Samsung PN51E490 information from Consumer Reports

Samsung PN51E490

Price range:

$647.99 - $829.36

Summary: A 51-inch 3D-capable plasma HDTV from Samsung with 720p resolution, 2 HDMI inputs, and 1 component-video input.

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Type: 46- to 52-inch TVs

About - Samsung PN51E490
The Samsung PN51E490 is a 51-inch plasma HDTV with a native resolution of 1024x768 (720p). This TV has a 3D mode that requires the use of special glasses to see three-dimensional images. It has an Ethernet jack for connecting to your home network via a cable. This TV is also Wi-Fi-capable, so you can connect it to your home network wirelessly. Its DLNA certification enables you to view digital photos stored on a compatible computer, phone, or other mobile device also connected to your home network. There are 3 HD-capable inputs: 2 HDMI and 1 component-video, which can also be used as composite-video. It also has a USB port, which may allow you to plug in a thumb drive or memory card reader so you can play the stored photos, videos, and music on the TV. The Samsung PN51E490 measures 30.8 inches high by 46.7 inches wide by 9.5 inches deep, including its base. The panel itself is 2.2 inches thick including any protrusions, and the screen has a glossy finish. The bezel framing the screen is gloss black w/red stripe at bottom. The warranty on this TV covers parts/labor for 12/12 months, respectively.

About - Samsung PN51E490

The Samsung PN51E490 is a 51-inch plasma HDTV with a native resolution of 1024x768 (720p). This TV has a 3D mode that requires the use of special glasses to see three-dimensional images. It has an Ethernet jack for connecting to your home network via a cable. This TV is also Wi-Fi-capable, so you can connect it to your home network wirelessly. Its DLNA certification enables you to view digital photos stored on a compatible computer, phone, or other mobile device also connected to your home network.

There are 3 HD-capable inputs: 2 HDMI and 1 component-video, which can also be used as composite-video. It also has a USB port, which may allow you to plug in a thumb drive or memory card reader so you can play the stored photos, videos, and music on the TV.

The Samsung PN51E490 measures 30.8 inches high by 46.7 inches wide by 9.5 inches deep, including its base. The panel itself is 2.2 inches thick including any protrusions, and the screen has a glossy finish. The bezel framing the screen is gloss black w/red stripe at bottom.

The warranty on this TV covers parts/labor for 12/12 months, respectively.

About This Brand
Samsung is a market leader and top-tier TV manufacturer. It is often an innovator, as with its use of LED backlighting in LCD TVs, and was one of the first TV brands to offer 3D TVs and Smart TVs. Samsung offers a wide range of LCD TVs and is one of only a few brands that still sells plasma TVs. Its TVs are distributed widely in national and regional retailers, and in mass-market and discount outlets. In addition to LCD and plasma TVs, Samsung also sells DLP-based home theater front projectors.
Read our Brand Reliability

About This Brand

Samsung is a market leader and top-tier TV manufacturer. It is often an innovator, as with its use of LED backlighting in LCD TVs, and was one of the first TV brands to offer 3D TVs and Smart TVs. Samsung offers a wide range of LCD TVs and is one of only a few brands that still sells plasma TVs. Its TVs are distributed widely in national and regional retailers, and in mass-market and discount outlets. In addition to LCD and plasma TVs, Samsung also sells DLP-based home theater front projectors.

