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Cello C42T71DVB-3D

Cello C42T71DVB-3D 42in passive 3D TV

Built in Blighty

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Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Review Cello is a UK TV maker that does much of its business through high-volume websites and shopping catalogues. You’ll find Cello TVs on M&S and ebuyer websites, as well as in tomes from Grattan, Freemans and the like.

Cello C42T71DVB-3D

Ensemble piece: Cello's C42T71DVB-3D

It may be a budget brand, but it scored brownie points a year back by launching the first TV with integrated BBC iPlayer, and now it wants to push 3D to the catalogue shopping masses.

The result is a screen with a curiously conflicted specification. The C42T71DVB-3D sports a Passive Polarised 3D panel sourced from LG, plus USB media reader and PVR, yet employs an old-style CCFL backlight and has a standard def DVB tuner.

Cello C42T71DVB-3D

Only two HDMI inputs, but analogue formats are well supported

Without wishing to sound too brutal, the C42T71DVB-3D is unlikely to win any beauty contests. The CCFL backlight means it’s 107mm deep, that’s old school LCD fat. Rear panel connectivity comprises just two HDMI inputs, plus a PC D-Sub, one set of component jacks and a Scart. The USB reader is side-mounted, next to AV phono inputs and an S-Video DIN (something I haven’t seen on a TV for some time).

Cello C42T71DVB-3D

3D viewing relies on cheap-as-chips passive specs

The remote handset is a chunky zapper that requires a large paw to wield. However it does control a Sky set top box. 
The C42T71DVB-3D doesn’t get off to a good start when initially powered up. The very first dialogue window cautions the user: ‘Please ensure the aerial cable is pluggeg into the tv.’ Pluggeg? Any thoughts I had that this TV had been built by erudite British boffins quickly vanished.

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

Next page: Standard fare

"Budget"

Does anyone go for budget brands any more? Not sure about anyone else but I'd sooner take those 600 notes down to Richer Sounds and get a last season model of a premium brand.

5
0

Dear Cello....Wakey wakey.

I'd rather have a UK based manufacturer concentrate on a quality HD TV and on their spelling than some old technology tat dressed up to look like something it clearly isnt...

No wonder our exports are so low and the japanese based imports are so high.

Sadly (and dissapointingly) a turd with a shiny coat is still a turd.

3
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Who needs pages?

On this subject, why do articles have to be divided across pages? Are readers considered incapable of scrolling through a long page or are the Reg trying to get more page impressions and ads served? If it's the latter, why not show more ads in proportion to the length of the page?

2
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