Philips 17PF8946A 17" HDTV-Ready LCD Flat-Panel TV

Philips 17PF8946A 17

Philips 17PF8946A 17" HDTV-Ready LCD Flat-Panel TV
Manufacturer: Philips
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Here is an LCD TV that not only enhances the decor of your home with its European styling and slim design, but also provides a great audio visual experience with features like Crystal Clear III, Active Control, Virtual Dolby Surround and unique flat speakers.
Amazon.com Product Description
Philips' widescreen, 15:9 aspect-ratio 17PF8946A TFT LCD television is stylish enough and small enough to be used in any room of the house. The 17-inch TV offers high brightness (450 cd/m2) and high contrast (400:1), and an integrated TV tuner for cable or broadcast reception of all your favorite programs. This is an EDTV display, which means it's a step closer to high-definition or HDTV than standard TVs. When used with a progressive-scan DVD player (or 480p-output DTV set-top box) you'll get seamless, razor-sharp images from your favorite movies and concert videos.

LCD technology allows screens to be thinner and televisions to be lighter and more energy-efficient than ever before. The result is television that not only fits on a wall, but fits in places conventional televisions cannot. The 17PF8946A's comes outfitted with Digital Crystal Clear III technology, a suite of picture innovations including Dynamic Contrast, green/blue stretch, and a 3-line digital comb filter. The comb filter removes blurred edges between colors and reduces dot crawl (tiny, moving dots of color along a sharp color separation in a vertical line, as in a depiction of a character's striped T-shirt).

A feature called Active Control continually adjusts picture settings at over 60 times per second for all inputs, correcting both sharpness and noise reduction. Auto Picture lets you change--at the touch of a button--the picture settings (color, tint, contrast, etc.) for various types of programming, including sports, movies, multimedia (games), or weak signals.

Auto Sound allows you to select from 3 factory-set controls and a personal control that you set according to your preferences. Use the factory-set controls (voice, music, and theatre) to enhance appropriate programs. Virtual Dolby surround simulates enveloping surround sound from any 2 speakers.

Inputs include 1 component-video, 2 S-video, and 3 composite-video connections, as well as a VGA computer input, which accepts signals up to WXGA (1,280 x 768, from 60 to 75 Hz). Side-panel AV inputs accommodate a camcorder, gaming device, or VCR hookup, and a headphone output (minijack .125-inch) lets you listen in private.

What's in the Box
TV, stand, remote control, remote batteries, and a user's manual.

Average customer rating: 2.0

If you ignore the customer service, this rocks
WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!
Anything but HP
HP Sucks

HP Pavilion DV8230US 17" Notebook PC (Intel Core Duo Processor T2300 (Centrino), 1024 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Double Layer DVD+/-RW Drive)

Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Office
Product Group: Personal Computer
Binding: Personal Computers
ASIN: B000F1V6YS

Related Categories:

Notebooks

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HP Notebooks

Amazon.com Product Description

Balance your need for productivity with great multimedia performance with the HP Pavilion dv8230us notebook PC, which features an amazingly bright, widescreen 17-inch BrightView display--perfect for multitasking between document windows and watching movies in their native aspect ratio. And you can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. Enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Easily share digital photos with the included HP Image Zone Plus software.

It's powered by Intel's new, groundbreaking processor--the powerful Core Duo T2300--which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance and a more efficient power consumption. The dual execution core T2300 has a 1.66 GHz processor speed and 2 MB L2 cache. This notebook also features an innovative dual hard drive with two 80 GB drives (for a 160 GB capacity). Other hardware features include 1 GB of installed RAM (2 GB max), tri-mode wi-fi LAN (802.11a/b/g), a wide variety of connectivity options, and Windows XP Media Center edition.

The Basics
<ul>

Hard Drive: The dv8230us has a unique hard drive array for a notebook--two separate 80 GB (5400 RPM) hard drives for a total storage capacity of 160 GB. They can work together to boost performance, particularly when handling large files, and you can use one as an exclusive media drive for saved TV programming and an MP3 library.

Processor: The Intel Core Duo T2300 processor is built with the Mobile Intel 945GM Express chipset, and it has a 1.67 GHz processor speed, super-fast 667 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

The Intel Core Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the next version of Microsoft Windows, code-named Vista. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. It's more efficient, thanks to Intel's Power Coordination and Deeper Sleep, which help to transfer power only to those areas of the processor that need it. It also features Intel's Digital Media Boost, which delivers enhanced performance on floating point-intensive applications such as CAD tools, 3D and 2D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming.

Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (PC2700, 333 MHz, 2 x 512 MB) is a very good start for running office productivity and audio software, but you'll want to take advantage of the ultra-roomy 2 GB of total RAM capacity (2 x 1 GB) for such multimedia needs as video editing and immersive 3D gaming.

CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the dv8230's multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds. It also comes with a second DVD-ROM optical drive, with 16x read speed. It also comes with an extra DVD-ROM drive for disc playback only.

