It appears the dumbo ears are gone, it's thinner, and it has 1080p compatible hdmi inputs. It it looks good picutre wise compared to what else is out there, which I would expect it would based on the first round of SXRD that came out, I may have found a TV.

http://msn-cnet.com.com/4831-11405_1-6413188.html?tag=txt

Wow...I even figured out how to do a real link finally

Very interesting!

I had heard rumors that the dumbo ears would be removed because Sony received a lot of negative comments about them.

With the possible exception of some games, I don't know what the HDMI 1080P ports would be useful for??? The main problem, if you want to call it a problem, with my SXRD is that the TV's HDMI will NOT pass/ receive multichannel audio. Go Figure.

Nice TV! Finally what I'm looking for. Now if I could get it for less than $1000...

Thanks for the heads-up on this model. We have been in the process of putting together our ht and the viewing aspect has been the missing link so far. Btw, just how do you create a functional hotlink? So far mine just never work?

In reply to:

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Btw, just how do you create a functional hotlink? So far mine just never work?

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Check this page of the forum FAQ.

The 1080P HDMI is useful for HDDVD or Blue Ray. Whatever buy should be able to handle that. I am going to own the TV I buy for 10+ years, so I don't want to be wishing it had something like that that it doesn't.

I am not aware that HDDVD and Blue Ray are available just yet. I had heard that there were some problems and issues.

Are they out??

Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Calls issued for unifying HD DVD/Blue-ray formats at CES




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Major TV industry and entertainment representatives issued urgent calls Saturday at the ongoing 2005 International Consumers Electronics Show (CES) to unify the HD DVD/Blue-ray systems to prevent an emerging formats battle.


Bob Chapek, president of the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG),urged his members to work harder to unite the HD DVD and Blue-ray Disc camps into developing or settling upon a single standard.

Both HD DVD and Blue-ray discs can dramatically increase the DVD discs' storage capacity from the present 4.7GB up to 50GB, thus saving space for consumers in enjoying video and audio entertainment.

"The time for unification is now, before a Darwinian process ofnatural selection can set in, and before the expenditures of many millions with the prospect of a stunted new format being a distance possibility," Chapek, also president of Buena Vista Home Video, spoke at a DEG meeting.

Weeks before the international CES, held in Las Vegas since Jan.6, Buena Vista joined Sony Pictures in announcing plans to supportthe Blue-Ray Disc format with movie titles, due to its larger disccapacity and the claimed ability to facilitate a broad range of extra content, including interactive applications.

Commenting on the split between major Hollywood studios on the HD DVD and Blue-ray Disc systems, Chapek stressed that the two parties should make concessions in order to avoid a formats war.

He said the DEG members, who are evenly divided on the formats battle, are in the best position to prevent the formats war so to save a lot of money that could be wasted if a future war breaks out.

At the same DEG meeting, former Sony executive Ron Boire echoedChapek's unification call, saying that because consumers need a single format of the new generation of DVD, industry leaders should work together to unify the HD DVD/Blue-ray formats.

Several Hollywood entertainment companies are planning to release more than 50 titles of movies in HD DVD format in the nearfuture.

To offer a technological solution to the possible formats war, Japanese company JVC unveiled at the CES a non-recordable hybrid disc featuring an integration of HD DVD/Blue-ray formats. The new DVD has three layers, dual DVD-layers topped by a 25GB high-definition Blue-ray layer for a total of 33.5GB capacity.

JVC company also said it is working on a four-layer disc providing two Blue-ray layers and two DVD layers for a total of 58.5GB of storage capacity.

That was for 2005. Think that I read that article some time ago. Wonder what the situation for 2006 is??

oooppss