Viewsonic 32" LCD TV
ViewSonic N3251W - 32" LCD HDTV 1000:1 HDMI Analog/Digital with Speakers - Black

While it worked, the TV was adequate. Then, one night, out of the blue, it started making a shrill, intolerable shriek and the picture stopped working. The audio still works great(for TV and DVDs), but there is no image at all. I am so annoyed. After reading all of the reviews on this site, it seems you are really rolling the dice if you decide to buy this product.
 
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I bought this in 11-Oct-2006, and the picture (but not audio) just died tonight on 8-Jan-2008! The set also makes a funny sound now... presumably that is connected to the defect. From Googling I noticed that Viewsonic flat panel LCDs often die after a year or so (unfortunately right after the Warrenty expired in my case :( Aside from the TV dieing so young, picture quality was mediocre when it worked. Buy the HDTV issue of Consumer Reports... there are better HDTC makers than the Viewsonics people.
 
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For starters I believe that anyone that complains about a sub ??$1000?? hd lcd tv is whacked, unless of course it just doesn't work. I bought mine NEW for $499 after rebates from Office Depot so I had realistic expectations about what this set had to offer. Ok, it doesn't have 85 HDMI connections but who cares? Super easy to set up. I use mine primarily for Xbox360 gaming and it is a massive improvement over my standard def tv. The picture is great. I'm not a videophile, but neither is anyone else that is looking for a tv at this price range so it shouldn't be judged as anything more than a solid value hd lcd. Remote is fine. I use the tv's speakers and they are fine. They produce enough bass and are plenty loud enough. Of course it doesn't have all the bells and whistles but my God man, it cost me 499 bucks. I probably will get another one while they are on the same deal. Couldn't be happier.
 
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Very happy with the LCD. Opened box last night, and was up and running pretty rapidly.My first first flat panel, it exceeds my expectations. Great bang for the buck.
 
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For our needs, it seems to perform very well. It's still one of the best prices I've ever seen for an HDTV of this size. My only reservation is that setup wasn't as easy as I would have liked - it took a few tries to get all the cables hooked up correctly. The instructions aren't very good.
 
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The unit came in good shape and much quicker than expected. The TV performed as advertised. Colors are good and sound quality is great. Hook-up was quick and easy. Strongly recommend using the HDMI cable (you gotta buy it yourself). Remote control was faulty when received. Called Buy.com; we would have had to return the entire package. Called ViewSonic, they sent a new one without question. Not the best LCD on the market, but a decent HDTV for those with a limited budget.
 
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Not the killer image found on others, but one helluva value and certainly sharp enough for 95% of us - amazingly versatile as well.
 
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If you want to wow your friends with killer resolution, keep shopping. However, in 1080p mode using a hi def signal the image is very, very good. The clincher is the price and versatility. That plus the Viewsonic name translate into a great value for half the price of anything comparable.
 
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Pretty satisfied with my new ViewSonic - the service from Buy.com was fantastic! It has been a bit difficult fine tuning it to get good picture quality, color, contrast, etc., but I'm getting there. The "no code" thing is kind of a pain because I have to use two remotes - but I guess I can live with that for the savings I enjoyed. In summary, it's not up to the standard set by my 50" Hitachi LCD, but then it was a "whole lot" less money too. I think it's a good deal.
 
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The shipping was very fast. Set-up was a breeze, but what else would you expect from Viewsonic. The picture quality is very good in HDTV off air and the standard definition is acceptable. The sound is good. Additional inputs, especially HDMI, would be helpful. All in all it is a great set for the money.
 
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Best LCD TV for the price! If U R planning to buy a LCD, go 4 this one. Its awesome for the price, I use it as my computer monitor...totally rocks
 
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Best price at $600 including rebate. No shipping, no tax. Everything perfect out of the box. Easy HDMI hookup to HD satellite receiver. An additional HDMI input for a future HD-DVD would would be good, however, RGB inputs can be pretty good. If you have a universal learning remote, you'll probably only have to program it for power and input selector.
 
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For $600.00 you really can't beat it. The TV looks decent in all modes, even over-the-air standard TV. The picture quality is real nice using HDMI from a DVD Player that upconverts to 1080i and using the component to input standard 480p. It does fine as a computer monitor using the HD15 input although it would have been great to have a DVI input. The composite and S-Video input share the same audio input, so you really only get one of them. I have yet to test the HD tuner, nor have I hooked up another true HD source, but it can only get better than the DVD upconverted picture. I found the sound to be exceptional as well.
 
