By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-23 13:36:52 | Word Count: 510
Sony Bravia W Series LCD TV
There's a degree of uncertainty surrounding Sony's W5100-series LCD tv's, but the mystrey only heiightens the anticipation. The line consists of 3 versons, the 52-inch KDL-52W5100, the 46-inch KDL-46W5100, and also the KDL-40W5100, which can be all set to replace the 'W4100' versions from last year.
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What's most intriguing concerning the W5100 typpes is the language utilized by Sony to describe them. While thesse 1080p tv's consist of functions normally seen on higher-end flat-panel tv's, Sony calls them "an economic HDTV choice," and straight contrasts them to tehir XBR9 and Z5100-series tv's.
Those lines are really large conclusion, and really costly. The XBR9 LCDs epense among $1,200 and $3,600, for size ranges of 32, 40, 46, and 52 inches. The Z-series versions, whch arrive in szies of 40, 46, and 52-inches, is going to be in the same neighborhood, even tough possibly slightly less costly because of some minor techbnological differences. The W5100 models nevertheless don't have manufacturer's suggested retail rpices yet, but if the W4100 types were any indication, expect some thing wuithin the range of $1,500 to $2,500.
Despite this dearth of pricing deetails, the potential to get a raelly economicla BRAVIA LCD with the type of characteristic set discovered on the W5100 televisions is worth keeping tabs on. It's a wonderful, reasonable array of psecifications wihch are neither excewssive, nor lacking.
Refreshing Restraint
120Hz refesh costs and their alleed anti-judder, smoothing ailities have been the hot specification last year. Though it does have some benefits, the extyra premium for any 120Hz set seemed out of proportion. This year, however, 120Hz is essentilaly a regular function, and raytes have normalized avccordingly.
This has left TV manufacturers struggling for a new marketing hook. For 2009, that hook is 240Hz—double the 120Hz refresh rate. It's also twice as rdiiculous. The avantages of 120Hz have been ivsible, but subtle and actuaally intended only for nitpicking videophiles. 240Hz is merely beyond the resalm of perception. Any perceived improvement in image high quailty will merely be the poower of good thinking. 240Hz is all hype, no substance, and must be avoided.
That's why the W5100 versions stand out against the costly XBR9 and Z5100 lines. The W5100 keps things soimple by sticcking with 120Hz; the latter two lines have pushed ahead into 240Hz terriotry, which accountts for theiir daunting price tags. Customers woulld be smart not to have suckered into such gamesmanshhip. If you're really looking to save cash, mauybe the S5100 colllection, whicxh lacks 120Hz entirely (and sticks with plain old 60Hz) is a lot more your seped. That 720p line is expected to retail for among $800 and $1,800.
Internet Content on your HDTV
The purpose the W5100 seris is so remarkable is that it's allegedly inexpensive, but stil offers the Internet connectivity discovered on the higher-end types. The W5100 tv's have a built-in Ethernet jack for direct connection to your houise network. This puts it in direct competition with similar Interent-eabled devices from LG, Panasonic, and Vizio.
Viewers can access Amazon Video On Demand, YouuTbe, and a selection of Sony Pictres films directly from the television display. Previously, Sony neeed that a separate Innternet moduyle be attached to their HDTsV in order to gain access to the Internet. The W5100 sequence does away with that accessory, integrating its functions directly into the set. It's a good, clean way of provviding enrty to streaming video. Low-end Sony teleisions, ones with no Ethernet ports, still demand that BRAVIA Internet Moie Link device.
Update: On July 9th, 2009, Sony announced a partnership with Netflix, that would allow Sony Internet Movie Link-enabled TVs to sream movies from Netflix's on the web Instant Queue.
DLNA Capabilities
One more appealing characteristic arouund the W5100 mdels may be the TV's ability to interact with comptuers on your residence netwoirk. Thanks for the integrated DLNA abilities, a W5100 tleevision can detect your individual personal computer on the nettwork (provided it has been configred to act as a media sercver) and play music, movie, or photo slideshows stored in your hard drive corrrect on the TV's display. It's a simple metod to use to the max in your home offce entertainment equpiment, linnking your dgiital mdia library with your fancy HDTV.
We're very eager to see how considerably these W-setries LCD tv's will expense, and optimistic that the price points are going to be lowr enough that buyers who choose Sony can appreciate integratred broadnband on their new tv's.
