ViewSonic N3260w 32" LCD TV

Excellent HDTV, Computer Monitor and price

Strengths: Color, PC compatible HDMI, price, performance

Weaknesses: Wall Mount is not VESA standard

Summary: I use this as my monitor for my Windows Media Center and it is a beauty of a monitor, TV and PC Display. It does not compromise any of the display modes like other HDTVs. Excellent features and performance. Works exceptionally for a PC screen via HDMI (not all HDTVs support PCs via HDMI)

I could not be happier with this monitor and considering the price for a 32" screen, it isn't touchable by monitors twice the price.

I wish they would sell a back plate to convert their strange bolt pattern to VESA compatible to use standard VESA mounts.

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She's a beauty!!!

Strengths: Price, HDTV picture quality, bright whites and vivid colors, HDTV built-in tuner, slim lightweight cabinet, clearly labled connections

Weaknesses: Analog tuner, TV mount, remote sensor location

Summary: I have used this baby in the bedroom for three months now replacing a 14 year old 20" RCA CRT. WOW!!! The FREE over-the-air HDTV picture on this baby is beautiful!

I was upgraded to this unit after Costco Home sold out of the advertised N3250W (offered with a $200 manufacture discount coupon) on the first ad day. After waiting for three months with my raincheck in hand dreaming about HDTV. I was pleasantly surprised to have my raincheck filled with this newer N3260W unit that included a built-in HDTV tuner. I paid $863.72 for this beauty and the best part was that I didn't have to buy a separate HDTV tuner.

Right out of the box this baby was quick and easy to setup. The unit is relatively light weight compared to my old CRT boat anchor. The rear connections are clearly labeled and concealed behind two rear panels for connecting your antenna, cable, or satellite and external components. At first, I connected the unit to my existing attic antenna. The analog signal quality was hit or miss depending on the channel, but the FREE over-the-air HDTV channels would digitize and drop consistently due to a low signal. I then decided to plug in my HDTV antenna that came with an ATI HDTV WONDER PCI video card, and like magic all my local metro Phoenix over-the-air HDTV channels had a strong signal, but now my analog signal was poor. Although I didn't have high expectations as the HDTV antenna was setting next to the TV on a speaker pointing towards the TV towers, I was amazed at the improved HDTV signal quality. I decided to run the channel auto-scan then manually erase all my analog stations from memory. I bought the unit for HDTV anyway so no loss. I would recommend purchasing an antenna specifically designed for reception of FREE over-the-air HDTV signals with this unit unless you have a high definition cable or satellite source.

I also connected my progressive scan DVD recorder and standard ReplayTV box via S-Video cables and am very happy with the video and audio quality. The picture is bright with vivid colors of images brought to life. The stereo sound from the built-in speakers is perfect for my bedroom.

My only suggestions for the next generation unit include adding a more versatile mount. Instead of a fixed table mount ViewSonic should add tilt and swivel similar to a PC monitor. Move the remote sensor to the top of the unit so that a center channel speaker does not block the signal path to the eye. Lastly, a lighted remote would be great when the lights are out.

Overall, I got a lot of bang for my buck and would highly recommend this unit. Two thumbs up!!!

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Review of Viewsonic N3260W LCD TV

Strengths: Very nice HDTV local reception. Comparitively light weight.Price is right.

Weaknesses: Poor to good analog cable reception (depending on channel),very poor instruction manual, poor surround sound

Summary: Purchased Viewsonic N3260W as replacement for 10 year old 36" Proscan (CRT)that decided it didn't want to work anymore. Didn't want another tube type TV because of weight. Have Viewsonic G773 monitor which has given great service since 1998. The only place I could see a Viewsonic LCD TV locally was at Compusa, it was a 27" model, and the picture quality was competetive with other brands on display. I wanted a set with a built in HDTV tuner. I purchased from ZipZoomFly because of a much better price they offered. I will use this set as my living room TV. The first thing that blares out is the very poor manual. There are no specific instructions on how to set things up and one has to go through a trial and error learning curve. The analog cable reception varies from good to poor depending on the specific channel, but in general is not as good as a 15 year old 27" Sony that I have in my bedroom (hooked up to the same cable line through a splitter). The old Sony has surround sound and you can really tell the difference between plain stereo and the surround sound setting. Not so on the viewsonic. Where the set shines is in HDTV reception. I don't have a formal HDTV antenna yet, but I made a simple dipole from some 300 ohm wire I had. The HDTV reception from the local stations that broadcast it is great. Clarity, detail, color, etc. are all outstanding despite that the stations are approximately 20 miles away and signal strenghts show at around 50%. I have a good antenna on order. I would imagine if I had digital cable, the reception would be much better. Overall, the analog cable reception is acceptable, the HDTV reception is excellent.