Read our Brand Reliability

Features & Specs - Samsung PN51E490
Native resolution Applies to "fixed-pixel" display types such as LCD, plasma, as well as DLP and LCoS for front projectors. It's expressed in horizontal by vertical pixels (for the picture elements making up a displayed image). Incoming signals of higher or lower resolution must be down- or up-converted as necessary to match the set's native resolution. Generally, the more pixels a display has, the better it can reproduce fine detail from a high quality source -- but other factors may also affect peformance. Native resolution	1024x768
Frame rate (Hz) Numbers indicate "Enhanced frame rate (if 120Hz or greater), and standard frame rate (for non-120Hz TVs, or with enhanced frame rate turned off). Frame rate indicates how often a TV refreshes its picture in a second. 60 hertz (Hz) has been the normal image frame rate for televisions but LCD TVs have increased this number to reduce motion blur, a problem typically associated with that technology. Increasing the frame rate involves the insertion of additional video frames (interpolated or black frames) so they display double or quadruple the number of frames per second -- 120 or 240. Other companies use 120-hertz refresh rates in combination with a scanning (flashing) backlight to achieve a 240-hertz-like effect. (These sets are denoted in the ratings as "240" models, with quotation marks.) Reducing the time between frames can potentially minimize motion blur. Many companies are giving this technology proprietary names; Sony, for example, calls it Motionflow, and Samsung's is dubbed Automotion. Frame rate (Hz)	NA
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi--802.11b/g/n, the same wireless network connection used by computers and printers--allows your TV to connect to the Internet or to a home network without the use of a wired Ethernet connection. This is convenient when your Internet connection isn't near your entertainment setup, which would otherwise require you to run a long cable from room to room. A growing number of TVs can use Wi-Fi to connect to other DLNA-compliant devices in the home, enabling you to access digital music, videos, and photos stored on a computer or networked storage device and play them on the TV. Some TVs have built-in Wi-Fi capability, while others come with a Wi-Fi dongle (external adapter) that you plug into the TV's USB port. In both cases, we denote Wi-Fi as a standard feature. Still other sets require you to purchase the Wi-Fi dongle separately; in that case we indicate that Wi-Fi is optional. Wi-Fi	Adapter optional
HDMI inputs The total number of these inputs on the TV. Front and side inputs are more easily accessed than those in the rear, and thus might be convenient for temporary use, but the cables are more visible. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a relatively new form of digital audio/video connection found on TVs, monitors, Blu-ray players, DVD players, receivers, cameras and digital TV tuners. HDMI has become the preferred connection method instead of component, etc., as it carries audio and video signals on the same cable. HDMI supports a range of standard- and high-definition video formats, although it can vary for each product. HDMI supports up to eight channels of uncompressed, 24-bit/192kHz audio. HDMI version 1.3, doubled the bandwidth of its predecessor (HDMI 1.2), and added support for 30-, 36- and 48-bit color depth and a new "xvYCC" color standard, as well as the new Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master lossless audio formats (See "Dolby True HD" and "DTS-HD Master Audio") used in Blu-ray discs. HDMI version 1.4 added full support for 3D television, an audio return path, and ethernet network connection. Some Blu-ray discs, in order to be viewed in high-definition, will require that the Blu-ray player and the HDTV/display be connected using an HDMI cable as a copy-protection measure. HDMI allows content providers to limit the quality of the component video outputs, and your ability to record the content. HDMI inputs	2
Component-video The total number of these inputs on the TV. Front and side inputs are more easily accessed than those in the rear, and thus might be convenient for temporary use, but the cables are more visible. Component-video is a high quality analog video connection that can be used to transmit standard definition (480i), progressive-scan (480p), and upconverted and high definition (720p, 1080i, and 1080p) video signals. Component-video connections use three separate jacks that separate the video signal into three parts: two for color and one for luminance (the black and white signal). These connections are found on most video components that provide 480p through 1080p video. Component-video	0
Overall height (in.) The height of the TV in inches, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. Dimensions include the base and detachable speakers, important if you plan to place the TV on a stand or in an entertainment center. See "Panel size without base" if you plan to wall-mount only the display. Overall height (in.)	30.8
Overall width (in.) The width of the TV in inches, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. Dimensions include the base and detachable speakers, important if you plan to place the TV on a stand or in an entertainment center. See "Panel size without base" if you plan to wall-mount only the display. Overall width (in.)	46.7
Overall depth (in.) The depth of the TV in inches, rounded up to the nearest 0.25-inch. Dimensions include the base and detachable speakers, important if you plan to place the TV on a stand or in an entertainment center. See "Panel size without base" if you plan to wall-mount only the display. Overall depth (in.)	9.5
More features and specs

Additional Information (The information below has been supplied by an external source.)

General Information
Manufacturer	Samsung
Manufacturer Website Address	www.samsungusa.com
Product Series	490
Product Model	PN51E490
Product Name	PN51E490 51" Class (50.7" Diagonal) PDP HDTV with 720p Resolution

User Reviews - Samsung PN51E490

Consumer Reports User Reviews

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By Martinezj

from Michigan

(44 of 45 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good TV for the Price

7/29/2012

Pros

Picture

value

Cons

Best Uses

Comment:

This is a solid TV for a family room. It does not come with all the bells and whistles as other TV's, but has been great for watching TV and movies in HD, plus at a great price. This TV also comes with a pair (2) of 3D glasses that makes watching 3D programming kind of cool. You might be able to get a better picture/sound/3D/Internet etc. but expect to pay for them. I can see why this is a Consumer Reports Best Buy.Overall I am very pleased with this TV.

How long have you owned it:

One-to-three months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

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