Samsung LN40A750

* New -- Internal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more
* New -- Integrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience
* New -- DLNA-Compatible: for better interopability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers
* New -- 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 25,000:1 on 2007 models
* New -- Blazing 4ms response time: down from 8ms on 2007 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal
* New -- Transparent and Opaque Color (TOC) bezel with infused color creates an ultra-sleek shape and appearance
* New -- InfoLink: Get free RSS feeds of news, weather and sports right to your HDTV with a built-in Ethernet port
* New -- 4 HDMI 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant, and up from 3 on 2007 models
* Full 1080p HD
* Automotion Plus 120 Hz image interpolation technology provides smoother motion
* 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment
* Ultra Clear Panel technology for deeper blacks and more vibrant colors
* Side-mounted USB 2.0 port: connect USB devices directly to your HDTV to view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system.
* Sports and Game modes boost on-screen performance and interaction with the latest gaming systems
* Compatible with Samsung's Home Digital Media Adapter (sold separately) for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia
* Hidden, downward-firing speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio
* Cold Cathode Flourescent Lamp and Wide Color Enhancer technology offer a wider color range
* Picture-in-Picture enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources
* V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
* Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
* Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.
* Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV's remote control; no external IR receiver required.
* 1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support.
* Full 1080p HD Resolution with 120Hz Auto Motion Plus
* Full Wrap Touch of Color Bezel, ISP Addressable w/ 1GB internal memory
* 50,000:1 contrast ratio, 4ms response time, Super Clear Panel Technology
* 4 HDMI Iputs, 2 Component Inputs, 1 PC Input, Wide Color Ehnacer, USB 2.0, HDMI-CEC
* RSS-Infolink, Wheel Key Remote, SRS Surround Sound
* Product dimensions: 25.1 x 3.4 x 40.9 inches ; 35.9 pounds

When you care enough to treat yourself to the very best

... buy this model. We got it to replace a three year old, 32-inch Sony that has served us very well in our bedroom, but we wanted a bigger screen. We got the bigger screen in a better looking cabinet, and, a much better picture, much better sound, and a much better tuner.

UPDATE (8/24/08) - If I could give this TV more than 5 stars, I would. When I registered my TV with SAMSUNG online (as opposed to mailing in the warranty card), they automatically extended the warranty from 12 to 18 months. Then, 2 days ago, I got a box in the mail from SAMSUNG with their USB wireless network adapter. For free! I attached it and gave myself a crash course in setting up wireless network security. At first I used automatic network setup on the TV menu. It worked well but intermittently with WPA-PSK encryption, but, flawlessly when I used manual wireless setup. The content this gives you is from USA Today. I found out what "That Darn Wheel" on the remote is really for. When you read a multipage news story, you have to use the wheel to turn the pages. There's no other way.

I ordered a cheap HDMI cable from an Amazon independent vendor (cost $6, including shipping) and hooked the TV up to a Philips 160 GB HDD/DVD recorder with a built-in digital QAM tuner. Got rid of all the other cables to neaten up the cable tangle situation. The recorder does 1080P upscaling if you use the HDMI interface and the TV automatically senses and adjusts its resolution mode to match. Makes even regular channels look almost as good as the HIDEF ones. I don't use the recorder's tuner all the time for normal TV viewing, but when I need it, its there to add a new dimension for enjoying this TV's many features.

I got almost $150 back during the 30 day grace period, and the price has fallen another $159 since, but I got it when when I needed it and don't regret not getting a better price. Every time I turn it on, I am glad I chose this model.

Back to my original review -

PLUSES -

CABINET - The jet black bezel has a subtle tinge of red, and is accented with a clear rim. It's stunning.

SOUND- I chose this model for the internal subwoofer. We don't want multiple speakers in our bedroom, and the Samsung's internal speakers work fine. We loaded a Blueman Group DVD and the internal woofer was pretty powerful. I turned up the bass on the built-in equalizer and had to throttle it back to neutral so the room wouldn't shake. The factory settings are fine.

PICTURE - The picture is sharp, even on analog channels. Digital channels look even better. The wideband flourescent backlight delivers the promised color performance. The factory settings make both analog and digital pictures look fantastic, but I detuned the picture to dim down the light emitted into the room and set the energy saving feature to high which also degrades the picture. Know what? It still looks great.

TUNER - We don't have and don't want to use the cable company's box, but, we can get all the analog content and unscrambled digital, high def channels they offer (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and PBS). The Sony's tuner used to break up on Fox and ABC high def channels, but the Samsung's tuner locks in tight on everything. The Sony took a few seconds to lock on digital channels and the Samsung does this much faster.

MINUSES - Not many.

PRELOADED CONTENT - The content the factory loaded on the internal flash drive seems silly. It includes games, artwork, recipes, and entertaiment. The artwork includes high def works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Latrec. I can see that it might be nice to use the TV as a picture frame, but who needs it. The other content is OK to look at once, but after that, never again. You can't add content to the internal memory, but you can use MP3 and JPEG content on an external USB thumb drive.

