LG 50PG30 (50" plasma TV)

Pros: -Easy to use menus
-Nice looking TV
-Lots of connections
-Base swivels
-Football looks great!

Cons: -Throws a lot of heat
-Poor sound in a big room (but maybe this is normal)

Summary: First of all I don't have much experience with other HD TVs to compare it to. I have seen a few friends TVs and I believe mine holds up quite nicely to more expensive brands. I think the bottom line for the average Joe TV buyer is it worth a bunch more money for slightly better colors that you won't notice anyway? I want a great picture as much as the next guy and if this TV had what was considered an inferior picture I would have steered clear. This TV has an excellent picture...really good. If you put my brother's TV next to it in my house...you might be able to say that his green is a little deeper or his red is a little brighter....but I doubt it would be very noticeable. I have watched the "Planet Earth" series of TV shows from Discovery, many other HD shows and documentaries as well as almost daily viewing of football, baseball and hockey. I LOVE the picture on this TV.

I like the menu system on this TV. I have a satellite, Upconverting DVD player and I also have my PC hooked up to it. It allows me to very easily and obviously switch between the 3 devices.

The remote is decent as well. Clearly laid out and easy for a beginner to take control of the TV.

The one beef I have about this TV is the sound is not very loud. I had read that in the reviews before I purchased it so I wasn't really surprised. I have a big basement room where the TV is and the sound does not in any way fill the room. I have the guys over to watch the football game and you want them to hear the roar of the crowd. I didn't need it to be a full, big sound...but on some channels with the volume at Max it isn't very loud at all. I purchased a cheap RCA home theatre system which advertises at 1000 Watts but in reality isn't anywhere near that. it was less than 200$ though and it does have 5.1 surround. I was looking for a volume "boost" and it does that and more.

Bottom line is I love the TV. I couldn't be happier. For most of you out there looking for a less expensive HDTV...this is worth a look.

Updated on Dec 22, 2008

P.S. Do not, I repeat, do not pay big money for HDMi cables for this TV. My TV works perfectly well with cheap cables I ordered online. Monoprice.com has great prices. Read the CNET article on cheap cables!