A Review of Dell's Black Friday Bargain the 42" Sharp LC42SB45U Flat Panel LCD HDTV

Appearing in Dell's 2008 Black Friday circular the 42" Sharp LC42SB45U flat panel LCD HDTV appears to be a great deal. It is hard to find a 1080p LCD television of this size from a big name manufacturer for less than $800. It will happen on the day after thanksgiving though when this beauty can be picked up for $780. So often you hear that old idiom "you get what you pay for," but is that the case with this Sharp or is it truly a great deal? I have had the opportunity to spend some time with the Sharp LC42SB45U and I'm going to let you know how it performed so you can make a more informed decision.

Appearance: 4/5

Picture Quality: 4/5

Features: 4/5

Value: 5/5

Overall: 4/5

Product Overview:

At first glance this looks like any other high dollar high definition flat panel, so only you'll know the bargain you got. It has a glossy black bezel framing the 42 inch screen that is only interrupted by the Sharp insignia in the center of the bottom frame. The glossy black stand which is included by Sharp is sturdy yet has a low profile which is important for those looking to save space. The speakers are low profile and blend in nicely to the face of the TV. The sound quality they produce is adequate but an inexpensive surround sound system would be an improvement.

The 1080p high definition picture on this budget LCD is very strong. At 42 inches this screen is just large enough to really benefit from the extra lines of resolution. It has very deep black levels for a television in this price range. The off angle viewing is also impressive so if you have a large room you won't have to worry about fine tuning the placement of your couch to the television's sweet spot. The screen is also quite bright and has a glare resistant screen which is nice in especially bright living rooms. Standard definition television is also presented well on this flat panel Sharp, which is sometimes a problem with budget LCD televisions.

Like most budget HDTV's the picture tweaking pictures are a little limited, but they are present. On the bright side though, this television has plenty of connectivity. There are 3 HDMI ports which are the gold standard in digital high definition video and audio connectivity. There is also a PC connection available and I had no trouble syncing this television to my notebook.

Product Value:

This television is actually a great deal when it isn't on sale. It debuted late this year for less than $1400, so it is amazing that we're seeing it on sale for about half that price this November. This television would look be a great addition for those looking to get their first high definition television.