| hilips LCD TVs (model types are called the Cineos) are | | | | While this sounds like something designed by a |
| excellent high definition television sets. High definition | | | | marketing weasel, the ultimate effect is rather |
| televisions (HDTVs hereafter) accept digital signals | | | | surprising. It greatly increases the immersion you have |
| from broadcasters, and can display resolutions of up | | | | with the picture. It relies on a trick of the human eye, |
| to 1920 x 1080, in sizes ranging from 30 inches to 46 | | | | and how our visual cortex works. Since a person |
| inches. | | | | watching a television tends to focus on the moving |
| Like all HDTV manufacturers, there’s a bit of a | | | | picture, a lot of the random motion of the eye gets |
| transition from “Ready for HD” TVs | | | | stilled, and thus, things out of the center of field tend to |
| (which use 1366 x 768 for their resolution) full 1080 | | | | get short shrift by your brain. |
| Compliant TVs. Right now, most of the manufacturers | | | | By making the ambient light outside the “focal |
| are trying to unload the older models, with the lower | | | | point” of the image the same color, your brain is |
| resolution, and many of them are excellent televisions | | | | tricked into believing that there’s “more to |
| for the price. | | | | the picture” and there’s an illusory depth |
| The secret that the television manufacturers | | | | of field that’s quite compelling. The Cineos |
| aren’t telling you is that very few programs are | | | | system is found on Philips Models 42PF9831D/10 and |
| broadcast in the full 1080 resolution. This will change | | | | 42PF9731D/10, both of which are 42 inch sets. The |
| eventually, but if you’re shopping for a | | | | first one is “HD Ready” and the second is |
| “placeholder” television to last you through | | | | “1080 Compliant”. Both are progressive |
| the next three years, you can score a smart bargain | | | | scan sets, giving excellent picture quality. |
| now. The big exception is Blu Ray and HD-DVD; the | | | | Of course, this means you want to mount your |
| film studios are making a serious push to release their | | | | television in a space with light colored walls – |
| wares on DVD in the full glory of 1080 scale. So if | | | | this visual effect is diminished if it’s put in a room |
| you’re watching movies, it’s probably | | | | with, say, dark oak bookshelves. Most of the Philips |
| worth it to spring for 1080p now; if you’re just | | | | TVs in this category are in the realm of 12 to 20 |
| watching HD sportscasts, the HD Ready sets will | | | | centimeters deep, making them good candidates for |
| suffice. | | | | wall mounting. If you are going to mount it, please |
| For specific recommendations, the Philips TVs have a | | | | consider, seriously, spending the funds to have it done |
| number of features that are unique to the market. The | | | | professionally. You’re spending upwards of |
| most notable one, and the one that gets the most | | | | 4,000 pounds on this television. |
| press, is the CINEOS backlighting system, which will | | | | What’s a few hundred more to have it hung by |
| backlight the wall behind the television to match the | | | | someone who knows what they’re doing? You |
| ambient color of the picture on the screen. Buying a | | | | will, after all, feel rather poorly if you drop it and break it |
| wall mount for the Philips Ambilights can be | | | | in the mounting process, or don’t leave enough |
| troublesome but had some suitable wall brackets. | | | | space to let it circulate enough air to cool properly! |