SAMSUNG HLP5085W DLP TV HDTV and Computer Display

Rating:
Summary: Best Damn Purchase I Have Made on Amazon.com
Review: God I love this TV. This is why terrorism will eventually fail. The masses of this world love good deals that they find on-line and we will outspend them to death.

Back to the Samsung. . .If you can't figure out HD-Ready from HD-Integrated then you need to cut back on the white lines. Picture quality from a clean HD signal is awesome. Garbage in Garbage out. If you hook up a crusty old VCR to this beauty it will like crap.

This is by far the most bang for the buck for a DLP TV. Those crafty engineers on the Korean penninsula are busy crafting these beauties. Let's hope the North figures out that DLP's are better use of their time then making ICBM's. . .peace out, I gotta go buy more stuff.

Rating:
Summary: "HDTV-ready" means HDTV-ready
Review: I do not feel sorry for consumers who don't educate themselves before making a major purchase such as this. "HDTV-ready" clearly implies that the television is ready for an HDTV feed. Giving a porr rating to a fine product because you don't like the marketing of the ENTIRE INDUSTRY is just plain silly.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely THE BEST!
Review: I feel as though most people make a purchase, and then justify it by raving about it's performance, even if in their heart of hearts they know it is junk.

Just recently, an acquaintance of mine purchased an LCD television that, while asthetically pleasing, has one of the worst pictures I have seen. Trail, ghosting, poor colors, etc... DLP projection is simply the best picture you can buy if dollars spent VS. quality of picture is your goal. If you MUST hang a TV on a wall, KNOW that you MUST ALSO spend at least $7000 for a picture that begins to match the quality of a $2500 DLP. The cheaper flat screens are cheaper for a reason. You do the math.

This Samsung model is just gorgeous. HDTV is simply stunning. Colors are crisp, black levels are INCREDIBLE, and the picture is 95% perfect right out of the box! I had an engineer look at this set and say "it is perfect when you plug it in". So many sets need "tweaking" for days before they look right, so this is an added benefit on this model.

Also, the set has PIP, which can be used for watching TV while also using your computer! Simply run video out from your computer and you have a 50 inch HD Monitor!! Awsome!

This set has HDMI, which no one really uses yet, but it is nice to have for the future. For those who do not know, HDMI is ONE cable that carries HD PICTURE AND SURROUND SOUND. It also has DVI input for the BEST HDTV picture available.

The look (pedestal) is love it or leave it, but if you are here, you obviously find it pleasing.

I can not comment on the sound as I have never used it (I have a home theater system), and this brings me to a slightly offpoint comment, but one that is important. if you DO get a surround system, please do this television justice and do not buy some junky home theater in a box! Sound is actually MORE impotant than picture in terms of a visceral experience, and you do yourself no service to buy this set, and then use garbage sound. Also, BOSE, while nice, is overpriced and simply silly. DO RESEARCH, and find that no respected audio/videophile respects BOSE, when they know better can be had for less.

Sorry...back to my review. This set is wonderful. You can use a nice open-air AV rack to complement it visually, and as far as gaming goes, XBOX in HD is fabulous!!!

ONE NOTE ON DVD's. this television has a native resolution of 720P DVD's only have a maximum of 480P, and as a technology, DVD's are not that great, which is why HD DVD's will be out this year (DVD's that do 480p,720p,1080i,1080p ie. High Definition DVD's) Do not be disappointed if DVD's look a bit fuzzy, pixelated, whatever... they look that way on ALL HDTV's. It is the DVD, not the TV. Still, they look nice.

Well, that's all. You may want to wait until 1080 native resolution sets are available later this year, but mind you they come with a hefty price tag! For now, this is THE set; and I say that not because I own it, but because it is true. Enjoy!

TOP NOTES:

PROS:
Good Clarity
GREAT BLACK LEVELS
Nice Contrast
BEST COLOR ON THE MARKET
It is light...about 100lbs for a 50 Inch TV!!!!!

CONS:
Can't hang it on a wall (it IS only 11 inches deep)
Pedestal not for everyone



Rating:
Summary: Captain Kirk model hits the mark
Review: I have a 32"WegaXBR...awesome TV, but then won a 42"Phillips Plasma in a contest....was given the chance to take a gift certificate instead.....SHOPPED hard for a few weeks and nearly got the Mitsi 50" DLP until I saw this newest version of the Samsung 50"DLP.

