Phillips 30PW8402/37B 30" Direct View

Hello a friend just asked me about some information on the

Phillips 30PW8402/37B 30" Direct View

1080i HDTV monitor with HDMI
Flicker-free 480p progressive scan

It says it is a 1080i HDTV monitor, but doesn't seem to have any information if it can display 720p.

Anyone used/seen this model? Is it a rip off?

Link to TV:

http://www.outlet.philips.com (http://www.outlet.philips.com/b2c_redesign/b2c/productdetail.do?productguid=41907ABB9A6F008D00000 000828BD47240C22B91B410078C00000000828BD443&productarea=41907ABB9A6F008D00000000828BD472&scenario=catalog&shop=OUTLET&AID=10303852&PID=327962)

It's an HDTV, incl. shipping, for under $350? Hardly a "ripoff." Seems like an OK choice for someone on a budget, doesn't it?

Normally CRT-based HDTV's convert 720p to 1080i. 720p is too high a scan rate for typical CRT's.

With a 30" HDTV, could you even tell much of a difference with the 720p HD Channels upconverting to 1080i?

I have the 30PW8502 virtually identical to the 8402 except for the cabinet design. It does not display 720. Upconverts to 1080.

Excellent set, had it for over a year now. Crisp, filmlike image in HD. SD pretty good. Only issue I had was the set drifted out of focus over time. I popped the back off and refocused, it looks great.

I also purchased a 27" from the Philips store a few months ago. Overall a pretty good deal if you want to save some money. Only issue is if you get a bad one, no returns, you need to take the warranty repair route.

If you're sensitive to interlace flicker, you may notice the difference between a progressive image and an interlaced image, even at 30".

Realistically, none of the CRT-based HDTV's with a shadow mask can resolve anywhere near 1080 lines. Actually CRT-based HDTV's are a lot of smoke and mirrors (i.e. what you think they are doing and what they are really doing are very different), but they still look great and cost less, which is why I have one :)

i have this set....love it, especially hooked up to the Accurion stb from Radio Shack via hdmi...picture is superb....unavailable as far as i know, except as a refurb on the Philips site....