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This is my first flat-screen LCD, and a great deal. Pros: The TV has great picture quality and needed barely any adjustments out of the box. Quick refresh rate when gaming- especially in games with quick movement. The built-in ATSC tuner delivered a clear, crisp picture (Comcast HD cable with HDMI outputs is much better, however). Cons: Only 1 set each of RGB and HDMI inputs. If I buy an HD DVD player, where will it go? The menu system is too complex and the remote tends to be unresponsive at times when using the menu. All in all, I highly recommend this TV.
 
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The unit is great!! The only problem is trying to find another one at the same price since my daughter left with my new TV. Dad got hosed.
 
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HD sources resolve beautifully on this TV. Standard definition sources have less than ideal enhancement but still looks good. The only major picture flaw is the black level. Black level is less than ideal. Watching a very dark movie will be disappointing.
 
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Purchased this after returning a unknown brand from a local retailer. Always trusted the Viewsonic brand for my home pc, this is no exception. Mainly used for gaming with an Xbox 360 console using the VGA input. Great color, depth, no ghosting. Nice LCD. Buy.com shipped from neighboring state, received on my doorstep in one day,,wow!
 
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I purchased 2 of these LCD tvs for Christmas gifts. First off, the price was unbelievable with the rebates offered at the time. No complaints there. I am also satisfied with the 3:2 pulldown ability of the Viewsonic and quality of the video using an old (circa 1999) dvd player with component inputs. The sound using RCA inputs on my old dvd player is subpar, as it will occasionally make random noises that almost sound like a vibration - I cannot tell if this is due to the Viewsonic or the old dvd player (it's a Sony and I've never had that problem before with regular tube tvs). As I said, I purchased 2 of the tvs but only 1 worked upon arrival! The broken tv would not turn on even though the green LED "on" light would light up. This was extremely frustrating. To Viewsonic's credit, they quickly emailed me a shipping label to return it to the factory. I await it's glorious return. I have also had issues with the remote control on the working tv. Often times I can turn on the screen using the remote but then the remote will stop working and I have to open up the battery case on it and move the AA batteries around. It is quite an annoyance. As is the case with others, I have yet to find any remote control codes that work on the Viewsonic. That is very disappointing. Overall the picture quality and price make the Viewsonic a great buy. But keep an eye out for the issues I described.
 
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When it worked, it was OK. Great price (esp. after rebate) -- if only it worked. Unfortunately, the TV was defective, right out of the box. At first I didn't realize it; when I had to unplug it and plug it in again to get it to work, I assumed that I had done something wrong. When I had to do it everytime I turned it on, I began to suspect something was wrong with the set. When, a couple of days later, it quit working altogether, I knew it was defective. Buy.com's policy is that they want nothing to do with it after it's sold; service or exchange is only through the manufacturer. Now I know why. I've contacted the manufacturer; they said I should hear from them within 48 hours what they will do. 24 hours to go.
 
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Half the time, you turn on the TV and you either get no audio or you get a loud buzz without any audio. Turn the TV off and on again, and it seems to clear up. That is, until the next time you have to turn off the TV and on again. Obviously mine is defective, and buy.com doesn't handle the return themselves, they make you call Viewsonic directly, which is basically washing their hands of the sale as soon as it's made, which I think is very, very poor of them.
 
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TV set is great. Needs one more HDMI connection. Sound is good through HDMI. ViewSonic does not subscribe to remote control code system. Therefore, you need several remotes instead of one.
 
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I like many other who have written reviews have been using Viewsonic monitors both in-house and for my customers. They have always been right up there with the big boys in my book. I bought this monitor primarily for gaming and was attracted by the speedy 8 Ms refresh rate, and in that area the monitor is perfect. As a gaming monitor the performance is exceptional except for two issues. One problem is that the monitor does not have a DVI input, only an HDMI input which does not support the native resolution. It forces you to use VGA which is good but not as good as digital. The second issue is that when turning your computer off while the unit is in VGA mode, the monitor will not shut down automatically like every other VGA monitor in the known world. A minor annoyance, but an annoyance for sure. The HD performance is very good but the broadcast quality is not that great. Some have described it as looking painted on the screen, and that's as close as I would come to describing it. It's acceptable but it might have you longing for the old CRT TV. The sound is good for the small speakers. Navigation with the remote is a bit awkward, especially switching inputs. Overall, considering the price now of under $600 (I paid $725 Grrrr) I would say this is a good buy and depending on your main usage will perform well. I had one lazy pixel (right in the middle of the screen of course) but it only sticks out with a white screen. I can live with it.
 
