| Spotlight customer reviews: |
|
Customer Rating:  
Summary: Love the TV, not what I ordered
Comment: Toshiba makes two nearly identical 26 inch LCD TV/DVD player combos. The 26LV67 and 26LV47. The 67 model lists for $50 more, and as far as I can tell the only difference is that the spec sheet for the 67 lists "CineSpeed" as a feature, which means that the response time is below 8ms, while the 47 model does not list this feature, which would suggest that the response time is slower. However, in reviewing the spec sheets for all of the Toshiba models, it did not look like they had been created by the same person at the same time, so this may have been an oversight.
I wanted the best TV I could get, so I went for the 67. It was very difficult to locate, but Amazon had it through a retailer called ANTOnline. I went ahead and ordered, but what I got was the 47 model. It was only a few days before Christmas at that point and the TV was a gift for my wife, so I was not going to return it. Also, the box carried a big CineSpeed logo on it, so now I was really confused. I called Toshiba directly, but their CSR had no more information than I did about what might be the difference between these two model numbers. I am still confused and would be fascinated if somebody could explain to me why Toshiba makes two units that are so similar that even their own reps can't figure out the difference.
Anyway, I hooked the TV up on Christmas day and everything worked great. I screwed the coaxial cable in from the cable company, plugged it in, and it looked beautiful. I scanned for stations and it found a few I had never seen before, including a couple of HD channels coming over the airwaves. DVDs look absolutely gorgeous. It is also very easy to scroll between screen modes if you want to change how the TV handles 4:3 signals. There is a mode that lets you take a 4:3 signal that is letterboxed and have the picture fill the entire screen with no black around the edges. I am very satisfied with the TV.
Also, ANTOnline was pretty good about the error. They responded within a few hours to my e-mail and at my request refunded me the difference between their price for the two models, which was about $17. I would not bother calling their telephone number though, as all they do is tell you to send an e-mail.
Finally, I'd like to mention that my research led me to the conclusion that Toshiba has the best LCD TVs out there with the possible exception of Sony. However, in the past ten years I have purchased a high-end VHS deck, a portable DVD player and a mini DV camcorder from Sony and all have broken within 12-18 months. Having gone 0 for 3 with Sony in the past, I did not even consider Sony for this purchase.
Customer Rating:
Summary: the best tv in the house!
Comment: Toshiba has been my favorite brand for 5 years. Each model is better than the others. First of all, this model needs an extra manual just to use the remote.....so many options!! Some people are put off by that fact, but it just means that this is high quality which equals years of enjoyment. My primary reason for Toshiba combos is that the built in dvd player will memorize the stopped point of a movie even when the set is not in use. This model will also remain in dvd mode when the set is off. My other models will automatically switch to tv mode again when the set is turned off. With the trash on tv these days, 99% of the time I watch dvd's, so this feature is convienent. Saves a step on the remote. Picture is crystal clear & crisp. It is annoying that the default picture size is "normal" which does not fill out the screen (what's the point of 26 inches when you don't get a 26 inch view). I use the "theatre 1" which does give a 26 inch picture. It does not hold from dvd to dvd or from tv to dvd though. After a disc is ejected or tv/dvd mode is switched the picture has to be adjusted once more. Besides this flaw, I still love the quality of this model.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great unit - Terrible shipper
Comment: Very satisfied with this unit. Great picture. Good/useful features. Sensible controls. Built-in DVD very easy/handy to use.
But - terrible shipping experience. First unit mysteriously "disappeared" after making it as far as the final UPS delivery truck. Second unit had obviously been removed from the original factory packaging, and then hurriedly stuffed back into the box, with resulting damage to packaging materials, along with parts which were no longer adequately protected.
This unit, ordered from Amazon, is shipped by Electronics Expo, who uses only UPS as their contracted shipper. Electronics Expo was very helpful during the claim process (with UPS), keeping in constant communication. UPS, on the other hand, was very unreliable, failing to follow through on their promised responses during the two-week process. The customer should have at least a small choice of shippers.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't blame TV for analog realities...
Comment: I wrote this review solely to mitigate the woman who gave it a 1 because it doesn't display analog over the air signals well. I challenge her to find ANY LCD HD TV that does. They all stink at it, as it's the nature of the technology, so unless she writes a review of every LCD TV and gives them all 1's, she shouldn't condemn this one. My Sharp HD LCD has the same issue. Displays great DTV picture, great DVD picture, great picture when using even composite input from Dish Network, but horrible picture from analog tuner. That's life in 2007...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Picture. But did not meet all expectations.
Comment: The picture quality is excellent and I am satisfied with my purchase. However, I have one complaint. The TV does not remember the picture size for digital channels. The moment you change the channel, the picture size returns back to Normal and it is very iritating specially if the broadcast is 4:3 and you see two bars on the sides. I had called Toshiba service to get this resolved and they seemed to state that this should not be the case and referred me to local service provider. However, the local service provider after talking back with Toshiba told me that this was the default behavior. I was not satisfied with the reply so I tried out TVs at local BestBuy. I found that in smaller 23" model, the menu to change the picture size for digital channel was disabled completely. So, I was atleast happy that I was able to change the picture size in my 26LV67. Next time ( if there is one) I am going to stick with Sony brand because they have fully functional menus in all their Models.
|
|
|
