Viewsonic C30IN LCDTV 1280X768 500:1 MM SLVR/ BLK N3000 ( N3000W )

Rating:
Summary: Buyer beware! UNEVEN backlight problem (light leakage!)
Review: I originally purchased the Viewsonic N3020W which turned out to have electronic swtich defects (the unit would not switch off with remote control); got another replacement one month later from the distributor with the same problem; then I was told the N3020W model had been discontinued and no more replacement available. Tech support was not helpful and kept procrastinating until almost 3 months after the orginal purchase, I was forced to take this Viewsonic N3000W as a substitue (No refund, beware!)

The problem with N3000W is having excessive light leakage (a manufacturing defect for LCD panel, search Google for details). When the display has no image, instead of total blackness on the display, this N3000W shows uneven blackness, the left half (45-50%) of the display is light in blackness (hazy black)and the right side is totally black. As a result, all displays on this LCD is always bright on the left and darker on the right side of the screen. This defect is markedly enhanced if you have dark scenes with even darkness on both sides (Try Alien Resurrection DVD and watch the the last few tunnel vision like scenes when Winona Ryder was commuicating with the computer before liftoff with the spacecraft. You will be surprised the left side is hazy black in color and the the right side is rich black.)

Again, I was given another N3000W replacement 3 weeks later (3 month after the original purchase) which has the same excessive light leakage except it is just a little bit better. Again No Refund from the US distributor.

While waiting for the replacement units, I was forced to purchase a Syntax model just before X'mas last year and found the Syntax model (around $1000) far better in display (practically no light leakage) than this Viewsonic N3000W model.

Practically, all the well-known brands have minimal light leakage

If you plan to purchase this Viewsonic N3000W unit, be sure you try above DVD for testing and make sure you can return the unit to the vendor for full refund. The US distributor would not give you any refund at all. Do not bother to return the unit to the US distributor in California.

Rating:
Summary: Great LCD HDTV - doesn't deserve bad review
Review: This LCD TV has a great picture - I don't see any evidence of light leakage. Curiously, the default settings for brightness is 70% and the contrast is 25% - I reversed these settings to have less brightness and more contrast. The picture was greatly improved.

I have not yet had digital cable or HDTV installed, but have connected analog cable and my DVD player to the set. The number of available connections is great - two TV tuners for easy PIP. The DVD playback was crisp and beautiful, through the component video connection. Even the analog TV looks decent from my seat on the couch. I have noticed that some cable channels seem to broadcast in higher quality than the local stations. I definitely think that the TV picture is better because of the larger coax cables that I have - better shielding.

The cables supplied are as follows: 1 power cord (obviously), 1 RGB video cable, 1 PC audio cable, and 1 cheap coax cable (throw this one away). I don't understand why they even ship with these cables - I think that the majority of people would not even use them. Mine did not come with a composite video cable.

The remote is a little large, but is easy to hold in your hand. It has all the basic functions and works well from most angles and distances.

The PIP and POP (two screens next to each other) work well also, though I would like to be able to move the PIP around without with buttons on the remote (instead of going to the main menu). Previewing other channels is a snap (though drives my wife crazy).

The sound is acceptable, but a subwoofer would add to the depth. We previously had the DVD sound output to our stereo system, I may revert back to that method - but then I did not really expect the TV to have stereo-system quality sound.

The bottom line: We were replacing an old 27" CRT TV and set a budget for the purchase. This 30" fit our budget, has an image size that is larger than the old set, with an image quality that is truly great.