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Very bad PIP functionality, and poor remote (no dash, no PIP buttons)

Strengths: Picture and sound quality were very good.

Weaknesses: No dash key on the remote, this is needed to tune directly to a HD broadcast channel. The PIP only works if one source is the HDMI input. You cannot have PIP with one TV channel and a DVD movie.

Summary: With shipping I paid $1100 for this TV. I recieved the first one, the tuner was bad, would lock up with blank screen and you had to cycle the input or power to regain control, or jump 3 or 4 channels when you hit channel up button once. After 3 months of dealing with Viewsonic I recieved the second unit, it also has a bad tuner.

I would not recommend this tv at all for two reasons.

One, the PIP does not work unless one source is the HDMI input, the other source can be anything. Which means that really all you can do is have one picture of TV, or movie, but the other one has to be a PC. All I wanted was to have a TV channel on one, and a DVD movie on the other, and this TV will not allow that. Also no buttons on the remote to control the PIP, you have to access the main menu and make several selections each time you want to make a change to the PIP. Like turn it off and on.

Two, if your recieving HD broadcasts over the air, the channel numbers are (example) 10-1 or 6-2. There is no dash key on the remote so you cannot directly go to a HD channel. So if you want to go from 4-1 to 26-2, in my case you have to hit the channel up button on the remote about 10 times. This is a real pain in the rear!! I have another HD TV and it has a dash on the remote, and keys to access the PIP functions directly.

I did like the picture, but this television is not worth the money, and it's features were poorly concieved.

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ViewSonic customer service is the WORST!

Strengths: Product is good enough for the money unless you have problems. PC compatability w/HDMI.

Weaknesses: Poor instruction manual. Company won't pay their rebate. Poor controls, very awkward remote, weak speakers, confusing menu layout. Aweful customer service.

Summary: ViewSonic has used every trick in the book to avoid paying $150.00 rebate. They bait & switch to a lesser unit that you can't discover until you unpack and try to setup. I'm so frustrated with the company it wouldn't matter how good the unit is any more. Save yourself the aggrivation. "Consumer Report's" March issue rates ViewSonic 32" as worst in class. What more can I say?

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DANGER!

Strengths: Average in almost every way, great at nothing!

Weaknesses: Std. def. res. is poor. Remote poor layout & confusing, needs two hands to operate. Menu blocks view of screen when adjusting color, tint, etc. Speakers are cheap junk.

Summary: NOT a keeper! It took me 29 days to learn that the PIP & POP specs listed here are WRONG! The model #N3260W is not the model that is in stock. The model that ships [twice in my situation] is the N3260W-2. ViewSonic support is awful & provided me no help. A month without my TV & my money is not a way to impress me or entice my future business. If your retailer won't verify that your unit is in fact the one with PIP & POP prior to shipping don't bother. I'll not buy another.

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WARNING!

Strengths: Price, Price, Price.

Weaknesses: Poor standard definition, poor user manual, ViewSonic support is confrontational. Remote is counterintuitive & redundant [too many buttons performing the same function] Audio average for price range.

Summary: Warning! This unit is spec'd. as PIP & POP but mine arrived without either. No info in box or manual. Retailer tech support didn't have info. ViewSonic claims retailer has a different model [N3260W-2] without PIP or POP according to serial #. I'm still getting the run around after day 10 of ownership. I'm so frustrated I don't want a replacement anymore, I just want a refund. How to take the joy out of a new TV?... Buy a ViewSonic!

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