Toshiba 56H80 56 in. TV

This TV was the first Widescreen 50" + Tv that was affordable yet had an awesome picture. This TV was supposed to be available until September of this year, however, there were 3000 or so units left in Toshiba's warehouse and some guy came in and bought them all. This means that the consumer is out of luck for the most part. If you can find one of these sets, they are an incredible value. For about $2500, you can have a great picture that is true HDTV. (1080i) (1080 interlaced) This is the current standard for HDTV. You ask, WHY get a Widescreen TV when most TV is not widescreen. Well, if you love to watch DVDs, look no further, no more black bars, you can use your entire TV to enjoy every inch of the intended movie, just like the movie theater. When watching regular cable TV the picture has bars on the side, or you can stretch the picture to fill the rectangular sized screen. Or you can zoom in part of the screen, and blow it up, which will not distort the people, but it will crop out part of the picture. If you are into HDTV right now, like with a HDTV decoder box which will give you true HDTV, or HDTV satellite dishes made by Sony, Toshiba, or RCA. The best one is Sony, followed by Toshiba then RCA. Only the small independent stores have the SONY HDTV satellite dishes now, the big chain stores will get them in the fall. Back to the big screen...If you are the kind of person who buys a TV and expects it to last them for 7-10 years, then go with this. You will not regret anything in 2 years, when HDTV is in full swing. You will just have to live with the bars on the side of the TV for a year or less.

Update: This TV is probably being replaced in september, a new model which is along the same lines as it, which is yet to be released, 57HX71. Please excuse me, I had a mistype, (not being replaced by the 55HX71 which is the new 4:3 ratio tv) Many stores (in Michigan) are completely out of the 56H80. Radioguy: I don't know too many people that will buy a big screen over the internet, or in California, which is the port for all electronics made in Japan/China, ...so people in my area are out of luck. I meant to say that at our distributor, it was no longer available, believe me, I wish they were, because we would sell them as fast and as many as we sell walkmans! Anyhoo, I would like to thank radioguy for not being harsh with me in the comments and politely correcting me. I made the changes to this review, so as of today, its accurate to my knowledge. Thanks again.

All being said, this tv is still the best plus 50" projection television that is HDTV for the money. No other brand compares in picture quality per dollar spent.