I have had this TV for a few years now and it has served me well despite a few mishaps. The first few things to mention about this product are that is a 43 inch, HD (High Definition), Plasma TV. The screen can be wall mounted and the TV has a separate media box from the screen. The media box in case you are wondering, is where all the receiving of channels and everything else goes on. Like a computer the screen just displays graphics from the media box.
HIGH DEFINITION (HD)
This Pioneer TV can display high definition to the highest standard level- 1080p. In case you don't know, high definition services usually come in 3 resolutions 720p, 1080i, 1080p (in order of worst to best). In conjunction with Sky's HD service the 2 are a good combination.
OTHER FUNCTIONS
The media box includes a digital freeview receiver which is good for when analogue terrestrial broadcasts are shut down. In addition the freeview receiver also has a built in EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) to show you what programs are on for the next 7 days.
2 functions I particularly like are the freeze screen and picture in picture functions. The first of these freezes the current screen in case you want to show someone it or for whatever reason, look at it more closely. The second allows you to display programmes from 2 different sources side by side or one inside the other in the corner. The fact that signals have to be from different sources mean that you cannot display 2 freeview channels but you can show freview and Sky or Sky and a DVD etc. Audio is played from the larger picture and you can switch between which picture is largest.
A slot in the media box allows pictures to be read and displayed of picture cards and special cards with paintings on them can be used to turn the TV into a massive 43" picture frame!
CONNECTIONS
On the back of the media box there is obviously the HDMI connection needed for HD. In addition to this input connecions include 4 scart sockets that the manual designates for a DVD player, a decoder (e.g. a Sky box), a VCR or similar and a games console. There are also the usual twin audio connections.
EASE OF USE
At first the system was instaled by a trained professional but other things like installing freeview simple and mostly intuitive. The menus on the system are clear and as before quite intuitive to use. The remote is also good with a good layout.
PROBLEMS
The media box has had to be replaced once because it just stopped working but it was because the box was faulty and a new one sorted the problem.
WHAT I THINK
My view is that the picture quality is excellent especially on BBC's HD channel and the whole system is worth the buy.
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