Samsung LT-P1545 15" Flat-Panel LCD TV

15" flat-panel LCD screen (displays all signals at 768p) * 4:3 screen aspect ratio * 1024 x 768 pixels * 140Ą(H) x 115Ą(V) viewing angle *

Standing at a mere 2.5 inches thick, Samsung's EDTV-resolution LT-P1545 LCD television is small in stature but big on quality. The 15-inch, 1,024 x 768 screen produces vivid, high-contrast images while occupying a minimum of space in your office, living room, bedroom, or kitchen. Its wide viewing angles (150 x 120 degrees, H x V) ensure easy visibility, even when the unit is mounted on a wall. In addition, the set connects to a personal computer through its RGB (15-pin D-Sub) input, letting you surf the web, check e-mail, or play QuickTime movies right on your television.

Perfect for use with a digital cable, a satellite receiver, or a progressive-scan DVD player, the set is configured in a standard, 4:3 aspect ratio and accepts both standard-definition 480i and enhanced-definition 480p signals. A built-in NTSC stereo tuner is configured to receive the standard 181 channels. And with its lightning-quick 16 ms response time, reasonably high 400:1 contrast ratio, impressive 450 cd/m2 brightness rating, and onboard digital comb filter (which separates the color signals to minimize dot crawl and blurred edges), the set renders sharp, focused images from a range of inputs.

LCD screens offer a number of benefits over CRT monitors and televisions, including general ease of use, freedom from eye strain (no screen flickering or radiation emissions), quiet operation (no high-pitch "flyback" noise, an issue with CRT TVs), accurate image geometry (no curvature distortion or susceptibility to magnetic interference from, say, speakers), long screen life (with no risk of image burn-in), space savings, and light weight/easy positioning. They also tend to be cheaper and, to some eyes, slightly more natural looking than their plasma flat-panel counterparts, which usually "spec" higher (higher brightness, higher contrast ratio).

The LT-P1545 makes flexibility a top priority, giving you several preset picture and sound modes (and custom settings for each) as well as a handy swivel base that doubles as a tilting wall mount--no additional accessories required. The TV also permits color temperature adjustment for warm, cool, or neutral tones, along with a trilingual onscreen menu. Additional features include sleep and on timers, V-Chip parental control, closed captioning, and an auto volume leveler to minimize jarring level differences between, say, programs and their commercials.

Choose one of several preset sound modes (standard, music, movie, speech, and custom) for broadcast through the built-in 2.5-watts-per-channel x 2 speaker system. The television's MTS multichannel decoding separates audio signals for stereo reception and broadcasts a second audio program (SAP) when available for multilingual or other applications.

To connect the monitor to devices such as DTV set-top boxes, satellite receivers, DVD players, game consoles, or camcorders, use the set's component-video input (480i/480p), S-video input, composite-video input, RF input, and the above-mentioned PC input, each with its attendant audio inputs.

What's in the Box
.TV, dual-purpose stand/wall mount (tilt-swivel), a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, an AC power cord, and warranty information.

1 Buy Samsung at your own RISK
I bought a Samsung flat-panel LCD television in March, and it the panel went dead in April. I brought it to a one of Samsung's certified dealers for repair, and waited and waited. Finally in May, I was told that the the television panel was indeed defective and couldn't be fixed, so the manufacturer was obligated to replace it under the warranty. It's now September, and guess what, I'm still waiting for the replacement. Buy from Samsung at your own risk. From my own experience, Samsung does stand by their products. For a few dollars more, buy one of the better, more reliable brands.