Panasonic PT-53WX42 53-Inch 16:9 HDTV-Ready Projection TV
In top 3 for QUALITY vs COST -- a non-technical review
QUICK SUMMARY: PT-53WX42<BR>If you are looking for a quality widescreen at a reasonable price, this is definitely a model to consider.  <br />As of Feb '03, in my opinion this Pansonic model is the biggest screen with the most quality features for the best price.  NOTE: there is a similar model that ends in a &quot;52&quot; instead of a &quot;42&quot;... the biggest difference is that the &quot;52&quot; has the protective screen shield ... but don't let that stop you... many people try to take off screen shields to get rid of the annoying glare and to brighten their widescreen tv's. Also, you can always purchase &amp; install a separate Micro-Perf brand screen shield (90% glare free) down the road.  <br />DETAILED SUMMARY: <br />I finally decided on this model after several weeks of serious research, including at online and offline at major stores (CC, BB, WM), not-so-big-of-a-name stores, price comparison websites, user opinion websites, consumer reports, home theater forums, etc.  I researched TOSHIBA, PANASONIC, RCA, ZENITH, HITACHI, PHILIPS, SAMSUNG, and SHARP... 45&quot;-61&quot; widescreens. Originally I was also comparing the &quot;normal&quot; 4:3 projection screens, but then decided to go wide so that I don't have to purchase another tv in a few years.  I also went into the buying scene without an opinion of any particular brand, I already had a mish-mash of these manufacturers in my house so it didn't matter to me what name was on the product... I was looking for quality vs price.<BR> <BR>The whole process was challenging, since each store seems to cater to certain brands (they don't admit it though). :)  It also makes it hard to compare &quot;features/quality vs. cost&quot; when everybody is throwing different deals at you.  The icing on the cake... you read the reviews of products... and you see that some people give certain models horrible reviews, yet others give top notch praise.  What is a consumer to do? :)  Oh wait... I forgot about the obscene prices certain stores charge for an extended warranty (Visa Gold-Platinum holders:  remember that Visa instantly doubles the manufacturers warranty, and sells 3-5 year extended warranty's at a fantastic price, check their website).  Also, this tv comes with a little mail-in thing to learn more about extending the manufacturers warranty.<br />MORE INFO:....  <BR>Definitely pick up high quality cables (this goes for any HDTV), and a progressive scan DVD player.  And if you like to tweak things, get the AVIA home theater DVD to help you calibrate your tv so you get the best viewing quality out of your set. You'll never want to go to the movie theater again.<br />That said... this is a great HDTV for the money.  I'm not allowed to list the price I paid here, but... to date, I'd say it's one of the top 3 values in the 50-57&quot; range (comparing price vs. screen size vs. features).  Until I pickup a 2nd satellite receiver I am unable to take advantage of the Picture-in-Picture and split-screen features... but, even without that perk I have no regrets about owning this widescreen projection tv.<br />CONS.......... <BR>1) From the moment eagleUSA delivery service unpacked this tv I've been impressed.  The only thing I would change about it is to make a wider flat-top to put your electronic goodies on.  This is a challenge with 95% of widescreens.  There is roughly a 6&quot; top flat lip, but only 1/2 of a dvd player can rest on it.... it's a balancing act.  So, keep in mind that with any widescreen, you will probably need to have a little table nearby, or be creative and use velcro to secure your devices. <br />2) The remote is not backlit.  However, this is the first universal remote that actually works all my mix-n-match brand goods. A nice suprise indeed, the coffee table looks much less cluttered.  If you want a remote that lights up, go buy one. :)<br />All the best to you in your widescreen shopping experience!