Electronics Review

Way overpriced for price range
The TV is comparable to 8000 series in performance but does not match up to the 8500 local dimming version. The price is way overblown considering other manufactures offer the same TV for far less. 99 is a reasonable price.

un55c7000 is impressive
I have not purchased this HDTV (yet) but have seen it in 3 stores in person running 2 different bluray movies (Monsters v Aliens and Speed Racer) and saw it on both ESPN HD and on the Food Network (HD). I was tempted to pull the trigger on the price drop this week to 99 at Amazon, but alas, it is gone (for now) and back up to 00.

Videophiles argue about the flashlighting in the corners on this TV due to the edge lit LED technology and, thus, I may wait to see the c8000 before making a decision (it is supposed to have "pinpoint dimming"). In any event, having seen this TV in various environments, I believe the flashlighting is overblown. Yes, it has a very faint (only in the bottom 2 corners - not the top) glow if you have black bars at on the screen or in a VERY dark scene (VERY). However, if someone didn't tell you about it, you'd likely never notice it.

The best part about this TV is how crisp the colors and sharpness are out of the box. Even in dynamic mode, this TV blows anything on the floor away other than maybe the b8500 from Samsung (which has local dimming). It was next to a b8000 and b7000 (2009 models) at one store, and the c7000 looks phenomenally better. It also has much less glare from those two (which have shiny - plasma like screens). The best plasmas in the store couldn't hold a candle to this TV.

The biggest downside I noticed was not the (over critiqued) flashlighting, but the off center loss of black levels. If you stand out 10 feet from the TV and then move 5-6 feet either way, you notice a big difference in contrast. But, in the sweet spot, this TV looks unbelievable.

Question
Could somebody help me, which LED HDTV is better the Samsung UN55B8000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED HDTV or the new Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV?
I would like to buy one of them and I'm not sure if I should spend more money for the 3D LED UN55C7000...
Thanks for your help

un55c7000 hdtv 1.3 vs 1.4hdmi cable
inknart you have no clue what you talking about. the un55c7000 does support 1.4 hdmi ports. i called crutchfield an they told me you can watch 3d with your old 1.3 hdmi cables. the ports are the same also. the differance in the 1.3 an the 1.4 hdmi cable is ethernet support.

This tv is dead technology
They just announced the hdmi standard to being 1.4, so this tv is already outdated. 1.3 cannot produce full 1080p 3d please hold off on spending money on garbage like this when in four months your tv will have to have hdmi 1.4

Great Bang for your buck
5 Stars sounds really generous, but for the money this is a GREAT Network ready BDP.
This is the third network BDP I have set up and used, I recently reviewed the Samsung BD-P1590 - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling - Netflix, Pandora against which (for similar money) this is a far superior machine. I also think the picture quality and upscaling for SD DVD's in much better than the similar priced LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player

Running several Blu-Ray movies for testing, including BD live enabled content, boot times were very fast. The quick set up guide asks you about this and explains that it uses more power in standby mode, but it's worth it for very quick loading.
Blu Ray looks SUPERB - Panasonic web site says (PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is a high quality image-processing technology developed to precisely process each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the vertical direction) Sounds geeky, but the picture is great at both 1080i and 1080p. By default the 24fps is set to off, but if you have a home set up that supports it, it's easy to switch back.
SD Card slot, and USB interface great for home pictures, movies and photo's, very easy to use. Nicely tucked away under a discreet panel in the front so no fiddling among the back wires.

Out of the box set up for networking took me about 15 minutes.
Very easy on screen instruction, easy to use remote, and set up can be either set to easy mode, or you can revisit the main menu at any time for finer adjustments on audio, video output, resolution and aspect ratio etc.
The more involved set up options are however a little limited if you are used to close to pro tweaking on high end visual and audio equipment. But then again, this is an entry level kind of priced machine.

What do you get for network? The VIERA system is a breeze, nice graphics, menu screen and options.
I hard wired mine to the back Ethernet port with a Cat6 cable - Cat5 works without a problem, but for streaming (especially HD content) the Cat6 made the Netflix signal bar light up to HD most of the time.
It is wireless ready. You can use a USB dongle (takes some tweaking) or better still a Linksys by Cisco Dual-Band Wireless-N Gaming and Video Adapter. What's nice is that(unlike Samsung) you don't have to buy a special adapter.
My preference would always be to hard line, but if that's not an option, and you must have wireless (assuming you have boat loads of bandwidth) you can buy an adapter, or pay more and buy it's big brother the Panasonic DMP-BD85 WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)

Whats on the Network?

