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Date: 2004-03-07 Great Bargain! Get this TV! It has excellent picture quality - you will not be disappointed. It is true that you cannot adjust the tint when in HDTV mode, but you really don't have to. The picture is sharp and crisp. We actually thought we had a problem initially as all of the HDTV signals came in looking green. However, our cable company gave us the wrong cables! Once we replaced them with the proper component cables, the picture was perfect. DVD's look great. You will definitely ask yourself how you ever "survived" with your old TV set... Date: 2004-02-16 Great TV BUT.... 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! Date: 2004-02-03 4.5 stars 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decided to upgrade my tv viewing experience but I did not want to go crazy in the wallet nor buy a product that may be outdated relatively soon.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) Date: 2004-01-13 Becoming a TV addict... 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. I have done a lot of research on the Internet about the different HDTV models out there before purchasing the Philips and, needless to say, it was the best decision I've ever made. My main objective is to get a HDTV to replace my old analog TV and be able to watch DVD movies in widescreen format. The picture is so much sharper now even when I watch a regular programs and, if you have cable that broadcasts programs in High-Definition, it would truly makes you wonder how you could go without a HDTV this long! Real-to-life image is all I can say! And for less than $1,000 (I got mine at Bestbuy for $899) is a steal! In conclusion, if you want to save yourself from a lot of hassle figuring out what HDTV model to get and/or get more bang for your money, do yourself a favor -- Get this HDTV now! * Price is subject to change. |
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