Computers and Technology

If you’re looking for a 55-inch LED-based HDTV, the Samsung UN55B7000 and the Samsung UN55B8000 are two of the top offerings from Samsung. Both deliver breathtaking images at much less the energy consumed by other models. The UN55B8000 is more expensive, though, which makes one wonder if the UN55B7000 is just as good.

While both models are seemingly alike, they have some key differences, which can help you decide which one to get. For starters, the frame of the UN55B7000 has a distinct red border in accordance with Samsung’s Touch of Color, while the UN55B8000 has a less noticeable dark grey border. Other than that, and the fact that the UN55B7000 is a few inches taller, the design of the two are the same, with the same thinness – 1.2 inches deep at most, matching semi-transparent swivelling stands and a black glossy frame tapered with a transparent edge.

The remote control of the UN55B8000 is also more advanced, with an RF capability that allows it to work on the TV even from another room, although the clicker that comes with the UN55B7000 is more user-friendly, with the non-responsive scroll wheel replaced with backlit buttons that are easy to locate and differentiate from each other. It is also more stable on flat surfaces because of a slight modification in its design, though the secondary remote that comes with each is exactly alike.

As for picture quality, both offer crisp images with vivid, generally accurate colors, although the UN55B8000 offers deeper black levels and brighter whites with a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 as opposed to 3,000,000:1. The Wide Color Enhancer of the UN55B8000 is also more advanced, allowing it to stretch each pixel to its three-dimensional limit.

The last major difference is that of the refresh rate. In particular, the UN55B8000 prides itself on its high refresh rate – 240Hz – which is two times better than the UN55B7000. Still, both effectively prevent blurring even with the dejudder processing turned off – a mechanism scarce on Sony HDTVs.

These are the major differences of the Samsung UN55B7000 and the Samsung UN55B8000. Other than these, the rest is pretty much the same. Both get a score for interactivity with basic Yahoo widgets that keep you posted on the latest news, weather and stock market updates so you don’t have to turn off your computer, and both allow you to access media files from networked computers without leaving the room. Like other Samsung models, both also have an extensive built-in content library which you can access anytime.

Both models are highly energy efficient, mainly because they are edge-lit LED-based LCD televisions, which means they consume nearly half less than conventional LCDs and even less than other types of HDTVs. In addition to that, you get three power-saving modes that cut down energy consumption even further. As for connectivity, there aren’t too many analog connections but there are four HDMI inputs provided – enough for your digital devices – as well as a VGA input for your computer and two USB ports that make it easier to share files directly from your thumb drive, MP3 player or digital camera.

Clearly, the Samsung UN55B7000 is not as good as the more expensive UN55B8000, especially in terms of the images produced, but it certainly comes pretty close and with a few hundred bucks less, is definitely worth considering over the UN55B8000. No matter which you get, though, you’re sure to get an excellent viewing experience you won’t regret.

About the author – Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes HDTV reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Samsung UN55B7000  or check out the latest HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com

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Panasonic is one of the leading manufacturers of Plasma HDTVs and the Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10 is one of their best models yet. If that’s not enough, here are five reasons why you should consider getting it for your home.

1. Superb Black Level Performance

If you want images that truly pop out of your screen, you’ll want an HDTV with superb black levels – something Plasma televisions are known to deliver, and the Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10, in particular, is known for. Indeed, the TC-P65V10 comes with a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 and creates not just outstandingly deep black levels, but infinite blacks, thanks to its Neo PDP panel and Real Black Drive System. Combine these with its excellent shadow detail and other saturated colors and you’ll truly have an amazing viewing experience.

2. THX Mode

The images are even better when the THX Mode is engaged, with all the picture characteristics, including color accuracy, color saturation and shadown detail enhanced. After all, this mode is designed to let you watch movies just as the film makers intended them to be seen, which means you don’t need to buy tickets to enjoy the movie theatre experience.

3. Video Processing

Like most HDTVs, this Viera model de-interlaces both film-based and video-based sources properly and displays every line of 1080p and 1080i content. Furthermore, it can reproduce 24p content efficiently with a 96Hz refresh rate – better, in fact, than the 2:3 pulldown option that other HDTVs offer. This means that you can get to see films in their original format without having to suffer from any flicker or other distracting problems. The TC-P65V10 also has a 600Hz Sub-field Drive, which keeps images smooth and crisp during fast sequences.

