I was greedy. I thought I could have my cake and eat it too. Oh well...I'll admit that I purchased this set before I had taken the time to fully evaluate it specs. Every other HDTV I'd looked at in the past month had inputs to allow a computer to be hooked up--either DVI or VGA--so I assumed that this was a common feature on any high resolution display. In preparation for this TV's arrival, I had invested about $$$$$$ in an HTPC (home theater PC) only to find that the thing could not be connected up to the Apex! Grrrr... I now have a new $$$$ VGA card on the way that supposedly supports a component dongle, but why should I have had to go to the trouble? I guess that's just one of the many areas where Apex cut corners in order to maintain the low price point.
As for the picture quality, I suppose it's OK for the price but still not on the same level as other brands. Much to my surprise, when I compared the picture on my Apex (which I spent over 2 hours calibrating using an AVIA test disc in addition to some of my preferred "reference" DVDs like Fifth Element superbit and Toy Story) to an UNCALIBRATED Samsung DLP-based RPTV at the store, the Sammy definitely came out on top in terms of color accuracy, brightness, viewing angle, and quality of internal scaler
Since I can't return it, I think I'm going to have to gift this one to my parents...
Watching PBS in HD 1080i right now, and the picture is spectacular. Bright, clear, really, really good! Make sure you hook this up to a digital TV HD set top box in order to really be blown away, or failing that, a progressive scan DVD player, using component inputs.Anything less, and you will be just amplifying a cruddy signal to a really big size (like reading newsprint with a magnifying glass, a big mess!).
Honestly, there are a few small areas of the screen where the convergence is not absolutely perfect, though I plan on having a service come out and professionally adjust it. I can live with it...for the price of this TV.
Other things to be aware of:
Technical specs don't mention that several of the video inputs are shared (either SVideo or Composite, but using 1 disables the other).
Doesn't mention up front that it doesn't natively support 720p mode (it downcoverts it).
Doesn't mention that the PIP and Split screen DO NOT work when using component inputs (What else would you use a 16:9 TV for?)
There is no direct entry button for accessing the different AV inputs... it is painfully slow switching between inputs by having to rotate through all of them, with large delays between each switch.
TV doesn't stay on the input you left in on, when you power it off. Meaning having to rotate through 4 or 5 inputs to get to my HDTV tuner every time I turn the TV on.
Probably doesn't mention that several of the on-screen menus don't function when the set is using component inputs.
Lots of little gotcha's.... keep that in mind.
If you are a hard core videophile, this is probably not the set for you. If you are just getting into HD or even widescreen or projection, this is a great entry level set.
My goal is for this set to get me through the next couple of years, while the price/functionality of truly digital sets become more functional and attractive. I think this set will do just fine for that.