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excellent value, easy to use, fast shipping A+++
 
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This is my first flat screen tv and I have no problems at all... right out of the box it worked as good as i could expect no problems at all. it works perfectly. no problems at all
 
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This is a great TV for the price. There are many other LCDs out there that are probably better in performance, but you're going to pay for them. I have no complaints about the picture, sound, or usability. I'd like it to have more inputs (HDMI, component, etc), however I knew what it had when I bought it and it fits my current needs. My setup is getting it's feed via a Dish Network HDTV receiver and when watching football, Lost, and other HD content, it is great! The only complaint I have is that when watching standard def the picture is very grainy. However, I'm told all LCDs are like that because they show the weakness of standard def signal.
 
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This TV is a great bargain -- excellent picture, good sound (can't understand users who found this an issue with this model)and pretty attractive (my Philips is better looking, but not by much). HOWEVER, and this is really a small however, it could use more connections. You're really limited, particularly if u want to hook up your TV to the RGB connectors on your cable/satellite box. Then it's harder to find suitable connections for DVD players, etc. And if you use the coaxial cable hook-up for your TV, then the the audio/video quality suffer. BUT for the money, it's still a great deal.
 
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I was very hesitant to purchase this television (just because of the price). Was very concerned about the quality of the TV. Did a lot of research on it. I personally found the reviews very helpful. This television works like a charm. For the price you pay it is unbelievable what you get out of it. It is very easy to install. The picture quality is very good. I have read about its poor to ok sound quality in lot of reviews. This could be true if you are on TV mode and using regular co-axial cable. But if you have connected your HDMI cable then not only the sound quality is Great, but you will witness a noticeable difference in the picture quality even on Standard Definition. And if you have HD, believe me you will not leave that couch of yours. Go for it.
 
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Buy.com is remarkable. Item was shipped the same day the order was placed with free shipping option, and FedEx ground even tried to deliver it two days later!! Box arrived and the TV works great, excellent resolution with component video and HDMI cables. Even looked alright with PS2 and an S-video input from a computer with a Radeon graphics card, although I know we are limited to certain resolutions and a 60hz refresh rate to avoid damaging the display. I would recommend sticking with the component video or HDMI cables as the primary input if you can, the picture quality difference is phenomenal. Just so everyone knows, this is not just an HD-ready TV, the description skirts around the HD-tuner built-in, but it is there and works well. One negative, the remote stopped working right the first week, I think a button might have gotten stuck. They are shipping a replacement free of charge from Viewsonic. One year warranty from Viewsonic is included and you have 90 days to purchase a supplemental 2-3 year warranty from their Web site (they even have an express exchange warranty option). Also, the TV does not respond to programming codes from the cable box remote because Viewsonic has not been around long enough in the TV market. If you call Viewsonic, they will let you know of a few options and maybe some codes that people have gotten to work before. Viewsonic customer service has been great so far, 24 x 7 service, and I have not once been on hold. TV does not come with component video or HDMI cables, make sure to pick them up.
 
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We are new to LCD TV, and we looked at the usual retail stores first before buying. The TV is intuitive to setup, but not if you have to rely on the manual or the "quick start" picture guide - we thought they were unhelpful. The quality of the picture is great in HD, and ok for other digital signals (satellite) - some blurring of fast motion and color tardiness, but not bothersome. You will want to use a receiver/home theater speaker setup. The internal speakers are acceptable, but not rich. Our only real disappointment - we were very disappointed with the picture from the Cable TV source. We'd seen much better examples in stores, using a CATV source, the TV is unusable.
 
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I purchased this HDTV as a gift. Honestly, for the money you can't go wrong for a LCD HDTV. The sound quality is not bad. Matter of fact it is decent when using component cables. The picture quality is good whether watching DVDs or TV. There are occassionally black specs. Maybe it's the breaking in period. But the remote control is absolutely the worst. Only some of the buttons work. The controller does not allow the user to scroll through the channels correctly, you can only go through from highest to lowest. Sometimes, you can go into certain programming functions, but the controller doesn't allow you to select it.
 
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This was my first LCD panel purchase. Out of the box the panel was adjusted horribly from the factory and I was nearly ready to send it back until I took the time to adjust it fully. I highly recommend that along with the purchase of this panel any buyers pick up a copy of digital video essentials to set this panel up correctly. Once the sharpness was turned to zero and the remaining settings were calibrated correctly, this went from a "probably send back" to a fine panel with a very good picture. For the money, I do not believe this panel can be beaten, just expect to spend a bit of time setting it up for a decent picture.
 
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excellent screen and brightness, plenty of input options, and very customizeable. i have it connected to a DVD, the cable, HDTV antenna, and a media PC, and it performs admirably. the remote could have been better designed, so i'm giving 4 for ease of use instead of 5. also, a little slow to switch channels, and tuner is good but not excellent, so performance is 4 instead of 5. overall, i'm extremely satisfied though, and the value was great (now under $750!).
 
