Price Paid:  $350.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I picked this tv up as an open box buy at best buy. I mainly watch sports if I watch tv, but it is mostly used for dvds. I chose it over a similar panasonic model because i percieved it to have a clearer brighter picture. I have not been disappointed with my choice this tv looks great especially with the dvd player hooked up with the component video in...also PS2 games look super using the S-video connection. Sound is good quality for a tv set but I have it hooked through my reciever so I only use the tv speakers late at night. I would recommend this set for someone who wanted a nice looking 32" tv for around 500 bucks, and dosent need PIP

Strengths:
Great Picture, Component video, s-video, and front panel video connections. screen is close to a flat screen at a fraction of the price

Weaknesses:
input jacks on back are cheesy! I pulled one of them off accidentally (i reattached it no sweat) but they should have done a better job on that, also the fixed audio out is a pain to use and seems like it should have a louder signal as there is a large disparity in my reciver volume needed when running off the tv as opposed to a cd etc for the same sound level, no PIP at this price it would be nice to have, remote is not lighted

Similar Products Used:
Zenith 27" TV, RCA 32" TV Sony WEGA 27" TV

Price Paid:  $473.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
When I first purchuced the TV, the component video jacks pulled out of the back. Also, the Pr wire for component video imput did not work at all. I called Toshiba and they sent a technition over to fix the problem for free under the warranty. They still have the tv and are going to replace all the Jacks.

Strengths:
Great Color, Exellent when using s-video imput, but I dont know about the component video imput yet.

Weaknesses:
Bad Component Imputs. They all came out. and the Pr did not work at all. That means i did not get any red color using component imput. But that Problem will be fixed soon.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 20" FST Pure Flat-Screen Stereo TV with ColorStream Component Video Inputs. Model: 20AF42,Sony 20" FD Trinitron WEGA Flat-Tube TV. Model: KV-20FS100, And the Jvc Flat Screen 20f702. They all w

Price Paid:  $479.00 from Sears

Summary:
After a good deal of study and research, I decided to get this model based mainly on the review and rating this model got in Consumer Reports. Price was also a key factor and at $480 plus tax, it was too good a deal to pass up. The component video inputs was also a major factor in getting this unit. And the picture difference between the plain old composite input and the component video input while watching DVDs has to be seen to be believed. I would rate the component video picture quality as excellent. Colors are excellent. No bleeding reds, no blooming whites. It really helps to use a THX certified DVD to set the TV''s color/tint/sharpness, etc... accuartely. The picture quality while watching cable TV using a coaxial cable is very good. Your mileage may vary depending on the quality of signal provided by your cable TV operator. I can''t comment on the S-video inputs as I do not have a VCR or DVD player that utilizes S-video outputs. However, Consumer Reports rates the S-video input on this TV as very good. The audio output from the speakders on the TV is fine. Nothing great. If you are like me you run your audio through your receiver so the audio quality of the TV speakers is not an issue. The onscreen menu is also very easy to use. The menu button on the remote is right in the middle of the volume up/down and channel up/down configuration so it is easy to hit the menu button when you simply wish to change channels. But there is also an ''exit menu'' button so you can leave the menu screen with just one button push. Speaking of the remote, it is a little awkward to use. If you mainly flip through the channels sequentially, it isn''t a problem (you can also program your favorite channels a flip through them as well). However, if you want to directly access a channel throught the numeric keypad, it gets a litte awkward. The keypad is at the top of the remote and this part of the remote is much thinner than the bottom of the remote. So the remote does not sit comfortably in your hand when you try to directly access channels which can cause you to enter the incorrect channel number. This is annoying. Other than that, the remote is fine. The keys glow in the dark so it is easy to use in a dark room.

Strengths:
Price Excellent component video quality. Very good coaxial input video quality.

Weaknesses:
Annoying remote.

Price Paid:  $500.00 from PC Richard

Summary:
I did a lot of searching on the net for the best rated TVs and came up with the following: Sony (head and shoulders above everything else), Toshiba & JVC, and everything else. The Sonys are just too expensive. In the 32-36" tube category Sony doesn''t offer the equivalent features to price ratio as Toshiba or JVC. So I finally settled on the Toshiba 32A41, based on the reviews I read and Toshiba''s rep. The major criterion guiding my choice was component video inputs. This model has them, as well as S video. I would rate the color on this TV as outstanding. Especially impressive are the blues and greens. Hooked up to the component video outputs on my DVD player, movies like Shrek are incredible to see. The sound is adequate for a TV, but this is a minor consideration if you''re hooking up to an A/V receiver. I did notice that the volume is more powerful now thru my receiver than my old 27" Fisher produced. The remote control is a little weak. It has VCR controls that you can program if your VCR isn''t a Toshiba, and you can also program it to power on/off your cable box (which is usefull), but the button layout is awkward. The menu button is in between the channel up/down buttons, making it very easy to accidentally hit menu when you want to change the channel. This can get annoying very quickly. Also, the remote doesn''t feel comfortable in your hand. It''s shaped weird: round, weighted and cylindrical at the bottom (where the batteries are housed), and flat and slender at the top where the keypad and power button is. This config throws the balance off when you want to punch in a channel, and I find myself using two hands when using the keypad or turning the TV on. I''ve recently turned on to "learning" universal remotes and have a Sony model on order that I hope will replace this, as well as my receiver and DVD remotes. The biggest criticism I have of this TV is the screen geometry. I have been trying to find documentation on this characteristic, and I''ve read that this is a common weakness of larger screen TVs. On my set the right side of the screen seems pinched at the corners so that straight lines slope off the screen slightly. It''s most apparent when watching those scrolling banners at the bottom of CNN''s or CNBC''s broadcasts, or the stock market ticker.

Strengths:
Great color, affordably priced, good video inputs.

Weaknesses:
Screen geometry. The screen is not square and straight lines get distorted. I actually sent one TV back for a new one, but had the same problem with the new one. Tinkering with the service menu settings produces only minimal improvement, and is dangerous without proper doc.

Similar Products Used:
Sony 20", Fisher 27".

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Overall, the sony 32" & 35" screens seem to provide higher lux output (slighly) and seem to hold black better. For the same price go with a sony. Flat screens are better but cost more.

Strengths:
Not that heavy (123 bls)

Weaknesses:
Does not hold black level well at all w/ high/low value images. Noticable pixel bluriness, especially noticable in faster moving scenes. Low lux level output requires strict control of surounding light levels.

Similar Products Used:
Sony 27" Flat Screen