Gateway PLSM46TV 46 Inch Flat Panel TV: Should Gateway go Back to Making Computers Only?
Written: Jan 11 '04 (Updated Jan 11 '04)
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Pros: Not a bad TV, inexpensive for the size, good remote, premium installation service
Cons: New to the business, wall mounting not included, better options available
The Bottom Line: I have to wary of a company with no history of TV production jumping into a difficult market. I would steer clear for now.
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| hwz1's Full Review: Gateway PLSM46TV 46 in. EDTV-Ready Plasma Televisi... |
Being in the world of stocks and bonds, I have heard a lot about how a former stock market darling has decided to turn their emphasis away from computers and toward TV's and other consumer electronics. The company essentially decided that they had lost the battle on the computer front and would try to get a head start in the flat panel TV market. Gateway has been working their strategy for a good six months now and the results are encouraging.
The company has sold a heck of a lot of TV's. All of them flat panel. All of them with larger screens than what you would expect for the price that you would expect. All of them priced significantly less than what you will pay for a Sony, Philips, or Panasonic. How do they do it? Are their TV's good enough for you? The answer- at least with the 46 inch model- is to come.
THE SPECIFICS:
* 45" x 28" x 4" (Without stand)
* Weight of just 37.5 kgs
* 852 x 480 pixels
* 800:1 contrast ration
* 160 degree viewing angle
* Eight audio/video outputs
* HDTV compatible
* Built in tuner
* Built in stereo speakers
* Stand and speakers included
As I usually mention when writing an electronics epinion, I will review what I know and that will not include a huge amount of technical stuff. In other words, I know a TV when I see one, but have no clue as to what produces the good picture and sound.
WHAT I LIKE:
1. The price. Lets face it, Gateway has produced a flat panel TV is a good bit cheaper than anything else you can find in the same size. Yes, you can find cheap Asian imported TV's that are cheaper, but do you really want to spend more than a $1000.00 on a company that you have never heard of? I don't. The Gateway 46 inch costs a little over $3000 and that is comparable to what most models from the likes of Sony, Philips, and Panasonic will run, but for a much smaller screen. Hence, Gateway wins in a big way when it comes to price.
2. The extras that most other TV manufacturers do not provide. What am I talking about? Well, the stand, for instance, comes with the TV. You do not have to go out and find a stand or find a TV that will fit your existing stand. A nice touch from Gateway. Keep in mind that one of the neat things with flat panel TV's is that they can be mounted on the wall like a picture or painting, so you may not even need the stand. However, it is nice to know that if you choose to use it, you have it. I went with the stand and am happy enough with the results.
3. The premium installation service is a nice plus. With this service, Gateway "approved or licensed" technicians come out to your home and basically set everything up the way you want it. They can wall mount your TV and hang speakers. They can hide the wires to the speakers. In addition, they can get everything up and running with the TV and explain how to operate it. The service is pricey, but also worth it as far as I am concerned. Upper end TV's work best when speakers can be placed strategically and if you are going to mount a TV, you should make sure that it will stay on the wall. A professional can do all of this.
4. The ability to expand and adapt. The Gateway has eight input/output jacks that allow you to hook up virtually any of your electronic equipment. The built in tuner means that you do not have to worry about another piece of equipment clogging up the room. Finally, you can connect electronic equipment that is not compatible with Gateway. While this is usually the case, it is especially important in this instance since, outside of computers, Gateway does not have many products on the market.
5. The remote is excellent. The remote contains a back light that makes it easy to see while watching TV without the lights on. The numbers are large and the remote is thoughtfully laid out. You can also operate seven of your "other" devices with the remote- in essence making it a universal remote. I will mention that this is not a small remote.
6. The picture and the sound are pretty good. I debated whether or not to place this in the "What I Do Not Like" section, but ultimately I think the picture is pretty good and the audio is as well. What I notice most often is that the blacks and whites are not as crisp as they should be. Though they are not bad, they should be crisper. Otherwise, the picture is not bad at all. The audio is quite good if you use additional speakers and have them placed strategically. Without the additional speakers, the sound is mediocre and not much better than what you have grown accustomed to over the years.
7. The cool factor. People still stop ans stare in amazement at flat panel TV's. The reason? They still have not made their way into a decent percentage of the homes in this country. Hence, they maintain the cool factor that comes with not being owned by the masses yet. They also come with the prestige factor from people thinking you spent more on your TV than you might for a car. Yes, these are still very much cool.
8. The picture extras. What I mean is zoom, slow motion, and picture in picture and the like. The Gateway has them all, but I would mention that picture in picture is great when it works. You have the ability to move it around on the screen if you choose to do so, but it also does not work too frequently. The Gateway has all of the bells and whistles that we demand of a TV.
WHAT I DO NOT LIKE:
1. The stand is included, but the wall hanging equipment is not. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Gateway would include one and not the other. If you choose the TV stand you are looking at a $150 value. If you decide to mount the TV to the wall, you are looking at an additional $280.00 before paying for the installation. You do not have to hire someone to mount the TV, but I would want to be damm sure that if I was going to hang it that it would stay there. Another drawback is that the mounting service can only be purchased in conjunction with Gateway's premium service. Nickle and dime me, why don't ya? In my mind, I would suggest that Gateway include neither and let the consumer decide what they want.
2. The warranty is just one year. Ok, big deal, right? It is to me and the reason why is that Gateway is still new to the TV market. They have, presumably, removed 99% of the potential problems that could crop up. Yet, companies like Sony and Panasonic have been making TV's for decades and they still have the occasional problems. Wouldn't you want to know that something that you just spent more than $3000.00 on would at least be covered a little longer? I would. Yes, you can purchase an extension and, in perhaps the only instance ever, I would recommed purchasing the extended warranty.
3. Rumors, rumors, rumors. While Gateway is selling these things like crazy, there have been some rumblings that the quality is just not up to speed. On thing that I live by with electronics is that you tend to get what you pay for. Buying electronics is not like buying a golf club where you personal preference and feel are important and price is not so important. No, buying electronics involves spending the money that you need to spend to get the best model that you can afford. Gateway somehow undercuts the market in pricing, significantly. How do they do it and still make a profit? Got me, but one way is to use cheap components. Another is cheap labor. Either one means that you are left with a TV that might not be worth much down the road.
4. Wait another year and you will be able to purchase a 46" inch model from names like Sony, Panasonic, and Philips for less money than what you pay for the Gateway. The price of flat panel TV's has come down significantly and will continue to do so. By the end of the year, you can get a better TV for less money than this one and from a one of a host of companies that have been making TV's for years.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
While not a bad TV, the Gateway is far from a great TV. There are things I like, but in the end the negatives are just too much. Deep in my gut I have the feeling that I will left holding the bag on a $3300.00 TV in a couple of years. I may be wrong and hope that Gateway does come through with a great product.
The thing is, if I am going to spend that kind of money on a TV, I want to spend it on a TV that evokes more confidence. I want to get it home and know that I will be married to it for a number of years. I also want to know that the company that makes it has done so for years and has managed to work out a number of the bugs that ultimately result in problems. Gateway has not been there for more than half a year. They are a reputable company, but not in this market.
I want to like this TV, but there are better options on the market. Yes, they involve smaller screens for the same amount of money, but they will also likely be around in a few years. Best of all might be waiting for another year until prices fall further. For the time being, skip the Gateway 46" inch flat panel model.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 3300.00
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Epinions.com ID:
hwz1
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 845
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Just got a big promotion that will move my new wife and I to Atlanta.
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