Dell 42-inch W4201C Plasma TV

Dell, a well-known manufacturer in the PC computer field, is delving into the consumer electronics market with a new Plasma TV, the Dell 42-inch W4201C Plasma TV. This high-definition plasma TV delivers a wide aspect, high-definition resolution giving you life-like picture quality. Offering a high definition resolution of up to 1024×768 pixels, this Plasma TV gives you razor-sharp visual images and motion video.

The widescreen aspect ratio is ideal for video applications, and when combined with the Picture-in-Picture features, makes it easier for users to maximize their multimedia experience by simultaneously viewing images from multiple video inputs – including those from a PC.

Aesthetically, the set weighs at about 97.5 pounds and measures 40.7 x 28.05 x 9.75 inches. The 4201C may be stand or wall mounted and speakers are optional. The front of the TV is virtually clean with no manual controls to distract and mar its clean-cut look. It is designed with a contemporary brushed champagne-colored frame. The controls however are located on the bottom right-hand edge of the display so that one has to reach under the frame to push up on them.

This Dell monitor also sports a wide array of video and audio inputs. It accepts almost anything currently in sue for Input/Output connections in the market. Input options include: two Composite inputs;two S-Video inputs, two sets of Component (YPbPr) inputs and two sets of HDMI interconnects and one female VGA connector. The two TV inputs are standard TV cable “T” coaxial connectors and one of them is ATSC only (meaning digital TV), while the other is both an NTSC/ATSC combination. Audio inputs are mostly via RCA and there are seven sets for left and right, as well as one mini-jack to take the audio from a computer.

Plasma screens can have contrast ratios in the thousands and the Dell 4201C is no exception with a contrast ratio of 10,000:1. However, the overall picture on the Dell W4201C is not quite what everyone will expect in a late mode plasma set. While the panel produces a reasonably deep black, the attendant artifacts that occur just above black are distracting when you’re watching dark material.

In the Dell W4201C’s favor, its color decoding was quite good.

The interesting thing is that even if the TV has these anomalies,the picture still looks so good and is so artifact-free, that you can find yourself totally involved with the program that it lets you ignore the technical aspects of the picture altogether. The lack of color fringing and dot-crawl coupled with the perfect convergence afforded by flat-screen technologies makes viewing a real joy.

All in all, the Dell W4201C is a wonderful product. It is not perfect, but if you’re looking for a set that has life-like color, incredible dynamic range, and a picture that literally looks as if one could walk through it and into the scene, this may be the HDTV for you. Add to this the fact that the set has a built-in digital/HDTV tuner obviating the need for a set-top box for over-the-air HD, the 4201C is even more of a bargain.

Sources:
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