My 2 Cents Worth
I am new, but just thought I'd put my 2 cents in. I just got my 5085W over the holidays after a lot of soul searching and checking reviews and visiting chat boards. I had read different things about this unit, but my wife was really taken with the pedestal version, so we went with it. It was about $500 more the "table top version" (5065?) but, funny enough, the Samsung 5065 stand runs...you guessed it...$500, so we figured we broke even. I would have been happy with a "Pani" without DLP, but having got this one, I remembered what a friend told me once: "If you're happy with it, you'll forget what you paid for it." (BTW it was "only" $2400 on line from Digitalkings.com.) And I must say, I could NOT be happier!
I did read one review from a fellow who must have been a real videophile, who paid someone to come out after he received his and for $250 did his videophile thing, adjusting “warmth,” “pin cushion” (whatever that is,) but, honestly, from the time I first fired mine up, I have been mesmerized by how beautiful it looks. I mean I found myself on New Years Day tuning away from the Rose Bowl and watching a program on HDNET called "Sunrise in America" that looked like they just took a camera and planted it in various places like Yosemite and Yellowstone and let it run. I was breathtaking. And I remember thinking to myself, “the Rose Bowl is on and you're watching a nature program?” Yep! It was that amazing!
Anyway, I cannot speak for videophiles, but for the money and the fact that with DLP there is no alignment or burn-in issues, and the fact I was able to get a three-year warrantee that INCLUDES two bulb changes for $350, I figured I could not go wrong. If you're in doubt, do not doubt anymore...go get it! And, by the way, if you’re going to spend this kind of dough, and regardless WHICH set you settle on, you MUST get an HD DVR!
Whether it’s from your cable company or DirecTV/Tivo or DISH Network, a DVR makes the High Definition experience complete. First of all, since there is a limited amount of programming, being able to just go through the listings and click the programs you think look interesting such as HD movies on HDNet (cool IMAX flicks) or HBO or Cinemax or sporting events, you can now watch something spectacular whenever you decide to. And with the new dual DVRs you can record one thing and watch another, or record two things and watch one you’ve already recorded!
Secondly, life is too short to be subject to the pain of commercials and the multiple promos for the latest ESPN or Fox or WB or other network series. You can now run around for the for ½ hour of the program you like (even talk to you wife or girlfriend!) then start it and fast-forward through the commercials (SO important if you are an American Idol fan!). Sorry, this is kind of my personal campaign, but you get the picture, so to speak.
