HP Pavilion MD5880n 58" high-definition 1080p rear-projection DLP TV
TV viewing as it should be
I had been waiting to join the HD crowd for a long time.  When the sets came out they were way too expensive and the technology was changing rapidly.  I also had a 48 inch projection TV that still worked after 13 years of use.  I was waiting for the old set to die to justify the purchase of a new HDTV.  However, the set still refuses to die. <br /> <br />I keep looking at the HD sets and followed the technology.  I settled on a DLP as the type of set I would buy when the time came.  I picked DLP over other competing technologies for a number of reasons.  DLPs do not have problems with convergence and have a user changable bulb. The picture is great at a lower cost than plasma, LCD, and LCOS.  Well the time came with the latest generation of DLPs.  The new sets with the latest light engine have contrast ratios over 10,000:1.  What this means is white whites and black blacks. <br /> <br />I considered Samsung and Toshiba as contenders.  Both of these sets have problems with lip sync.  This is happens when the vidoe siganl takes longer to process than the audio signal.  Then HP came out with this set.  It was everything I was lookng for.  At least is was on the specification sheet.  My friend (he is a technology nerd) and I each bought one sight unseen.  The reasons for this rash move follow. <br /> <br />The set has the new light engine.  This gives a much brighter picture and more detail than the older light engine.  The blacks the set can produce are close to or as good as those of a traditional tube set.  Also the set was the first able to take a 1080p signal.  Newer HD DVDs are on the horizon and 1080p capability provide some assurance that the set will not be obsolete when this happens.  There are no lip sync issues.  The set has all hook up and connections in the front with makes connecting componects a snap. <br /> <br />I have had the set for about a week and all I can say is WOW.  I will start with the least impressive and work my way up.  Standard broadcastTV actually looks OK and the set.  My neighbor with a 2 year old Samsung noticed 2 things right away.  First, the picture was much brighter and second that SD programming look much better on my set.  Next up was DVD.  The Picture quality is great.  No silk screen effect and no screen door effect.  Macroblocking was minimal.  The color was beatiful, rich and detailed.  Next was HDTV.  This is flat out fantastic.  The settings and color out of the box were great.  No need to adjust the set.  My wife and I find ourselves tuning into HDTV just to watch the picture.  In Chicago I get CBS, NBC, ABC, WGN, FOX, PBS, UPN and other HD channels with an antenna and NO CABEL. <br /> <br />The set will take a computer hook up and project 1920 x 1080 on the screen with 1:1 pixel mapping.  Forget that small screen and hook up to a 58 incher to surf the net. <br /> <br />Overall, I am very pleased <br /> <br />Pros: <br />Beautiful picture out of the box without needing adjustments. <br />Excellect contrast and brightness. <br />1080p input. <br />2 HDMI inputs. <br />No lip sunc issues. <br />Built in HD tuner. <br />Front inputs. <br />Easy to use, well laid out menus. <br /> <br />Cons: <br />The color wheel could be a little quieter.