't have surround sound yet, but the TV speakers aren't too bad. Hard to rave about fake surround sound from tiny TV speakers, but that's expected.

Overall, I would recommend this TV without hesitation this to anyone looking for a new 1080p LCD TV.

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Toshiba REGZA 37RV530U 37 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV




The 37RV530U from Toshiba is a full HD 1080p LCD TV with impressive features for gamers and movie lovers alike. This 37" screen utilizes groundbreaking Toshiba technology for stunning visuals and multiple input options for connecting all of your High-Definition components. DynaLight Back-Light Control processes images for seamless transitions for deeper blacks with extended detail and depth analysis. This LCD TV uses the PixelPure 4G 14-bit video processor and an 8-bit display for natural pictures with up to 4096 levels of gradation. The super fast response time enhances action sequences, sports or video games with a wide viewing angle for a good seat anywhere in the room. With its 4 HDMI inputs and the PC input, the 37RV530U can handle all of your High-Definition devices plus your PC for the flexibility. The Toshiba 37RV530U 's pixel count provides fine detail for high-definition TV programming and DVD movies in progressive scan. Enjoy your PC on this 37" 1080p screen with the available 15-Pin D-sub input. This interface enhances audio and video performance of the LCD TV. In addition, this interface uses one cable and one plug to simplify connections. Hidden thin-line speakers provide realistic sound with enhanced dynamic range. SoundStrip Built-in Speaker System HDTV Compatibility TV Scan Lines - 480p/720p/1080p TV Tuner - NTSC, ATSC, QAM Picture in Picture (PIP) Picture Freeze Input/Output Connectors - 4x Inputs HDMI, 2x Component, 2x Composite, 1x S-Video, 1x PC, IR Pass-Through, 1x RCA Stereo Outputs, and 1x Optical Digital Dimensions - Width 36.1 x Height 25.4 x Depth 10.3 (917x645x261mm) Weight - 39.6 pounds (18kg)

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars complete satisfaction
We are completely satisfide with the TV and also the service we got from Amazon. This was our first time ordering and the speed with which we got the TV was great. Saving on shipping was a real plus. The delivery person brought the TV in, hooked it up to the cable and left. No problems at all. The pictures on the TV are great - sharp and clear. There is a few second hesitation when you go to a different channel, but this to us is not a major problem.

5 Stars very nice
We've had the Toshiba REGZA 37RV530U HDTV for about 3 months now. We got it to replace an old 19 inch TV which was just too small for our new bedroom viewed mostly from around 15-20 feet away. The upgrade to 37 inch was dramatic, we can actually read the DirecTV guide from bed now!

Picture quality on the 37RV530U with our DirecTV Satellite receiver (digital, standard definition) has been very nice after some adjustments, which this TV has plenty of. The surprise has been the over the air High Definition local stations (720p), which look superb on this TV. I attached an old bow tie type antenna we had, not expecting much, but surprisingly we receive most of the local SF Bay area stations in HD. It was a pleasure watching Olympics late night from bed in HD!

This TV also has a VGA input for attaching PCs, which works well for a TV. Have not tried anything at 1080p yet. I wish it had picture in picture, but most LCD HDTVs don't. Overall been very happy with this purchase, well done Toshiba.

For those who might want to save some money, you can go with a 720p HDTV and not sacrifice much unless you have a blueray player or a PS3.

5 Stars Spec Discrepancy
Great picture, great price. This TV looks fantastic ON or OFF. I needed to fit it in a space exactly 36" wide. The problem was, no store carries this model, so measuring it was not an option. It's an online purchase only and the online stores gave a width spec of 36.5". I checked the Toshiba website and the spec there was 35.5". I took a chance and luckily the actual width was 35.25". FYI

4 Stars TV is Great, Internet is not
[...]

This TV arrived with a defective screen. I do not live near a major city, so it took EIGHT weeks to get my TV approved to send off, actually send off, and get back. NOW it is great - has a beautiful picture, and I am totally please with it.

But, I will NOT buy a large item like this online again, as EIGHT WEEKs is ridiculous to have spent my money but have no TV.

1 Star Do not buy Toshiba
I bought this TV set 40 days ago and I am still waiting to have my new TV. I received a faulty TV set, Toshiba service took the TVToshiba REGZA 37RV530U 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV set from my home and I am still waiting. Nobody is responsible: Neither Toshiba nor Electronic Express. Just BE CAREFULL!!!!

