Coby TF-TV505 5-Inch LCD Color Television
Surprisingly good quality for the price
This little LCD TV is really much more robust than I expected. I don't think I've ever purchased anything ever made by Coby, but I'm definitely pleased with this little guy. The screen is a nice size for personal viewing (5\\" diagonal, which translates to 4\\" across and 3\\" high) and it has a surprisingly clear picture. An on-screen display (accessible on the TV or through the remote control) allows you to adjust various settings, including the monitor appearance (brightness, color, contrast, hue), but I've been happy with the default settings. The reception is fantastic. This little TV picks up more channels than my 19\\" Panasonic model. I live in a large city, and I'm able to get slightly more than half a dozen channels with the antenna, which is more than I expected: two of the channels are crystal clear, three are very clear, and the final two are okay if I move around and find the right location. Because the battery pack is removable, the unit is much more versatile and very lightweight when using the power cord. The unit uses ten AA batteries, which is a lot, but they are easy to find and relatively inexpensive (rechargeables might be nice). When the battery pack is attached it increases the weight, but a stand on the back allows me to place it on a table or desk. Even still, it's not too heavy for me to hold it and watch a program if I want, and the convenience of being mobile is wonderful. So far, with Energizer batteries I've gotten several hours of use at a time and the picture and sound don't seem to have faded much yet, if at all. The unit has three modes: antenna, video input, and cable. RCA audio-video input jacks on the side allow you to attach a separate media device like a VCR or DVD player. And there's even a tiny little coaxial cable adapter that plugs right into the side. Yes, that's right, this baby is cable-ready! The sound on this device is as you might expect from such tiny speakers. It's certainly not bad, but it sounds great with headphones. Ibought a car adapter for this TV and plan to take it while traveling and camping. I also plan to use this as part of my emergency preparedness kit. They always say to take a radio, which I have, but I imagine a little TV like this might also come in handy. Overall, I'm really thrilled with this TV. It's got a great picture, it's lightweight, affordable, and the detachable battery pack and input ports makes it versatile. This TV even comes with a handy, tiny, and fully-functional remote control! There aren't many drawbacks to this item that I have discovered, but one is rather annoying. There is a tiny little LED on the front of the device that illuminates when the power is on. The LED is quite powerful and I had to cover it with a little sticker. It's like a frickin' laser beam. But seriously, that's a minor complaint, and I'm very pleased with this model.