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I bought the ViewSonic on sale for $769 (about $850 w/tax&shipping) over other more expensive possibilities. I am very impressed thusfar. I use it for both a TV (regular cable input) and my computer monitor and love the PictureInPicture mode. I can use my computer and still watch the Colbert Report! I had to get a new video card to support the widescreen resolution but found the RADEON X1300 for $80. There are no dead pixels and the tv works great. I would probably have made the remote control a little different if it were up to me, but it works well. The TV does put off an awful lot of heat and I have it in a small room so that is one downside in the summer. The audio is a little weak, but I have it hooked up to external speakers. Another downside is that because my computer and TV are hooked up to the same speakers, I occasionally get audio interference in the form of a buzz. I am definitely very pleased with the purchase, plus it shipped fast and was here in 4 days. I haven't used the HDMI features or tried the 1080p capabilities, I bought it first and foremost as a computer monitor. Highly Recommended.
 
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Having never had a high def and coming from your standard 27", this is paradise. Perfect starter LCD HDTV, well worth the money. Delivery actually came a day earlier then quoted. I love it....but...You must get HDTV from your cable company. Digital helps but HD is MUCH better, and Analog is the worst. Then once you get it you will watch HD programs you would never have watched before, just to see how clear they are..then switch to the regular program and see the difference. cons...the remote has no codes, but once you have digital cable you only really need the volume. Had to get a new remote because some of the buttons wouldnt work. Viewsonic was excellent and sent a new one immediately. Deciding which way to hook it up and figuring out the best arrangement for your accessories will be the biggest issue. On the whole a great decision to make.
 
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Great Telly - great resolution - Nice Job :0)
 
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While good value for the price, there are some key negatives to this tv. The TV has only 1 each of RCA, component and S-video connections. Also, switching between them requires more remote keypresses than is really necessary. Finally, the remote doesn't use standard universal codes, so if you want to have a single remote you'll need a learning universal remote (specifically the tivo remote cannot control this tv).
 
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This is my first LCD TV. I read a lot of the reviews and they all seemed to have good and bad points. I have used Viewsonic for years and have been happy with the monitors. For the price I am very impressed. I don’t have HD service but on the regular it looks pretty darn good. I have noticed some of the shadows on fast moving shows like football. But again for the space that it takes up the crispness on most programs I am very pleased. I also hooked it up to my laptop just to drool. It was stellar!!
 
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This is a great buy for the price. Picture and sound quality are okay. Just like other TVs. The biggest problem my wife, kids and I have is that we have to keep 2 remotes on our hands at the same time. One for cable to change the channels and one for the TV volume and on/off. I called the tech support to help me with programming the Comcast remote to program the TV so I can use only one remote. Their answer was they do not have a code. They said that any learning remote will work. NOT TRUE. Comcast remotes are learning remotes but they are not able to program the Viewsonics. Viewsonic's remote is still like it used to be 20 years ago. One remote for one unit. Can't use it for other products. If I can return this TV and get another one even for a few dollars more - just for the sake of programming one remote that can control Cable channels and the TV volume and on/off I would do so.
 
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A great bang for your buck. Exceeded expectations and the picture looks great with a digital or YPBPR input. Would definately recommend to anyone looking for an affordable LCD HDTV.
 
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I've used Viewsonic monitors on my computers for years and was delighted to find this Viewsonic LCD HD TV. Worked perfecty right out of the box with nothing more than a cheap indoor antenna. I notice some of the reviews were unhappy with the sound, but I have no complaints. If you're looking for good quality and low price this is a great buy.
 
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This is an awesome television – the low price just makes it that much better. I did not seem to have a problem with the volume setting like previously mentioned by one of the reviewer – if anything it is a little too loud for my bedroom. I do have a couple of annoyances with the TV 1. The panels, in the back, covering input/output jacks are fairly flimsy – I have to use Scott tape to hold them in place. 2. Buttons for volume control and channels selection are sitting on top of the TV – being a fairly large TV, they are useless because you can’t tell which button is which. A label on the front face would be nice. Anyway, I would definitely recommend this TV set.
 
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This unit really rocks! The brightness and clarity are awesome in both VGA mode for computer use and TV/DVD mode. Gaming is a new experience and at first it was a bit much to deal with, but after a few hours you can't imagine gaming on a small monitor again (like a 21 inch LOL). The gaming resolutions have been a bit to deal with but (monitor can't seem to handle 1280 X 1024) but the game that matter look GREAT! You can't beat the value of this monitor. Now all I have to worry about is my son stealing it when I'm not around.
 
