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Goodmans 37inch LCD TV
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It offers a range of inputs - not just a standard aerial - you can use it with a PC it supports analogue (D-Sub), DVI and HDMI, while on the interfaces it also has an Audio In. These are in a vertical line down the back side. In a horizontal line along the bottom of the back is what is described as Interface II, the standard aerial input, two SCART sockets, next a range of sockets for both audio and video in and then a set for audio and video out, finally S/PDIF and a sub woofer output.
The overall dimensions are 110x63x10cm the width is supported within a 24cm stand but that is a simple base the rest is less than 10cm thick. The actual screen is 82x46.5cm giving the 37inch diagonal measurement.
It comes in a long thin box fully assembled on the stand. I decided to review it in the same place as my normal TV, first lift this off the unit it sits on - after a cup of coffee - and that sat on the floor during the review. Next lift the Goodmans onto the unit and it weights a lot less than my 28inch TV I have just lowered to the floor.
Fit the aerial and plug in - nothing - check everything - still nothing - if all else fails RTFM 52 pages - all in English - and then try to locate the on/off switch that is on the back of the unit near the base, the only problem it is the same colour as it's surroundings. Once located I have power and it autotunes the channels available and places them in the normal BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 order, this is something not all TV's do often leaving you to chance this yourself.
There are a number of controls under the bottom front edge, I never used them apart from testing. The unit comes with a 53 key remote control that can do everything once the unit has power. I tend to have the remote pointing at the TV on a table beside me and a small gripe is that the front edge is slightly less thick than the back and when you press a key in this situation it moves slightly.
The unit comes with a pair of 10 watt speakers that form the left and right edges of the unit, certainly sound is a lot better than with a standard TV, there is a setting to change the sound type to suit different environments. You can also change the picture colour settings for various styles and types of event.
While 4:3 16:9 etc are all supported there is an excellent Auto mode and with normal broadcasts you either have a completely full screen or just over one centimetre blank at the top and bottom of the screen but the colouring of this is identical to the case so you really do not notice it at all. The only time there is a substantial border is with un- doctored Cinema Scope films where the border is far greater.
Picture In Picture (PIP) is possible using two different sources such as a video or DVD and TV, remember this has only a single tuner. The range of Window sizes allow a variety of uses.
If I have a disappointment it's that the unit does not come with built in Freeview and perhaps dual tuners. I used a Freeview box attached to one SCART socket of a video recorder and used the pass through ability to output via it's other SCART socket to input the TV.
I tested using a PC output via the D-Sub and the DVI without any problems, and should you run a business I see no reason why this could not be listed as a business expense as it has the PC capability.
During my time testing the unit I have been checking the prices of various other similar units and while this is by no means cheap it is HD Ready so there is an amount of future proofing. However you will still need a Freeview box for when analogue is switched off. The Argos price is £999.99 see the link below
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5361885.htm
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Comment by Iain, 10 Sep 2006 18:19