College student finds College TV for a good price.
Written: Jan 21 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great, high quality picture. AV Inputs on front. Stylish design. Good price.
Cons: Small, flimsy remote. No AV Outs. Large footprint. Volume levels are weird.
The Bottom Line: Go check you this Panasonic. Ask a salesperson to hook up a DVD player demo to it and you'll understand why this is such a great buy.
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| androoos's Full Review: Panasonic 20" Stereo Monitor CT-20G13 |
Being a college student, I needed a TV, period. I've seen kids in their college apartments with 51" TV's, and I think that is going way overboard. At least where I go to college, you can get the same effect as a 51" TV with this 20"...just sit with your nose two inches from it. That's what makes this TV ideal for college students, especially those students whose living quarters are...say, cramped.
The price was right on this TV too. Yes, it costs more than a crappy Apex TV/VCR combo, but the picture is probably as good as you'll find for non-flat-screen 20" TV's. With a little savings, most college kids can afford this TV. My advice is to save up for this, and after that you can afford the 6-packs, because then you'll have something to watch while you drink with your buddies.
OK, on to the TV and its functions. This TV has a set of AV Inputs on the rear, labeled as AV1. There is also a coaxial jack for your cable, of course. On the front of the TV, there is another set of AV Inputs, these are labeled as AV2. There are buttons for Power, Volume Up/Down, Channel Up/Down and Action. The action button accesses all of the options for the TV (sleep timer, picture adjustments, etc.) One downside to this TV is its large footprint...it needs a large, sturdy surface to sit on or else it will tip over. As with most glass-screen TV's, this one is extremely front-heavy, and I've had a couple of scares when I didn't have it sitting exactly well and it decided to tip and almost fall (whew).
The TV operation is simple. Plug it in and it auto-programs all of the channels you have access to from your cable service. Setting up the clock and other features are a cinch, just follow the on-screen menu. The picture quality adjustments (color, tint, sharpness, etc.) can tailor your picture to your needs. If you like to watch football with crips, colored pictures (a bright green field) this TV will oblige. The sharpness feature is the real standout. I can't tell the difference between normal cable at school and digital cable at home when I have the Sharpness cranked to full. That is one of the real strengths of this TV.
If you decide to hook up a DVD player to this TV, you will get wonderful results. The sound is not really anything special, but the picture is amazing. Crisp and clear, it brings out the most from your DVD's.
Now for a few downsides. There are no AV outs on this TV. This means that if you have a Home-Theater system and want to watch TV in surround sound (sports, movies, etc.) you have to route your receiver through your VCR. This is a minor inconvenience. Also there are no component video in's, but there you wouldn't find those on a TV this inexpensive. Besides, I bet Panasonic figured it would be a waste to have them because the picture was so good to begin with.
The remote is kinda cool...its small and fits in your hand. At the same time though, its small and falls through the cracks in your sofa. I've lost it many a time. Also, the battery cover on the backside isn't very sturdy. I read another review that said "if you drop this, be ready to search the floor for the batteries that just went flying." That is absolutely true. They go flying.
In summary, this TV is a great buy for anyone who wants great picture at a great price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
androoos
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Member: JC Andrews
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Reviews written: 70
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
Great job-check. House-check. Wife-check. Dog-check. Kids? Uh-oh.
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