1)Netflix - unlimited free streaming movies (a lot in HD if your connection is good enough) documentaries, and TV shows from their "Watch Instantly" library, if you are a current subscriber of at least their .99 plan - free trial available.
2)Amazon on Demand - Bags of movies and content to rent, buy, or even view free webisodes, trailers, documentaries and so on. Not a huge thing for me personally as I like Netflix, but very nice to have. Simply activate online at Amazon and you're there - very easy on screen user friendly menus.
3)Blomberg - Sort of on screen RSS feed with stocks, bonds and news headlines. Nice to have but not essential.
4) Weather forecast, enter your zip code and set to default, or store multiple sites across the US for up to date weather news and information. Again, not something I need but nice to have.
5)Picasa Web albums - share pictures with friends and family, look at your own, and other albums on your TV. Nice feature.
6)Coming Soon?? - Your guess is as good as mine, could be for VUDU or something else, at least they are thinking ahead, and have the settings already started.

What you don't get.....

1)Pandora - a quirky to use online streaming internet radio site that's free with a lot of music. Doesn't float my boat either, I don't like radio sites that choose my music based on a song, or an artist - there are over 30,000 online internet radio stations that are free, Pandora doesn't let you search any particular station in any part of the World, just their selections on what they think you like.
2) Blockbuster Online - unless you have an account and use the in store returns on DVD and Blu stick with Netflix, their watch instantly movies are free with membership.
3)VUDU - next generation 1080p streaming to rent and buy, this would have been nice to have, but I can live without it for now. Amazon more than makes up for it as far as I'm concerned.
4) Any others I may have forgotten about (I'm sure there are more out there)

Sum up

PROS

Excellent value for money
Looks sleek, discreet and runs quickly AND quietly (unlike some BDP's)
Very easy to Set Up - VIERA interface for online content is great.
Superior BD playback picture and sound quality - just when you thought it couldn't get better
Great upscaling, best I've seen on a machine of this price or on any machine without a REON chipset.
USB, SD slots on front convenient and discreet
Optional "wireless ready"
Nice Remote

CONS

No 3D - even if the content isn't there yet on BD live, you know it's coming. Only the Sony BDP-S470 Blu-ray Disc Player in this price range is equipped. This would have been nice
No onboard memory - BD live requires a USB or SD, but that's the same for most machines
No VUDU on networking - not a deal breaker, but may be for some.

Bottom line.................Great machine if you want to get into network and streaming movies. Quality and everything else for the price is unbeatable.

Impressive, Sleek and Functional! Verbatim's Wireless Slimboard: A Critical Review.
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R31J358Y9JEV7Z "The Slimboard" by Verbatim is a beautiful, glossy black --Piano finish-- full-sized, wireless keyboard & mouse that works on well on Windows PC's as well as Intel Macintosh* computers. It's also a lightweight and inexpensive alternative to the traditional keypads available.

* Initial inspection
** Testing
*** Pro's and Con's
**** Conclusion

* The keyboard/ mouse comes as a 3-piece package. In addition to the keyboard and mouse, there's also a small receiver that plugs into the USB port. The mouse runs on two (2) AA batteries (supplied) and the keyboard runs on two (2) AAA batteries, also supplied.

** Installation took all of 30 seconds from the moment you plug in the receiver. This set is supposed to work exclusively with Windows XP through Windows 7. As I have a copy of Windows XP nestled in VMWare Fusion, this was where I was going to base my review upon, however this set was instantly recognized by the Mac's OS. Go figure.

One of the things you'll immediately recognize is that the keys have just enough resistance and spring to make typing easy and fast. The keys are also amply spread apart for bigger fingers.

On the WinXP side, the set worked perfectly with Microsoft Office 2000, Windows Media Player and Roxio Creator 2010 (at least, the working software in Roxio's bundle.)

On the Mac side, Microsoft Office 2008, iTunes, Quicktime and Adobe CS3 were responsive to the keyboard and mouse. In fact, I'm writing this review from the Mac side. The only difference would be that the shortcut keys on the Mac side: Command +, is now Windows (icon) +, everything else including the volume, light, work the same. A dedicated media key on the header row has to be programmed before it'll work for either PC or Mac.

Comparing The Slimboard to Apple's "Wireless Keyboard," both keys have a wonderful touch response. And, with the exception of Apple's being made out of aluminum and Verbatim's of plastic, the only really difference is the additional 7" that accommodates the traditional PC numeric pad. The differences in height and width are negligible. All things being equal, with a separate keypad on the Apple, it would be about the same length.

*** Pro's and Con's
Pro's
+ Beautiful, glossy finish.
+ Key response is very good.
+ Functions with both PC and Intel Mac!
+ Lightweight.
+ Inexpensive.

Con's
- (Not really a negative criticism, but the keyboard is very long. I wouldn't reduce it to sacrifice the numeric keypad, which is very handy.)

**** Whatever one is looking for in a wireless keyboard and mouse, chances are it is found here. Verbatim "Slimboard" is both functional and elegant with enough features that allows for quick and easy access to files and programs on your system. This lightweight and inexpensive set stands up nicely against Apple's slim, wireless keyboard (which I love) very nicely. Additionally, it operates, at least on my system, on both Windows XP and Mac OSX 10.5.8.

All of this makes, Verbatim's Slimboard a smart buy and a very good investment.