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I've had this baby for about a month and am pretty happy with it. A decent size for a bedroom tv and quite a shock going from standard def CRT. Fast shipping from Buy.com and no dead pixels. At first I only had dvd player hooked up with standard cable. DVD's look real sharp and of course regular cable looks just acceptable. Broke down and got an HD DVR from Comcast and WOW!!! What a difference. Used the HDMI input for the box and kept the DVD on the component. Hi- def looks unbelievable, shame that cable is still anolog below ch 100, so you still can't get the real deal yet. 2009 can't come quick enough. Fairly decent blacks, though shadow detail is somewhat lacking. It ain't plasma, that's for sure. During really fast motion there is quite a bit of blur and pixilation, so be prepared if your a big sports head. The remote is long, and to change inputs you have to enter menu and scroll over. Direct access button would be nice; at least being able to hit input till you get what you want would work. As I have Sony SAVA-7 speakers hooked up I find myself switching the audio jacks at times because the left and right are reversed. Don't know if that's the case with the digital out or if it's just my clueless cable company causing the problem. They really are idiots in the office. Overall a nice first step for me into the flat screen world.BTW, it has HDMI, not DVI. Pros: Great picture for the money, lightweight and small footprint. Cons: Only one input each for HDMI and component so your limited as to equipment hookup without a switcher, tv sound merely passable.
 
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I bought it for my wife to watch DVDs in the bedroom and she loves it. It's a keeper! PROS: Dollar-for-dollar, you won't find a better deal. Bright & crisp picture, sharp contrast, and it barely takes up any room. CONS: The remote control needs to be aimed directly at the power switch and the volume leaves room for improvement. (Example-Chapelle Show Season 1 DVD, the crowd laughter is extremely loud when the skits are at normal level.)
 
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I bought this LCD HDTV last month for use in the master bedroom of my newly-built home. Shipping was very quick from Buy.Com and the price was excellent for an LCD with a high contrast ratio and screen brightness. I am using this TV with an HD cable box (composite video in), and a dvd (AV in). The TV also has an HDMI and VGA input if I should want to hook it up to my PC later. I am very pleased.
 
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Wasn't sure about the purchase of a "no name" item....but this tv is fabulous
 
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the picture is fantastic. I have a sony 36" hd tube tv which is great but this viewsonic had a sharper contrast and vivid color! plus it's a fantastic montor as well. It's a great deal!!
 
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TV of this size needs HD resolution or else everything just looks bad. regular local channels look like paintings and are impossible to improve just by adjusting settings. However, when it is hooked up to a pc or a DVD player, the picture is amazing with great clearity. The volume is very low even at maximum so even when it is hooked up to external speakers, the volume does not get as high as you'd expect. if all you want is a 32" screen with TV&HD tuner, then this is as good as anything out. The TV showed shadowing when a bright figure is against a dark background, but after abou 30min, it dissappeared. i dont know if that's just how LCDs are or just this brand. The product arrived in 7 days after ordering and i'm very satisfied with the purchase.
 
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Having owned a 20" Viewsonic LCD TV that wasn't quite up to par picture quality-wise with the Sony LCD TV I have, I was a little worried about ordering this ViewSonic. But given the price for a large HDTV, I took the bait and.....it is FANTASTIC. I live in a fringe area (about 60 miles from metro TV stations) so even with the largest antenna I can fit in my attic plus an amplifier, a few of the analog VHF stations were always a little snowy. I put my existing antenna feed into the DTV input, did the auto search, and started enjoying crystal clear TV! Every once in a while there's a little glitch in the image when it loses all the signal, but it's rare and MUCH better than constant snow. I am more than pleased with the quality of this HDTV. Its picture quality is the best I've seen, the remote is easy to use, and the on-screen menus are easy to navigate. I was a little worried spending $800 on a TV I hadn't seen, but I need not have worried. If you're looking for a big LCD HDTV for a good price, this appears to be the one. I highly recommend it.
 
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I have just received my Viewsonic 32" LCD HDTV and to say the least it it just as good, if not better, than most of the name brands. The reception - clarity and sharpness of the picture - is amazing, the sound magnificent and the operation easy. It's an all around great set and it is very reasonably priced. I must also compliment buy.com for its super fast and efficient delivery. A+A+A+.
 
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In my opinion this is an excellent HDTV, delivery from BUY.COM was incredibly fast, the TV worked straight from the box, simple to setup, brilliant picture, works well with my DVD player etc. DTV worked even without changing my antenna to a new HDTV antenna, picture is perfect and great channel selections, even TV guides and info is now available. Price and performance can't be beat.
 
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