Toshiba’s latest LED HDTVs feature a bevy of Internet-enabled functions

[TIME89]

I run across this article and I liked what I see. I love Toshiba brand. Have 30" Tube for 10 yr (retired), in 2008 get 40" LCD. Get my parents 40" LCD also. With the growing popularity of internet-enabled TVs that feature movie streaming and other internet apps, Toshiba has upped the ante with their latest UX600 series of LED edgelit LCD flat panels, which are equipped with LAN connectivity and come with a wireless Wi-Fi adapter for instant web app functionality, and they’re also equipped with 120 Hz refresh. Based on Vudu’s internet app system, which includes SD and HD movie rental and purchase streaming, these latest Toshiba sets (available in 40” and 55” sizes in addition to the 46” review sample tested) come with over 100 channels of online content, including programs from the major broadcast and cable channels, as well as podcasts and other special interest programming. OVERVIEW Consider this HDTV if:you’d like a fully-featured internet-enabled LED edgelit flat panel that’s loaded with apps and comes with Wi-Fi connectivity as a no-cost option. Look elsewhere if:you’ve got a number of legacy video sources, as the Toshiba only has one analog video input. Ratings (relative to comparably-priced LED/LCD HDTVs): Overall picture quality (SD): 6 Overall picture quality (HD): 7 Features: 8 Connectivity: 6 User interface: 8 Value: 7 FEATURES LED edgelighting and a wide variety of Internet-enabled apps are the features that set this Toshiba apart from earlier models. Based on the Vudu platform, the set comes equipped with over one hundred Internet apps, ranging from news, weather and sports to a variety of SD and HD program choices from a raft of broadcast and cable providers. While it’s equipped with a LAN port for wired connection to the home network, the Toshiba also comes with a wireless 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi adapter that provides a suitably speedy connection for watching 1080p HD content. CONNECTIVITY There are four HDMI inputs, which is par for the course these days. But, there’s only one analog video input (a component video input), which will be of concern for those with multiple legacy analog video sources. An SD card slot is there for viewing pictures, and an IR output is handy for routing control signals to other components in the system. Two of the HDMI inputs, both USB ports, the component video input and the RJ-45 LAN port are on a side panel jack pack. The jack panel itself isn’t inset very deeply, so wiring that’s connected to any of those ports may be visible. When plugged in to the appropriate USB port, the Wi-Fi adapter juts out a full inch off the set’s right side, which mars the otherwise clean front panel styling. USER INTERFACE One aspect of some HDTVs that feature Internet apps is the increased complexity of the set’s internal operating system, which can cause slow startups as the set boots up. Pressing the power button starts the Toshiba’s turn-on sequence, but it’s a very leisurely affair, taking a full fifteen seconds before the front panel logo lights up and a picture appears on-screen. On Screen Display The main OSD (picture, audio controls, setup and the like) is reasonably clear. However, with certain adjustments, the slider bar control disappears after just a few seconds, which is a bane when tweaking the picture, and is especially problematic when doing a calibration. Once adjustments are complete, however, the Theater Lock function freezes the picture settings, preventing inadvertent mis-adjustment. The Vudu application (launched by the remote’s Widgets button) is slick and colorful, providing over 100 apps that can be filtered by popularity, genre, favorites, etc. The Vudu streaming service offers the choice of rental or purchase of most titles, with typical rentals starting at $3.99 for standard definition, $4.99 for 1080i HD and $5.99 for their top HQX tier, which is 1080p and 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus. There’s also a purchase option, which carries a price typically in the $20-25 range. Some titles are only available for purchase in SD, while others give you a choice of SD or HD. Remote Control Looking very similar to earlier Toshiba remotes, this one doesn’t feature backlighting, but does have glow-key buttons. It’s also missing dedicated input buttons, meaning you have to toggle through the various choices. The button labeling is clear for the most part, but the Menu button is all the way down on the bottom left, and not near the cursor controls at the center of the remote as you would expect. BOTTOM LINE: What a difference a year makes. Last year, Toshiba introduced their first LED backlit models, but those sets lacked internet connectivity. With their new LED edgelit UX600 series, Toshiba moves to the front of the pack in terms of internet apps functionality. The Vudu interface is slick and colorful, and with over 100 apps/channels at launch, there’s surely something in there for everyone. Vudu claims to have more HD titles available for rental than any of the other online services, and Toshiba is to be credited for providing a Wi-Fi adapter as part of the set’s accessory kit, as opposed to making it an extra-cost option. Where the Toshiba comes up a bit short is in the connectivity department, as the single component video input probably will have some potential buyers that own two or more legacy analog video source devices looking elsewhere. SPECS & PRICING Toshiba 46UX600 LED/LCD HDTV Screen size: 46” diagonal Pixel resolution: 1920 x 1080 1:1 Mode: Yes Video inputs: 4 HDMI, 1 component, 1 RGB PC Other connections: 1 stereo audio input, 1 PC audio input, 1 optical digital audio output, 1 ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM RF input, 2 USB ports, 1 SD card slot, 1 LAN port, 1 IR output Dimensions (W x H x D): 44.9” x 28” x 2” (w/o stand) Weight: 46.3 lb. Warranty: 1 year parts & labor Price: $1,700 TOSHIBA (800) 726_7864 www.tacp.toshiba.com Link to Original article

[UkiahA8L]

We have had great success with the Samsung LED TV's and recently ordered the 3D models. Still waiting for the 3D BluRay player to complete the store demo.
I have the Vudu service at home and have only good things to say. You do need min. 4MB download speed to stream HD without interruption.

Still, i'd take a high quality plasma any day over LED/LCD technology. We sold many Pioneer Elite displays and it's the only TV with a ZERO% repair history (for us). Unsurpassed black levels and perceived field of depth. It's interesting; when I show a customer an LCD and plasma side by side (the customer doesn't know whoch one is which) they will almost always pick the plasma. When I tell them it's a plasma they say: "Oh no, we don't want that".

[TIME89]

To bad we live so far from each other. I would love to walk in your store and have a loooong conversation about tv's, blue-ray players, receivers, speakers etc.
I think plasma get bad advertising at the beginning and in addition can beet low prices for LCD.

[UkiahA8L]

Shoot me an email and we'll go from there

ken@dfmcarstereo.org

[jose-2006-A3]

I love that so many of the new TVs are internet enabled and can stream Netflix and other services without having to use an external box. It's the future!

I'm so close to canceling my cable TV. I probably will when I get a new TV that has all these internet features.

[UkiahA8L]

Originally Posted by jose-2006-A3

I love that so many of the new TVs are internet enabled and can stream Netflix and other services without having to use an external box. It's the future!

I'm so close to canceling my cable TV. I probably will when I get a new TV that has all these internet features.

Also try Hulu (FREE) if you're tired of paying for cable or sat. service. I can't think of any TV that has it build-in so you'll have to stream it from a laptop and HULU doesn't offer HD. I have a VUDU box (some TV's now has it build-in) and don't pay a monthly fee but pay per movie. However, I find it far superior to streaming Netfix in term of quality and I never get the "buffer" pause in the middle of a movie, something I find absolutely unacceptable. Your download speed may be faster than mine (5-6 megs).

[jose-2006-A3]

I hardly ever get buffering using Netflix. I have a pretty fast cable connection from Cox, but I've been considering http://www.att.com/u-verse/ since they recently came to my neighborhood.