I have been researching HDTV technology since August 2002. I studied LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicone), DLP, LCD, and Plasma. I fell in love with LCOS. Unfortunately, the only one available to purchase was a RCA Scenium L50000. There were hardly any reviews, you could not see it in retail stores, and it did not have a DVI or RGB input. However, it had built in Direct TV tuner. I could not buy it without seeing it though.
When I researched DLP (Digital Light Processor) technology. I kept on seeing value and that quality was ok. Stuff that that did not excite me. Then when I found out that this was going to be one of the first true HDTVs out at retailers I got excited. Finally, I saw this one at Magnolia HiFi in Seattle. I did not even know that Panasonic was making one and bam there it was. I was impressed by all of the inputs: DVI, RGB, Component, and Composite! Everything man! Then it got demo'd to me. I had never seen such DETAIL! Then I found out that it could be used as a true computer monitor at 1280 X 720. YES!! I am a computer geek. Nothing turned me on more than the fantasy of being able to play computer games from my couch with wireless keyboard and mouse. For those of you other geeks out there that used the TV out on your video card to a regular tv, you will understand what I am saying. For those that have, I know that it a novelty at best. Text was difficult to read. Your eyes could only take it for so long. Gaming was lack-lustered because of the poor detail. Regular televisions could only display at 800 X 600 and it was fuzzy right.
Not this unit. This is a Digital set! You hook you computer RGB cable up to this one and set you video card to 1280 by 720. Oh Yeah baby. That is what I am talking about. For those of you with XBOXes, did you know that it supports up to 1920 X 1080? This television can't handle that. However, I tell you, gaming at 720P and even 1080i is THE BOMB!
Now let me tell you about watching television. Standard broadcasts suck! This is because standard broadcasts are in 480i. The i is for interlaced. Which means that it sucks. This television displays it. However, you have to dumb everything down. Lower that detail down to 5 out of 65. I cannot wait until everything is in High Definition. Most of you have know idea what you are putting up with. The difference is the same as a Commodore 64 compared to a 2 GHZ + computer. Yeah, that much.
"OK. ok. How do DVDs look?" you ask.
PHENOMINAL! I highly recommend the SUPERBIT DVDs from Columbia/Tristar that is owned by Sony. These DVDs have all of the extras removed. The extra 30+ percent is used for video. The data transer rate is double from 2-3 to 5-8. In addition, all of these releases have both Dolby and DTS sound tracks. Any extra crap is put onto a 2nd DVD. Those releases are called SUPERBIT Deluxe. I am reviewing the 300 DVDs I have all over again. I highly recomend movies like, FINAL FANTASY, SHREK, PANIC ROOM, HOLLOWMAN, THE HAUNTING, and STAR WARS EPISODE 2. This was filmed with digital high definition equipment. You can really see the difference between this one and STAR WARS EPISODE 1. For those of you that have spent "bank" on your home theater, this is when that extra dough you spent comes in. You get to see the detail that the average "I spent $250 on my DVD player" guys can't. It is the same difference between that GO VIDEO crap equipment and say PIONEER Elite that I am fortunate to have. You know what I am talking about now. Did I mention that Halle Berry's body, in DIE ANOTHER DAY gives you a chubbie on a true high def 52" screen?

For those that are curious. I am running Boston VR975 front, VR950 rear, VR920 center, from a Harman Kardon 520 receiver. All of my cabling is 1 notch down from the absolute best Monster Cable offers, approximately $4000 worth when I added it all up (yes just for the cables). I also have a Monster Cable line conditioner, the 5100. The DVD player is the Pioneer Elite 300+1 multiple DVD player. I of course have an unracked rackmout computer thrown in the mix. All of this sits on Bello tv and rack stands. I have more to do. I still have to get another amp to fuel the rear 7.1 speakers. A HDTV set top box and terestrial antenna. Oh and I need a DVD Audio player. I can't wait for High definition DVDs. They better unify the damn standard though. No more of this DVD-RW vs DVD+RW and DVD Audio vs Sony's version crap. Pick the best and get it done. Could you imagine 4 different choices for a keyboard or something? Come on pick one.

The only issue I have with this HDTV is that it needs a little more contrast and I have to have a tech come out to address a reflection issue I have on a 5 by 3 inch portion of the screen that is only noticed during the end credits of a movie when they scroll up.

The only reason I don't give this HDTV 5 stars is because it can't support 1920 X 1080 progressive resolution. There is only one set that does (Toshiba 57HLX something)and you still can't get it, even online, at the time I submitted this, yet. (Yes I know you can pre-order and wait how long?)