lcd

Samsung snaps up Sony's share of joint S-LCD business for $940m

Samsung's screen technology business is about to get even bigger.

Samsung is now buying up Sony's share of the two companies' joint venture, S-LCD, for $940 million, or approximately 1.08 trillion South Korean won. The acquisition will shift Sony's 50 percent of the company--minus one share--into Samsung's possession, making it the S-LCD Corporation a wholly-owned Samsung subsidiary.

The shift is intended to ease some of Sony's continuing struggle with its TV business, which has posted a loss over eight straight years.

In addition to Samsung assuming control of the company, which manufactures LCD panels … Read more

Projectors vs. TVs: Giant-screen pros and cons

Editors' note: This post was updated March 12, 2013.

Despite reviewing TVs for a living, I don't actually own a TV. The last TV I bought was a 27-inch CRT, in the summer of 2000.

Instead, I do all my TV and movie watching on a 102-inch screen. It's epic. And a projector doesn't have to cost a lot of money, nor is it difficult to set up.

The pros and cons of projection (and why you really, really want it), after the jump.… Read more

LED LCD vs. plasma vs. LCD

Updated November 2012!

In this television technology trifecta, which comes out on top? The subject of countless debates and diatribes, the better question is: which works best? Or more precisely, which works best for you?

When you cut through the hype and the fanboys, each tech has different benefits and costs. So to help you figure out which TV is right for your house, let's take a look at each one.… Read more

The 10 most important TVs of 2011

With all of the brouhaha over tablets, smartphones, and thin PCs, it's easy to overlook the fact that quite a few noteworthy things happened in the venerable TV category this year.

It's my job to keep track of such things, so, yeah, I'm biased, but when considering a year-end article to write, it really wasn't difficult to come up with 10 TVs that actually deserve the title "important." The models below, arranged in no particular order, might qualify because of picture quality, bang for the buck, 3D technology, slick design, or even sheer size, but each one interests me in its own way and potentially sets a trend for 2012 and beyond.

Disagree with any of my picks or want to nominate a more-important-to-you model? Let me know in comments.

Myths, Marketing, and Misdirection: HDTV edition

The onslaught of marketing this time of year is unsurprising, but no less unpleasant. Advertising of products can be a useful tool, informing the public of the latest and greatest.

Where it becomes offensive is when it includes blatant lies, misleading truths, or perpetrates a myth.

Don't be fooled by these deceptive practices, in this (admittedly first) edition of Myths, Marketing, and Misdirection, the HDTV edition.… Read more

How to rid your HDTV of reflections

Most people don't like watching TV in the dark. The problem is, flat-panel TVs tend to reflect light in the room. Even if you have a matte-screen LCD, light bouncing off the screen is going to diminish picture quality in one way or another.

This how-to guide has some obvious and some not-so-obvious tricks and tips to help you make sure that no matter what lighting you have in your room, you're still getting the best picture quality.… Read more

Get a 46-inch LCD HDTV for $399.98

Happiness is a big TV. Oh, I mean, happiness is friends, family, food on the table, a roof over your head, good books, good music, and, of course, pizza.

Also, a big TV.

Especially one that doesn't destroy your budget. Great example: Wal-Mart has the Element ELDFW464 46-inch LCD HDTV for $399.98 shipped (plus sales tax). That's one of the best prices I've seen on a 46-inch TV.

Now, I'm sure a few hotheads will point out that the reason this TV is so cheap is that it has a 60Hz refresh rate, and "… Read more

Why LED does not mean a better picture

Don't listen to the hype. Ignore the commercials. Leer skeptically at the salesman. There is no such thing as an LED TV, and "LED" doesn't mean it's any better than other TVs.

LED is just a type of LCD, with strengths and weaknesses that make it better in some ways, worse in others, and rarely worth its price premium over other technologies. … Read more

How to save money on home theater gear this holiday season

Lots of great choices for new AV gear this year, but it's also easy to get suckered into getting more than you need.

Check out these tips and tricks to save yourself some big money this holiday season.… Read more

Quick Take: Samsung LN32D403

Although CNET didn't review the Samsung LN32D403, we did review two similar Samsung LCD TVs, the LN32C350 from 2010 and this year's LND550 series.

Comparing between the three on Samsung's web site, the LN32D403 has the worst specs. It offers a worse dynamic contrast ratio than the C350 and especially the D550. We suspect its overall picture quality to be the same or very slightly worse than the C350.

The other major specs difference is the D403's 720p resolution compared to 1080p for the the D550, but unless you're using it to display computer signals, … Read more