THAT DARN WHEEL - Overall, the remote is also great, but the wheel is twitchy and there isn't a single thing you can do with it that you can't do easier by just using it as a 4-way switch (up, down, left, right). It's more awkward to twist the wheel with your thumb than it is to push down on the wheel's edge, but if you aren't careful the slightest twist will change the function you are trying to adjust. It's not hard to master the feel, but the wheel is a totally unnecessary feature. Wonder how much it adds to the remote's production cost. The remote lights up when you touch it, which is great while you are learning where all the buttons are, but it does run the batteries down faster, so the instructions say. You can easily enable and disable the light function.

Amazon's price was right and it dropped $45 between the time I ordered and when it was delivered. Getting a refund for the difference took less than 5 minutes on the phone. The TV was delivered 5 days earlier than promised.

Directions on how to adjust the TV on/off melody sound, which is annoying, are on page 61 of the manual. Navigate to menu/setup/external settings/melody. then select "off."
- fourcatz (Virginia)

Form and Function, no regrets.

I've had this TV for about a month now, all I can say is I have no regrets about this purchase. Of course after heavy researching, it came down to this TV based on what I was particularly looking for - form and function. I realized the new TVs Samsung has coming out, but I didn't want to wait for them to be released and then wait again for it to become affordable, so this was the best. Having a previous Samsung SlimFit TV did sway me to stick with the brand as that TV was beautiful (but TOO heavy).

The pluses and minus:

- BEAUTIFUL
The red finish that borders around the TV is sleek and subtle (and matches the red accents in my living room, PLUS!). Please note that the red on the 650 version is only on the top and bottom, which looked a little odd for me. The 650 also has that (what I considered super ugly) oval shaped stand compared to the rectangle here.

- USB INPUT and DLNA
I can watch movies I save onto a USB that I plug into the TV. And with DLNA, I can just attach a LAN cable to access most of my media files on my computer *from* the TV! Brilliant! Worth the extra money, by not having to pause it from my computer in another room. (Note on this, you can't rewind and fast-forward computer files after it gets past a certain file size. That means if you are watching a movie and accidentally press stop instead of pause, it's best to watch the rest on a computer. Samsung needs to work on this for future TVs).

- 1GB BUILT-IN "ENTERTAINMENT" CONTENT
This is essentially pointless-especially the games. I wish I could format it and do other things with that space, but it doesn't hurt the purchase. I'll just access it when I want to learn how to make a Salmon Sandwich.

- VIDEO QUALITY
After calibration, HD inputs from a digital antenna and Blu-Ray look stunning. Digital air signals come through flawlessly with the same antenna I've been using for a couple of years. As for the viewing angle, I wouldn't say it's 178 degrees though. As long as you're not sitting on the floor to the side or something, you should be fine. The 50,000:1 Dynamic contrast as you know is not the real contrast ratio. That's like the "digital zoom" feature on a camera, totally a sham. However the contrast is just fine with that feature off. Blacks are deep, whites are light. Beautiful.

- LIGHTWEIGHT
I have the 40" version which I can lift myself! (It also fits my TV stand perfectly. I would've opted for the 46", but that would require buying bigger everythings, and because of living in New York, you have to make most efficient use of space).

- THINNESS
It's thin. Which is good and bad. Thin looks great, but now I can't put my center speaker of my surround sound system on top of the TV because it's just too thin and not a flat surface to sit on top. I've had to put it in front of the TV, which is fine. Again, this is not a flaw of the TV itself, I just have to adapt.

- 120hz AUTO MOTION RUBBISH
2 words, total rubbish, or utterly pointless. Sure the example they give you says it can "intelligently calculate a middle image" between 2 images (using a ball from point A to point B as a simple example), but I don't know how *any* TV could *ever* predict motion between 2 complicated set of frames. It looks stupid, it looks unnatural for movies, and I have no idea why this is even on here or a selling point for this TV. If anything, this made me *not* want to get the TV, but thankfully, you can turn this "feature" off. Hurray! Likewise DNIe and the "video enhancement modes" are rubbish for regular people that don't know how to adjust picture quality. Sorry regular people. I turned all these to "off".

- BACKLIGHT
The other "complaint" is the function of backlight. I like that in the menu you can adjust backlight levels manually, but then, they give you an energy saving option that sort of counter-acts that. It makes you wonder if lowering the backlight and turning off power-saving is the same as turning up the backlight and setting power-saving to maximum. Who knows.

- SOUND
It's fine. The built in woofer is a plus. The speakers are loud, I never have it above 20 (out of 100). Not so sure on the TruSurround XT, still seems gimmicky to me, but it doesn't hurt it. Depending on the content, it does sound better with it on. I usually don't care about TV speakers since I have a surround sound system I use instead.

- THE REMOTE
It looks cool. I'm a bit iffy on the scroll wheel. it doesn't really work well if you swirl it around, it's best you just press in the direction you want. The back-lit buttons are a major plus!
- B. Sayaseng (New York, NY)