Price Paid:  $1999.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I came down too the Sharp 55RWP4H, or a Samsung 55' model... I bought the Sharp.. I should have gotten the Samsung!.. I have been having problems with major convergence drift, picture distortion during white/intense images. Sharp sent out a repair tech to fix it.. he did nothing, except rip the speaker grill of the tv without un screwing it first, breaking it in half! Sharp has now admitted there are 2 problems with the model. The screen distortion, and the unit powers down on its own. I am trying to get a replacement but they insist on repairing it. NOT WITH THE TECHS THEY USE!! I went back to Best Buy to look at the floor model... that unit also has the screen distrotion...

Strengths:
Price... Good number of inpt connections

Weaknesses:
read above, product line is defective.

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Frys

Summary:
I found the same problem as the last review when I purchased my 55RWP5H. Noisy over-the-air split reception at the retailers showroom on their demo unit. How can you convince someone that it really does look great? I went with it primarily because the salesman told me I could return it after the delivery guys hooked it up and I looked at it. Oh, and of course a price that can't be matched by anything. $1500.00 special purchase. Haven't seen it repeated at that price at Fry's, at other retailers or on the net. In fact the low price (relative to comparable units) had me worried that I was purchasing an inferior set. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case and it looks great. Reflections aside.

I do wish it had more of an extensive alignment system. Similar to an old Sony 1270Q front projector.

I also was worried that after visiting almost all of the local electronic/tv retailers, I did not see a single Sharp big screen set. Coming from a brief stint in the world of AV presentation, I did know that Sharp had been making LCD front projectors for years. I used one 11 years ago at my wedding reception. But the lack of in-store displays and lack of info on the web had me a bit skeptical.

My worries have been for naught. I'm glad I made the purchase. I found no electronic or physical defects or aberrations.

I never was able to make a true side by side comparison with the Sony's, Toshiba's or Mitsubishi's. But I really can't see a difference. I would not have a problem purchasing it again, as long as it was a better deal than the others which I'm sure it will be.

Strengths:
Price, price, price. With the money I saved, I could have purchased a killer extended warranty. Broadcast and DVD playback.

Weaknesses:
Reflective screen. The universal remote doesn't have code for my Motorola digital cable box.

Similar Products Used:
This is my first big screen purchase. I have used and setup industrial (Sony, Barco, Sanyo, Sharp) front projectors and shoot broadcast (Betacam SP and SX) video.

Price Paid:  $1799.00 from BestBuy

Summary:
I have no complaints on the 55RWP4H - was worried from reading some not so great information in the Internet, but saw a good deal at best buy (back in feb 02 / clearanced?) and took the plunge. I had been looking for at least a 50in HD ready RPTV for some time. Almost bought Toshiba or Sony, and Pioneer was way out of my price range. Too bad the local BB did not carry the 61inch!

Strengths:
Price, quality, picture is great from VCR, Dish Network PVR and dishplayer.
DVD is awsome! Great job Sharp! BB also added a free leather chair!

Weaknesses:
Not weaknesses of the TV, but you really want to take heed and create a very low-light room for this TV or any projection TV (yes the protective screen will reflect light). Colors and picture is best when customizing setting for each input and setting brightness/contrast as low as you can without loosing shadow details. I was new to RPTV and kept getting sucked into the vibrance and clarity of the picture - so different from a "tube". My guess is a lot of these products are not sold due to low quality input sources and improper setup at stores - price caught my eye and like another poster said it still looked better than other more pricey units. It was scary paying almost 2,000 for something you could only see with a crappy demo source. Just take it home, get one of the HT setup DVDs, play with the configuration (convergence/brightness/contrast) and enjoy a great picture! Note that I spent two weeks or so playing with the setup and really screwed up the picture until I learned how to properly use the convergence - blurry.. The goal is to line up the red and blue crosshairs to the white (duh). I found the best way was to over shoot the center to judge where all four corners of the c

Similar Products Used:
Just looking at all other brands for two years before biting the bullet!

Price Paid:  $2900.00 from local HT installatio

Summary:
I had only seen this TV in one store with a terrible roof top antenna feed. Having said that, it still looked better than any of the high end Mits next to it. Now that I have this in my house, all I can say is "WOW". I have it hooked up to DirecTv through Component video and the picture quality is amazing, even for Sat. the DVD quality is great as well, although I currently have a very old RCA DVD player that does not have component outs, so the picture quality could be much better (the TV can only do so much with the picture :). I would give it 5 stars except for the protective screen glare (see weaknesses) and the fact that it isn't free :)

Strengths:
Line doubler, price compared to similar products (for a picture of this quality, you can't compare), warranty (a full 2 years on the 5H)

Weaknesses:
Protective screen is like a mirror, so if you have a bright room, invest in shades. Manual could be better, not very descriptive on the remote functions.

Similar Products Used:
Compared with Toshiba, Panasonic, Pioneer (excellent TV, just more expensive), Sony, RCA, and Mitsubishi. All in the 60 - 65" range.

Price Paid:  $1699.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I just bought the Sharp 55RWP4H from Best Buys, it ws an Open Box item, I am missing the manual, Sharpusa.com does not have it online.... can someone spare me one to make a copy??? email me please.

Later I will post a review on the TV itself, I am getiing it on Sunday :)