This LightScribe DVD+/-RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.

Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD). </ul> Screen, Graphics and Sound
The 17-inch WXGA+ high-definition BrightView widescreen (1440 x 900 resolution) provides a 45 percent larger picture for DVD movies than a 15-inch screen. Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 graphics card with 128 MB of dedicated video RAM. Nvidia's TurboCache feature increases the performance of this thin and light notebook PC without increasing its size or draining its battery. It's coupled with the PowerMizer 6.0 advanced power management technology, which significantly extends your notebook PCÕs battery life while minimizing the amount of heat it produces.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The dv8230us features an integrated tri-mode wireless LAN that's compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and wi-fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range--great for closed office environments). You get a very good offering of connectivity options, which does include super-fast USB 2.0 and FireWire: <ul>

4 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players

1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals

1 VGA monitor port

1 S-Video port for connecting to a TV

1 PCMCIA (or PC Card) slot (Type I/II, 32-bit)

1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)

1 headphone jack

1 microphone jack

1 Expansion Port 2 connector

1 IR receiver <ul> It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Additionally, it enables you to control your television with the included remote and record and pause programs (much like a DVR--or digital video recorder--such as Tivo or ReplayTV). It's compatible with cable, digital cable, satellite TV and antenna inputs, and it includes an FM tuner.

It also comes preloaded with Microsoft Works 8.0 (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents), HP Image Zone Plus, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition (with 60 days of LiveUpdate), Encarta Encyclopedia 2005, Quicken New User Edition 2005, Microsoft Money 2005, Sonic DigitalMedia Plus, Sonic MyDVD Plus, WinDVD 5 Player Basic, Google Toolbar, and PC Doctor.

The included HP Image Zone Plus photo and imaging software makes it easy to organize, edit, share, print, protect, and store your photos and video clips. Organize and find your photos easily by timeline, keywords, and/or location using the unique photo-globe mapping tool. Remove red eye and fix other common problems. Share your photos quickly via e-mails that include thumbnails with links to the full-sized images--without downloading time-consuming attachments.

Dimensions and Weight
This notebook measures 15.62 x 11.1 x 1.82 inches and weighs 8.1 pounds.

Power
It's powered by a 8-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 3 hours (depending on usage). You'll get up to 6 hours of battery life with the optional 12-cell lithium-ion battery.

What's in the Box
This package contains the dv8230us notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, IR remote control, earphones, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

Customer Reviews:

If you ignore the customer service, this rocks.......2007-06-05

After seeing all the negative customer reviews, I felt I had to post one.
I bought mine new from circuit city 1 year ago last month. This is an incredible desktop replacement system, and every flipping day I'm happy that I bought this. Even missing out on $250 worth of rebates because I didn't realize there was a 30-day time limit to turn them in doesn't mean this is anything less than a incredible machine.
I'm a graphics art Semi-Pro (retired from being a network engineer a few years ago), and I can run ALL the programs, quickly on this machine that I work with, Including Lightwave, Poser, & vue d'espri. It has played every game I've tried on it, it even runs Oblivion with maxed out graphics, no problem. The reason I came to this site today was because I was going to get another one for my girlfriend.
If you NEED customer support, don't get it. HP isn't good at that right now. But if you can fix some of your own problems...
Oh, and case you didn't get it from the specs above, it's a PVR.

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!.......2007-01-18

I just spent 3 hours on the phone with India, and the Dominican Republic. All "yahoo's" who had no clue! This is about the 5th time I have had a similar experience!

This time, several persons got on the phone, and when I asked where they were hung up. One told me they are in America. When I asked what state (since they had quite an accent), they said what does that mean. They clearly lied to me. I asked to speak to their supervisor, and the same person got on the phone, tried to disguise his voice, and told me that he was not allowed to tell me where he was!

I am a physician, who cannot imagine such horrible customer service, and such a willful disregard of their customers. I have just cancelled a notebook order of over 100 notebooks, and will never ever deal with HP in any fashion in the future.

Anything but HP.......2006-10-31

I bought a variant of this model (dv4000) 1.5 years ago and it's been causing problems ever since. The mouse, touchpad and keyboard all freeze on a frequent basis. I also had a recent surprise from HP regarding the warranty. I had purchased a one year warranty extension from HP just before my original warranty was about to expire. Now I'm told that the HP calculates warranty periods from the purchase date and although I had purchased the extension a couple of weeks before expiration, the second warranty was applied as an add-on to the original, for the remaining couple of weeks. Of course there was no information about this on the web-site which I did the purchase. So I had to purchase another year's warranty to get support on the never ending problems caused by the computer from the very beginning.

HP Sucks.......2006-08-29

HP has the WORST customer service of any company of any kind that I have ever dealt with. I have never called without having spent at least one hour on the phone with them before the various extensions in India, none of whom are helpful. And once the service is complete the computer is usually returned with more problems than they were origionally sent with. I would never buy another HP again.

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