Samsung LN-T3242H

Samsung has done a wonderful job on the new 42 and 53 series LCD's. The TV has kept the same basic design of its earlier cousin (the LN-S3241D), but Samsung has made a few improvements in its overall design. 2 rear HDMI inputs, and one on the left side (next to composite inputs) for those ever popular gaming systems, as well as the standard PC input and 2 components, making the LN-T3242H a good solid TV for all sorts of components. Black level detail, although not perfect, is near perfect, and definitely an improvement from its earlier model. Remote is the same design from previous models. Menu layout is still just as easy, and a couple of improvements have been made. Last years models had no backlight level controls like its competitors do, just a basic "enery saving" mode, which acted as a crude backlight control. This years model has a seperate backlight and energy saving mode, thereby caught up with most standard LCD's. TV is responsive, and the clarity and color detail is great, although the standard out-of-the-box picture setting (Dynamic) seems to be a bit overwhelming in the brightness section. All in all, another great line from Samsung.

Not sure if I'm missing something or have been ill-informed, but I get no Dolby Digital sound out of the optical port. while researching for what TV to buy, I was at a well known retail chain (1st mistake) when I asked one of their professionally dressed employees (2nd mistake) if the optical port on the TV was for Dolby Digital 5.1 & was told yes. I first bought the 26” version, and couldn’t get any sound out of the optical port. I couldn’t find the option from the menu so I read the manual and it said that the 26” did not support Dolby Digital (though it had the port for it!) but the 32” version did. So I took the 26” back, paid the difference and bought the 32” version, same problem. I call Samsung’s tech support and was told that none of them support Dolby Digital thanks to the FCC, even though they still have the port. Still debating about taking it back, but if anyone knows that this feature has a simple fix OR can point me in the right direction please let me know.
Besides that-
Bought this TV for the bedroom & to play games on.
The HD quality is great for both HDTV shows (I have Comcast) and my Xbox 360 through its HDMI port. Easy to understand menu, simplistic remote with universal programming, the connections ports are easy to see and accessible, and a nice swivel top.
The downside is the quality of non HD images; they tend to look pixelated, way worst than they looked like on my old 20” that I had in my bedroom. I noticed this while using my PS2, Xbox, DVD player (that only supported up to S-Video) & my VCR. Also, the Whites tend to look a little too white.
Good value for its price.