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LG Electronics 42LB5D
74
Good
- Avg User Rating
- 6 User Reviews | add yours »
- Pros
- Very fast pixel response time
- Easy to access inputs
- Cons
- Difficult menus
- Lackluster picture
- $779.99 - $1,289.99
- From 2 Merchants
PC World Editor's Review
by Lincoln Spector
On paper, LG seems to be doing a lot of things right: It has 1080p capability, HDMI 1.3, and a fast response time. Somehow, though, those advantages don't translate to much in the real world.
Despite its extremely fast (5ms) pixel response time, the LG42LB5D LCD television came in eighth in our image quality tests among the twelve HDTVs in our November issue's roundup. Still, it outperformed our other 5ms contestant, the Philips 42PFL7432D/37.
On the other hand, by the time you've finished with LG's on-screen menus, you may be too tired to care about the image quality. The small, centered, transparent menus are reasonably legible, but no one seems to have thought out the organization. The Set Up menu, for instance, covers setting up channels--and nothing else. If you want to set up, say, input labels, you have to go hunting through the other menus for the appropriate command (hint: it's under Options).
Speaking of input options, switching from your DVR to your DVD player entails scrolling through every input in between those two, including those that are empty. The set knows which ones are connected to something--they're highlighted--but it makes you scroll through them all anyway.
At least the input ports face outward (most of them on the back and a few on the side), so it's easy to plug items into them.
The 42LB5D comes with an unusually brief (32 pages) manual. But that doesn't mean everything is simple. You also get a CD-ROM containing a second manual in PDF form, this one running 110 pages. The electronic manual is so exhaustive it even mentions a picture-in-picture feature that the TV doesn't actually have.
A USB port on the front of the 42LB5D allows you to attach an external media device so you can view photos or listen to music stored on it. The television supports HDMI's CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) feature--though LG calls it SimpLink--which allows one remote to control all CEC-compatible home theater devices, and allows the devices to control each other through the HDMI cable. For instance, the act of placing a DVD in a CEC-compatible player might cause your TV to switch on and set itself to the correct input.
The LG's programmable remote feels a bit heavy, but it's reasonably well laid-out and the important buttons are easy to get to.
Lincoln Spector
User Reviews for LG Electronics 42LB5D
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Reviewed by: seachem
Duration of ownership: 8 Days
Strengths: HD Picture, Inputs
Weaknesses: SD Picture, Quality/Reliability
Overall Evaluation: Had similar technical problems as kenkai. Would have difficulty with video displaying and at times had difficulty getting the unit to turn off. Was within retailer return window so i returned vs dealing with LG customer service so can't comment on their helpfulness.
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Reviewed by: kenkai
Duration of ownership:
Strengths: Not determinable
Weaknesses: Customer support at LG
Overall Evaluation: Ordered this TV off of NBC promotion at a great price and financing. The unit arrived within 3 days. The unit did not display a video picture but did have sound. Numerous attempts at adjusting the cable with different configurations did not help. The disturbing part of this experience was the telephone support at LG who said that the problem was due to the cable supplier. I found this hard to believe since there was a TV connected to this cable just hours before. She was not at all supportive and I felt that I was blown off. Fortunately, the gentle man at NBC was helpful and said that he would arrange pick up at their cost and a full refund. I would have been happy with a replacement but all units were sold out because of the attractive price.
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