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Samsung PN50A450 50 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Samsung PN50A450 50 Inch 720p Plasma HDTV




50" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * high-gloss black finish * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * 1365 x 768 pixels * 30,000:1 contrast ratio (1,000,000:1 dynamic) * 175?(H) x 175?(V) viewing angle *

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Big Bank for the Buck
Big TV, low price, great color, great blacks... if you want to save some money and hold off on getting the 1080p television, you can't go wrong with this 720p monster. And the white glove delivery service was 10 times better than hauling it home from the local electronics store.

5 Stars Great
It's simply a great TV, I compared it to my friends 52 1080 LCD Touch Of Red Samsung, and not even for a moment did I regret this purchase.

Phenomenal value/price ratio!

Just be aware of burn in limitations of Plasma TV (zoom in picture when watching 4:3) and have your brightness/contrast settings on 50% or less, an you will be very happy! I had it for over 3 months now and no problems at all.

4 Stars AMENDED: If you think you need 1080P in a 50 inch think again !
Coming from the graphics industry I've always known the spec wars are total ego feeders. At 50 inches 720P is fantastic. 65 inches in the same room and you would be able to see the difference of a 1080P. But not at this size.

If you want amazing HD that is so sharp it will make your eyes bleed... this is your set ! :)

If you want a TV that displays the free HD Cable channels your cable provider provides WITHOUT a cable box... this is the set.

If you want a set not too big to still watch your SD DVD collection... this is the set.

If you buy products based on proper spec for the format rather than EGO... this is your set.

If you don't already own a surround system and want a reasonable cost system... Buy at least a nice self powered computer speaker system though cause the speakers on this set stink. I recommend the Logitech THX rated 5500 series DOLBY/DTS surround with optical input. In a small living room this will rock the couch at $200.

Amazon's delivery was 2 days early... called for an appointment... showed up on time.

UPDATE (10/31/2008): I almost want to remove a star. I want to keep my system simple. Have a PC Media Center and a DVD player connected via HDMI. TV has an Optical Out so a single connection for my sound from TV to Surround system seems to be indicated for TV, DVD or PC watching.

WRONG... This TV will pass my Cable TV 5.1 digital sound to the Surround system. But it limits DVD & PC to 2 channel stereo only. I am now forced to have independent sound connections to audio system. Every time you change a source you need to do it twice. This just should not be the case. The HDMI should carry sound to the TV and TV should pass it through the optical interface that I paid for.

WORK AROUNDS... Buy a HDMI switcher that I should not need to buy. Or buy a programmable remote and spend two days setting it up to run all my devices and teach it to change video source on TV and Audio source on Audio system simultaneously.

BOTTOMLINE... The TV should allow digital sound to pass through the HDMI to the Optical Output on the TV. Why they thought passing through 5.1 for a cable TV channel matters more than passing through digital audio for our HD & DVD sources is beyond my understanding. I'm disappointed.

5 Stars Great Flat Screen TV For The Money!!!
I looked at all the TV's, both plasma and LCD in the $1,500 or less price range. The Samsung PN-50A450 is the best TV for the money. I would have to give Panasonic Viera plasma the number 2 spot, but I have yet to find it in a 50" for $999 with free shipping and no tax. The Samsung's picture was better than the Panasonic Viera's when looking at them side by side. The Vizio is not even an option anymore since you can get the Samsung for less than $1000. I am extremely satisified with my purchase and my friends can't believe I got a TV this size with a picture this good for what I paid for it. Also, pay the extra $$ and get the HD package from your cable company. It makes night and day difference. I don't even watch the non-HD channels anymore.

1 Star Really Upset over this TV
We had this Samsung 92 days.......and now burn in? Already? The manual states no fixed images more than 5% of the time? well, every station out there has their logo fixed to the screen.

I am really disappointed and mad, feel the tv was just a waste of money.

Have burn in on the bottom and on the left side.

Nice picture though but not worth it if it gets burn in only after 90 days. I also own a 32" Samsung HD LCD that I have in the bedroom, really makes me wonder if it will do the same. The manual for that says the same thing about burn in/image retention......waaaaaa!

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