Keyboard for Slouchers
I am a constant computer user, but not a tech professional. When I acquire technical equipment, I want easy installation and set-up with my main concern a more efficient work site. Set-up was easy - just plug in the USB dongle and, at least with my computers, the drivers automatically loaded. I installed it first on a PC running Windows Vista and then moved it to one running Windows 7. Both loaded the same way and each took less than a minute. I didn't need to use the included install disc.

Batteries are included for both the keyboard and mouse. I had trouble getting the batteries into the mouse because the pull-out tab to remove the batteries kept getting in the way. And, a small thing, but the battery covers seemed a little flimsy. The shiny black finish requires a bit more maintenance, but is easy to keep up by periodically wiping with a microfiber cloth.

On the keyboard, I appreciate the automatic keys that pop up a calculator, My Computer, and Media Player with additional keys to allow control of playlist movement and volume. The keyboard is lightweight and it has a good tactile feel. I immediately felt comfortable typing on it right out of the box.

The mouse has substance and feels comfortable in the hand even after prolonged use. The mouse wheel moves in one-click increments which gives an added level of control, but it does not work on glass, so if using a glass desk, a mouse pad will be necessary.

I am someone who likes to twist into a pretzel, so to be able to lay on the floor and type or slouch away from the screen with the keyboard in my lap, is a freedom I greatly appreciate. These are tools I can absolutely get behind and recommend.

Good product but lacking some features to make it better
I really like several features about this keyboard setup but there are also other features about it that disappoint me as well.

Pros:
1. Small form factor, both the board and mouse are nice and slim
2. very responsive keys, they have a great feel to them and are very easy to get used to.
3. full keyboard !!!!! It's not often run into a good full wireless board with a number pad for a nice price.
4. mouse, very precise and tracks really well.
5. mouse, comfortable in hand (I typically prefer trackballs but this mouse is rather nice).
6. mouse, scroll wheel is click-able to use the mouse to move around faster up and down pages or around images.

Cons:
1. auto-shutoff doesn't seem to ever occur, not even sure if they do ever shutoff on their own.
2. no manual shutoff switch.... Why wasn't this included so that when you walk away or take these with you you can just shut them off... Instead you have to take the batteries out. it's a pain in the butt.

feels good under fingertips! :)
feels good under fingertips! :)

Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse 96983 (Black)

just pop the (included) batteries in, stick the tiny adapter in an available usb port on pc, wait for it to be recognized, and go...Very Easy!

Tested Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse 96983 (Black) on older pcs using Xp and newer pcs using Vista -- I had no problems -- it actually runs a lot smoother than my older mouse/keyboard setups. Didn't have to install any new drivers -- as, the new hardware was instantly recognized.

Wires are so unsightly and "last century" -- wireless is just the modern way to go -- a super thin, sleek/stylish/elegant looking keyboard/mouse combo in a color that, absolutely, goes with any decor. The Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse cleared up a lot of space on the desktop.

...but, does it work, Katharena? ...well, this whole review was written, and posted, using Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse 96983 (Black) . *takes a sip of coffee and admires new setup* :) Highly recommended! --Katharena Eiermann, 2010

Good solid product - Recommended
I really like this wireless keyboard and mouse. At first, I thought a piece was missing from the package. Every wireless keyboard I've ever owned before this one had a big hulking USB receiver with cords. This Verbatim Wireless Slim Keyboard has an extremely tiny USB adapter, one that won't get in your way if you're using it with a laptop. I've never seen this kind of a design before.

The packaging was also eco-friendly, with a minimal amount of excess waste, and the necessary batteries were included with the product (AA batteries for the keyboard and AAA batteries for the mouse).

The compact size of the keyboard might be a problem for larger hands.

Fantastic set!
Just received the TV today! It arrived a day early, which was a pleasant surprise. Once I fired it up, I was ecstatic with this set. The quality is amazing for the price, the picture blows away a top of the line 42" 1080p LCD display that I've seen. Deep rich colors, high contrast, fluid motion...there is nothing not to like! Streamed Spartacus off Netflix, and compared to my old little 22" LCD it really came to life.(Even if the writing is really bad)

It was able to find some basic cable channels in HD, which is awesome, and Modern Warfare 2 looks simply astounding (again, much better than on aforementioned 42" and 22" LCDs.)

The sound is decent, it's actually better than I was expecting. It's obviously no Home Theatre, but I was impressed. It's got a few connections which aren't listed on Amazon...the 3 HDMI, 1 PC, 1 USB, 1 Component, 1 Dual Component/Composite, Audio In 1/8", Audio Out 1/8", Optical out, and cable. The menu is very easy to navigate and adjust, and in it you can turn off it's startup/shut down sound if you find it irritating. It's kinda soothing though.

One negative I've found is that the audio running out isn't controlled by the televisions volume, I guess that's pretty standard, but it means my cheap computer speakers aren't much good. (No remote) Also when installing the base stand it felt like I was about to destroy the thread on the screws that are used...They aren't easy to get in there!

It's very elegant, and looks great in my living room. It's not super bright, which I love (LCD panels hurt my eyes after a while) All in all, for the money it's a fantastic TV. I was looking for quality, affordability, and style.