Was pleased by the next few comparisons I saw and made the purchase. Excellent HD pictures on my Comcast HD channels. The SD channels are not nearly what my XBR had, but the Sammy allows for an auto 4:3 setup for NON HD channels...which helps a bit.

Anyone looking to educate themsleves, I'd strongly suggest visiting www.highdefforum.com. Since buying I'm on there all the time. Just bought the stand for this TV from circuit city and LOVE the contemporary look and hidden wires....next up...might need a DVR.

Good luck to all who give this a shot...you won't be dissappointed.

DJ

Rating:
Summary: Great Contrast, Great Black-Level
Review: The GUY COMPLAINING about "HD-ready" being deceptive IS AN IDIOT... by his argument, he should give every HD-ready TV a bad review. In fact... very few TVs out there are HD-Integrated, and almost all you'd see in the store are only HD-ready. This guy probably complains about a car with an AUTOMATIC transmission not driving by itself.

This TV has a great contrast ratio, and great black levels. MY X-Box looks just plain awesome on it - of course, you need a HD Video Adaptor(component video) for it ($20 for the Microsoft adaptor - don't waste your money on a Monster Adaptor, even the EB sales reps advise against the Monster component adaptor, but I digress.) No signal delay issues with the X-Box.

The only thing is that there's no where to put stuff, and when you look at the specs of the add-on shelving unit, it's much wider than the TV, ..... but I just got a glass/metal shelf to put next to it to put my cable-box, X-Box, DVD player on.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome picture...
Review: The picture right out of the box is incredible. I have Dish network HD package. When I powered on the TV and watched the HD channnel, the picture is stunning. The colors are bright and the black levels are excellent. I researched for the TV so long and ended up with this beautiful piece. Just buy it and enjoy. It is stylish. I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: No HDTV tuner
Review: This unit is being sold as a large-screen HDTV-ready television, but has no HDTV tuner. The FCC already requires that at least 50% of all 36"-or-larger TVs sold have HDTV tuners, and by 7/1/05 100% of such TVs sold must have HDTV tuners.

Frankly, I think it's confusing, perhaps even deceptive, to call this a large-screen HDTV-ready TV without making crystal-clear that it has no HDTV tuner. Most other stores make this clear by calling such a unit a *monitor*, not a TV. This unit will be banned from the marketplace on 7/1/05.

Rating:
Summary: Ignorance
Review: You should rate products based on their quality not your ignorance. "HD ready" is a term used in every store which means that it is capable of producing a HD quality picture when provided with a source (i.e. a HD tuner or HD cable box). If it has "integrated HD" then you know it has a built in tuner. Do some research before you bash a product and a company.

This is an outtake from bestbuy's website

What's meant by "HD-Ready"?
Some HDTV sets on the market incorporate HD-capable displays coupled with a built-in HDTV tuner to receive over-the-air HD broadcasts (currently available only in certain markets, these broadcasts are becoming increasingly common as the 2006 digital-broadcast deadline approaches). Often referred to as integrated HDTVs, these models are indicated on the BestBuy.com Web site by the designation "with Built-In HDTV Tuner."

However, the vast majority of HD-capable TVs on the market are what's known as HD-ready TVs (or HDTV monitors) - high-definition displays, often including one or more built-in NTSC TV tuners for reception of conventional analog TV broadcasts, but which must be connected to a separate HD source in order to realize their full potential. Since most current HD content is delivered via satellite or cable systems rather that over-the-air, some consumers (especially those who reside in areas where over-the-air HD content is not yet available) consider an HD-ready set to be the best solution for their current and future needs. But to experience HD broadcasts (where available) right out of the box with no additional investment, a built-in HD tuner is the ticket.

Like HD-ready models, integrated HDTVs generally provide exhaustive connectivity options, so you can always add cable or satellite sources as well to broaden your HD options. Conversely, over-the-air HD tuners are also available in stand-alone set-top boxes, often combined with cable and/or satellite reception capabilities. Obviously, there are lots of ways to achieve your desired HD viewing experience, so we advise you to weigh various factors (including cost, convenience, and content availability) before making your decision.