Digital Trends

HP Cont'd

HP Pavilion LCD HDTVs are available in 26-in. (LC2600N), 32-in. (LC3200N), and 37-in. (LC3700N) widescreen models.  According to the company, each model delivers exceptional image accuracy due to a sophisticated video engine that combines scene-by-scene contrast adaptation with information about the room's ambient lighting.  All models feature a 1366x768p screen resolution along with photorealistic sharpness enhancement, 3D color management, image adaptive contrast optimization, ambient light adaptation, and progressive scan technology with 3:2 pulldown.  All three LCD HDTVs feature high brightness of 450 cd/m2, an 800:1 contrast ratio, and response times of 12 milliseconds.  Connections include HDMI, DVI-I, 2 HD component video inputs, 2 i.LINK 1394 interfaces, 2 S-Video, and 3 A/V inputs.  Audio is rated at 10-watts per channel from twin detachable speakers, and features Virtual Dolby Digital Pro Logic II with BBE Mach3Bass.  All three LCD HDTVs feature all black cabinetry with a silver base. 

HP Pavilion Plasma TVs are available in 42-in. and 50-in. screen sizes that feature ultra-long life panels (up to 60,000 hours) built on next-generation phosphors, which reportedly create an image ten percent brighter than conventional panels.  According to HP, the panels were created with the latest video processing technology that delivers up to 3.62 billion colors and 2,048 levels of gradation.  The line includes one 42-in. (PE4200) enhanced definition TV, and two high definition models (the 42-in. PL4200 and the 50-in. PL5000).  The HDTV plasma models feature 1366x768p screen resolution with progressive scan, 3:2 pull-down along with a contrast ratio of 3000:1, a built-in digital HDTV tuner, a CableCARD slot, an SD and PCMIA Picture Viewer, a super-slim 26-watt 4-speaker system, and a Dolby Digital 5.1 digital optical output.  All plasma displays are housed in dark gray cabinets.

Lastly, HP offers three versions of its Digital Entertainment Center that include a personal video recorder (PVR).  However, only two offer HD recording capability — the z555 and z557.  Both models include one ATSC over-the-air high-definition tuner and two NTSC tuners for the recording of two standard definition shows simultaneously.  The z555 comes with a 250GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard-drive; the z557 model comes with twin 300GB hard-drives, one being a personal media drive to deliver over half a terabyte of combined storage.  Both models offer high-performance TV quality with the NVIDIA GeForce 6600 PCI-Express graphics card.  Both models also include a progressive scan DVD/CD/DVD-ROM player and a 16x double-layer DVD-+R/RW drivers that record/playback movies at 480p.  Outputs and interfaces include DVI, component video, analog and digital (coaxial and optical) outputs, USB2.0, 4-pin 1394 (for camcorders), 6-pin 1394 (video source devices), and a 9-in-1 Flash Media Card Reader.  Other key features include the PVR capability with 30-second skip, built-in FM tuner, keyboard, and universal remote.

HP Media Center Computer System