4. Interactive Features

If you want to get the latest online updates without having to turn on your computer, you can do so with the TC-P65V10. Its Viera Cast feature allows you to access the latest headlines, weather reports and stock market updates from Bloomberg directly on your screen, provided that you have an internet connection and run an ethernet line to the back of the HDTV. You can even access high-definition movies and TV episodes from Amazon Video on Demand, which offers thousands of choices and doesn’t require a subscription, along with free YouTube videos and the photos from your Picasa account. You can also play media files from networked computers with the TC-P65V10’s DLNA capability, provided they have the right format.

In addition to the Viera Cast, you get the Viera Link and Viera Image Viewer. The former lets you turn your HDMI-compatible devices on and off remotely, which makes setting up your home theatre easier while the latter makes sharing photos a breeze – just insert the SD card slot, select a display effect and a background music and you’re good to go.

5. Adequate Inputs and Outputs

Whether you have a lot of digital devices or analog devices, you won’t have to worry about connecting them to the Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10, which has adequate connectivity. On the back, you will find two component video inputs, enough AV inputs and three HDMI inputs – the fourth one is on the side panel for easy access, along with the VGA input for connecting your computer.

These features, combined with a sleek design and other extras like a wide viewing angle and a Tools menu, make the TC-P65V10 one of the best Viera HDTV models available today. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive, so if you’re on a tight budget, you can start looking somewhere else. Then again, the Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10 is worth every cent.

Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes Plasma TV Reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Panasonic Viera TC-P65V10 or check out the latest Pioneer HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com

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In many ways – style, picture quality and price, for example – the 55-inch Samsung UN55B8000 is a cut above other LCD HDTV models, thanks largely to its innovative edge-lit LED lighting technology. Are you wondering what an edge-lit HDTV is? Read on.

To understand the concept of an edge-lit HDTV, first, you have to know how an LED-based HDTV works. While a regular LCD television uses a single fluorescent lamp as a backlight, an LED-lit LCD television uses hundreds of small bulbs (called light emitting diodes or LEDs) covering the back of the screen. Because of this, LED-based televisions are brighter and can produce more vivid colors and in particular, deeper blacks – a result of the fact that a group of LEDs can be totally turned off while part of a fluorescent lamp can only be dimmed. LEDs also consume less power but can last much longer.

It comes as no surprise, then, that many of those looking to buy an HDTV opt for an LED-based one, and if you’re one of them, you will be thrilled with the introduction of edge-lit HDTVs. Instead of having panels covered with LEDs, these HDTVs, like the Samsung UN55B8000 have rows of LEDs only at the top and the bottom, which project the light to a plate that focuses it towards the screen.

One advantage of edge-lit HDTVs is that they can be made even thinner and lighter, making them not only attractive but also easier to mount on the wall just like a framed painting. Indeed, the UN55B8000 is only 1.2 inches deep at most, making it one of Samsung’s slimmest and most stylish HDTVs.

Also, while LED-based televisions are already known to consume about half the energy consumed by conventional LCD televisions, those that are edge-lit consume even less. In particular, according to tests, the UN55B8000 consumes up to 40 percent less energy than it normally would.

As for the cons of an edge-lit HDTV, these are basically issues on screen brightness, uniformity and the heating of the frames, especially along the top and bottom where the LEDs are situated. Samsung has done a good job of minimizing these, though, so that with the UN55B8000, you can only notice the lack of uniformity during dark scenes, and only if you have a trained eye.

Aside from the fact that it is an edge-lit HDTV, the Samsung UN55B8000 is an excellent HDTV for other reasons, such as its 240Hz processor, which results in clear and crisp images even during fast-moving scenes and its accurate colors, which contribute to creating amazing picture quality. It comes with interactive features, as well, such as an extensive library of built-in content and Yahoo widgets to keep you posted on the latest updates in the weather, news and stock market. Connectivity, though not its strongest point, is quite good, too, with four HDMI inputs, a PC input and two USB slots to name a few.

So, is the Samsung UN55B8000 a good buy? This is something you shouldn’t be asking any longer after reading this. After all, you already know the reasons why it is very expensive, the same reasons that make it not just a good but a great HDTV, a true cut above the rest.

Edward McKellen is an HDTV expert who writes lcd television reviews for HDTVreviewlab.com. To read more about the Samsung UN55B8000 or check out the latest Panasonic HDTV reviews visit HDTVreviewlab.com

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