Zenith P50W26B 50-Inch Plasma Flat-Panel HDTV

With a plasma screen you get vivid colors like you've never seen before, extremely wide viewing angles (wider, even, than those of most LCD screens), and easy placement due to a plasma monitor's slim profile--the P50W26B is a mere 3.9 inches deep, perfect for either shelf or wall mounting using an optional stand or wall mount. Brightness tends to be extremely uniform across plasma screens, which are also impervious to the picture distortion and negative color balances that afflict CRT monitors when placed near lighting or sound systems. You do, however, need to be wary of image burn-in (wherein long-held stationary images leave a permanent impression in the screen).

The P50W26B houses a Faroudja DCDi de-interlacer. DCDi (Directional Correlation Deinterlacing) is a video algorithm designed to intelligently smooth the jagged edges along diagonal image lines that result from video interpolation. DCDi monitors image edge transitions and fills in the gaps between frames. It's used to upconvert standard-definition material (480i, what we have on conventional analog TV) to enhanced-definition quality (480p, or EDTV).

Aspect ratio correction aptly resizes video and computer images to 16:9 widescreen or 4:3 conventional formats, while Zenith's Intelligent Image Scaling uses Oplus Technologies's Rembrandt chip and a Faroudja/Sage scan converter to seamlessly convert TV video data to PC formats without distorting or cropping the images (it works in either the 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio).

Vertical Display Mode changes the image from horizontal to vertical if the monitor is rotated 90 degrees--great for installations. A range of inputs provides full compatibility with DVD players, computers, digital broadcasting and multimedia, as well as traditional video sources. Inputs consist of 1 component-video input, 1 S-video input, a BNC-type composite-video input, 2 stereo analog (left/right) RCA inputs, 1 each 15-pin D-Sub VGA/PC input and output, a PC DVI (Digital Visual Interface), an RJ-11 phone jack, an RS-232 control port, and a D4 jack.

Other features include picture-in-picture viewing (with side-by-side mode), 10 watts per channel x 2 with stereo speakers (in additional to bass, treble, and balance adjustments), multilingual menus (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Korean), an anti-reflective screen, a shock-absorbing glass damper.

What's in the Box
TV, a DPD screen filter, a remote control, remote batteries, an AC power cord, and a user's manual.

Note: The P50W26B does not include a desk or wall mount.

The Plasma runs very hot, the color and brightness are both good. If I were to buy today I would go with the LCD tv's and would not even consider a Zenith product.