ViewSonic N3000w 30-Inch Widescreen HDTV-Ready LCD Television
Buyer beware! UNEVEN backlight problem (light leakage!)
I originally purchased the Viewsonic N3020W which turned out to have electronic swtich defects (the unit would not switch off with remote control); got another replacement one month later from the distributor with the same problem; then I was told the N3020W model had been discontinued and no more replacement available. Tech support was not helpful and kept procrastinating until almost 3 months after the orginal purchase, I was forced to take this Viewsonic N3000W as a substitue (No refund, beware!) <br /> <br />The problem with N3000W is having excessive light leakage (a manufacturing defect for LCD panel, search Google for details). When the display has no image, instead of total blackness on the display, this N3000W shows uneven blackness, the left half (45-50%) of the display is light in blackness (hazy black)and the right side is totally black. As a result, all displays on this LCD is always bright on the left and darker on the right side of the screen. This defect is markedly enhanced if you have dark scenes with even darkness on both sides (Try Alien Resurrection DVD and watch the the last few tunnel vision like scenes when Winona Ryder was commuicating with the computer before liftoff with the spacecraft. You will be surprised the left side is hazy black in color and the the right side is rich black.) <br /> <br />Again, I was given another N3000W replacement 3 weeks later (3 month after the original purchase) which has the same excessive light leakage except it is just a little bit better. Again No Refund from the US distributor. <br /> <br />While waiting for the replacement units, I was forced to purchase a Syntax model just before X'mas last year and found the Syntax model (around $1000) far better in display (practically no light leakage) than this Viewsonic N3000W model. <br /> <br />Practically, all the well-known brands have minimal light leakage <br /> <br />If you plan to purchase this Viewsonic N3000W unit, be sure you try above DVD for testing and make sure you can return the unit to the vendor for full refund. The US distributor would not give you any refund at all. Do not bother to return the unit to the US distributor in California.