LG 42LE4900
If you’re looking for an affordable, yet stylish LED thin-screen with good on-line content support, then this LG ticks the right boxes. There’s plenty of useful functionality on offer. Video file playback is particularly good, with AVIs and MKV supported both across the network and from USB flash drive. Convenient if you have hi-res downloads stored on a NAS.
LG’s NetCast service is also worth investigating. On-line content offerings include BBC iPlayer, YouTube, V Tuner Internet radio, Twitter, Facebook and Acetrax. Picture quality is good enough, but there are caveats: I found the edge LED back light uneven and motion picture resolution is limited. This is because set lacks the brand’s proprietary TruMotion picture processing technology. But that affordable price tag may prove adequate compensation.
Reg Rating 75%
Price £599
More Info LG
LG 42LW650T
LG has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons with its aggressive promotion of Passive, rather than Active, 3D. Dubbed Cinema 3D, passive 3D panels feature a polarising (horizontal and vertical) filter which splits the L/R image, rather than using sequential frames. The advantage is that inexpensive spectacles (the kind used in pubs and cinemas) can be used rather than expense electronic glasses.The downside is that Passive 3D images are only half the resolution of Active Shutter 3D, and this is immediately apparent onscreen.
Net connectivity is excellent, with the brand’s new Smart TV interface offering access to BBC iPlayer, Acetrax, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Picasa. There’s also an Internet radio V-Tuner app. Need more? LG includes an open web browser. Network media streaming compatibility is good. AVI, MKV, AVCHD and H.264 files all streamed successfully.
Reg Rating 80%
Price £999
More Info LG
Next page: Panasonic TX-L42E30B
COMMENTS
Expensive
That's a large price premium for network (non)connectivity.
Find a larger, or cheaper TV without worrying about network connectivity and pick up a Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player. Then, in 2 years when it's obsolete, ditch it and buy a newer one. Loads cheaper than just ditching your TV and buying a newer one....
Run things for a long time here
I replace every 9 to 10 years as well. I have had 3 large TVs so far in my life and I am nearly 50.
I am also an early adopter.
I ran a first generation Wega IDTV until I got a HDTV.
My HDTV doesn't do Freesat or Freeview HD, just normal Freeview.
My current 46" better last that extra 7 to 8 years!
Only thing I am missing is 3D but I get headaches from that.
I spend a lot rarely rather than less more frequently.
As to Betamax - the only working VCRs I have, happen to have that printed on them, mind you they have only been used for PC video capture since we got our first digital terrestrial PVR (pre Freeview).
Just make sure you have plenty of HDMI ports.
Re: Poor investment (Longevity)
In the case of a pair of tellies I bought from a certain Korean manufacturer (LE40A656, T220HD) my longevity estimate would be around about 24 months.
For the record the warranty doesn't extend that far, whatever the EU, Trading Standards et al, or indeed my receipt says about it (according to the manufacturer).
As it turns out the root cause was down to some bulging electrolytic caps in the PSUs. I replaced the caps myself rather than pay someone £200 a shot replace the PSU boards with identically broken PSU boards which would fail < 2 years down the line again.
Strangely the T220HD's faulty caps appeared to have already been replaced (judging by the messy joints and burn marks on the board), and the failed caps were a different brand from the others on the board.
Sony Wins !
No Chance, they are on my blacklist. Do not trust them to throw some sort of DRM in your lap at later date.
All you laptop buyers - Sony disables record stereo mix function (the old record what U hear) on all their Vaio's so if you want this function look else where.
Plasma + Backlit = Divide By Zero
I didn't think plasma display needed a backlit source since each set of pixels produce their own light, or am I missing something about the CCFL bit.
