Rating: 
Summary: Becoming a TV addict...
Review: I have had this set for about a week. I gave a Samsung similar model back in exchange for this one. It is a stunning set with lots of features and an absolutely high-value performance.The picture is rock-solid and has an assortment of modes to view it in...i.e. - movie, custom, etc. It doesn't bloom when the picture suddenly gets brighter and the set offers several ways to view the picture, 16:9, 4:3 and various modes in between. I have always been a fan of Philips' sound. That goes right back to their Philetta table radio from 1954 that I still listen to once in a while. Their speakers are always very clear and pleasant to listen to at any volume. The set offers several sound selections to go with the type of program that's being watched. This is true particularly when one activates the "Incredible Surround Sound" feature that the set has. The TV holds the aspect ratio setting that the user selects. That means if I watch a standard broadcast show with a 4:3 setting and I turn off the set, when I turn it on again, the setting remains at 4:3 until I choose to change it. The settings I find very thoughtfully placed in the menu. The most common or frequently used ones are right at the top level. All-in-all, I find this set a great buy. I only question why they put the volume and channel select control (yes, it is combined) on the top of the TV. However, the remote is convenient and I just thought I'd question that item. From the past, I assume that should I need Philips technical support for this HDTV, I know I can get it.
Rating: 
Summary: New Purchase
Review: I just bought the tv this afternoon at COSTCO on promotion for $599. Obviously the price is unbeatable but the tv is cumbersome taking three people to get it up two flights of stairs. Also, the instructions do NOT make it clear on how to attach it to a DVD player. It has multiple component video connections, and you do need to use the correct one for the optimum picture quality. It does NOT come with cables but once I had everything hooked up, the picture is pretty amazing. I hope that my experience is better then some of the other reviewers. This is my first HDTV so I do not have anything to compare it to. It is certainly a much better picture than my 27 inch JVC.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST TV EVER!!!!!!!!!
Review: I just bought this set from Best Buy yesterday, and I was totally blown away with the astounding picture quality and crispness of the image! The screen is quite large, and everything just looks so much better on it =). This is an incredible set, and it is also at a very great price! I would HIGHLY recommend this set to anyone looking to upgrade their home theater experience!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!! BEST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE!!!!
Review: I just bought this thing from Amazon and all I can say is WOW!!!! This is probably the best purchase I have ever made. This thing is everything I ever expected and more!! It's easy to use as well - even my wife can operate it! I have to say, everyone out there who is thinking of buying this, stop thinking. I bought it and I am extremely happy with it the moment I powered this thing on. YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS PURCHASE! I GUARANTEE IT!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great TV BUT....
Review: I looked at all the 30in wide screens including Toshiba, Samsung and the Sony models. I decided on the Philips model 850. Best Buy had it priced on sale at a steal, $799. It is being replaced by the 862 which comes with PIP @ $1299...ouch. Consumer reports gave the 850 higher marks than the 862 model as well as the Toshiba and Samsung models. I have regular/digital cable and most channels come in extremely clear with good color thanks to the Active Control and Eye Fidelity features. The sound is good as well but the Sony model is far better. A draw back to this TV is with the component inputs (AV4). The Active Control feature doesn't work and you do not have access to the Sharpness or Tint features. Use S video instead. With that said, my TV did have a defect. Watching DVD movies with component ultra high monster cables, 5 vertical bars at different widths can be seen causing skin color and light colors to change green. Less noticeable with the S video input but still there. So I went out and bought the Sony $1399 but that screen had a defect that is noticed on even the floor models in different stores. You will see a very thin thread like black horizontal line if looking close enough. Only viewable during light back grounds. I didnt like watching a line through Dan Rathers head so it went back. I have ordered another Philips and waiting for it to arrive to exchange. Hopefully with no defect. If so, I will be extremely happy!
Rating:
Summary: A gorgeous TV
Review: I purchased this TV set from Costco for about $800 three months ago. So far, it works great. Its picture and sound are superior when connected with my $130 Sony DVD player. The only issue I noticed is that it takes 1 or 2 second to respond I change channels, which is annoying.
Rating:
Summary: 4.5 stars
Review: I recently decided to upgrade my tv viewing experience but I did not want to go crazy in the wallet nor buy a product that may be outdated relatively soon. After seeing this tv advertised rather reasonably around town and online, I did some further homework and went through a refurbished company which also involved me getting some additional information. Costs may continue to go down but as of this date, getting a 30" widescreen, flatscreen, HD ready with a fine picture and a quality manufacturer starting under $1,000 (and likely to find considerably less) with more than enough connections for the average user - this is a steal!
First glance (upon plugging it in) I was overwhelmed and to know that I can use this for HD as well was the icing on the cake. Plus, the features (6 screen sizes) and sound options make it more enjoyable for each user and their respective programming.
With technology heading more and more in the direction of digital and widescreen formats, and without having to take up an entire portion of your living room, if you do not want to go overboard but still want the advantages of today's televisions, then this my friend is the place to start.
Truly satisfied and look forward to football season next year.
(opinion may be somewhat above average due to reviewer never owning more than a 19" tv set prior to this one)
Rating: 
Summary: Clueless Philips Tech Support
Review: I recently purchased this 16x9 TV to replace a 4x3 TV. I ran my old tv thru a Pioneer audio/video reciever. I run a VCR, laserdisc player, dvd player and video game player thru the a/v reciever. When I got this new tv home and tried to hook it up, I ran into problems. The instruction manual does not contain any reference to going thru an a/v reciever. I called tech support. The person told me she did not know how to use an a/v reciever with this tv (she did not even know what an audio/video reciever was). I finally tried different configurations without much success. I emailed their online support twice. They never responded to my emails. I called 2 more times and their tech support offered no applicable advice. The last person I spoke to said that they only have the same directions as I have in the instruction manual. I followed the instruction manual as much as possible but was either able to get the peripheral components to work, or the on air tv, but not both. The last tech I spoke to agreed that I probably have to return the tv and get my money back as he could not offer any advice on how to get my tv to work. After spending 3 weekends trying, without success, I guess I will have to return the tv! Is this anyway to run a company?
Rating:
Summary: Is it just me or is this set not good if it's not HD?
Review: I still give it a 4 stars because I see the HD quality which is really good for this price and I'm planning to move to HD soon. But as of now, I'm still on analogy (bcos of those too good to turn down intro price for basic cable). And the clarity is less than desirable. Perhaps it's bcos I've been watching my friend's high quality HDTV for too long. Or perhaps as my friend said it's bcos the resolutions magnify the flaws of analogy signal? Or maybe I don't know how to set my TV correctly to make it produce high quality performance. Anyone has any advice for me? I'm beginning to wonder if I got a defect set. I'm too lazy to return (and this is too heavy to move anyway). Think I'll have to wait 6 mths til my intro special basic cable expire to try it on digital to see if there's a different. I'll still appreciate advices if anyone can offer. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: I've been wanting an HDTV for quite some time. At issue were the following: 1) Space issue - The unit had to fit in our existing armoire 2) Cost - I wanted to buy something less than $...My wife finally gave me the green light and was quoted as saying "I probably won't even be able to tell the difference between analog TV and HDTV." Let's just say she was pleasently suprised. She thinks it's absolutely AMAZING and so do I.
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