Like a bolt from the blue, I received the Samsung 52-inch 1080p HDTV from America. At first, I thought there must be a shipping mistake. After checking with the shipping agent and the store, it turned out that an anonymous hotel guest sent it to me as a gift. I have received large tips in the range of 50 pounds from fabulously rich hotel guests, but a $2300 HDTV. This is must be a record for any hotel clerk in the UK.

I know enough about electronics to make me slightly dangerous. I called around and located a technician who charged me a fair price to set up the Samsung 52-inch HDTV. The item weighs a hefty 32 kilograms or approximately 72-pounds. He brought a helper and within an hour my living room was transformed into an entertainment room.

Features:

The Samsung LN52A530 is an Energy Star compliant electronic device. This feature is important to me because in the long run it will save me money and it is good for the environment.

The Samsung model has a picture in picture capability that allows me to view other channel programming while I am watching a show. It has the capacity to display full widescreen programming or standard display. The combination of digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuner allows me to watch broadcast programming or view unscrambled special programming via the built-in QAM cable TV tuner. According to the technician this combination makes the Samsung LN52A530 a well-built HDTV.

I can watch 720p or 1080i high definition programming and videos or watch full 1080p TV via one of the three HDMI outputs. The HDMI cable connects directly to the cable box or my DVD HD player. I added the HD player for movies and due to drastic price cuts, it was dirt cheap.

The TV has two built in speakers with the ability to add speakers via the optical digital output to create a complete Dolby digital surround sound effect. The sound produced is crisp and without distortion.

The internal technology of the Samsung model produces the effect of being in the movie. It is a 3D effect with rich true colors and dynamic contrast. Nature films are breath taking and black and white vintage films are extraordinary in appearance. The experience is like having a movie house in your living room. The best part is the fact you are the audience, director, sound specialist and critic rolled into one.

There are numerous outputs and various options available in the menu for watching shows and movies. Once I got the set adjusted, the technician made sure the partially illuminated remote synchronized all of my settings and channels. It took no time at all. According to the technician, this model has the ability to connect directly to a PC for upcoming new media downloads from the Internet. It is reassuring to know I have a TV that is ready for the future in programming.

The preceding points of interests are important to me and there are numerous features available with the Samsung LN52A530. There are similar models by Samsung that are variations on this model. I recommend the use of a technician to set up the model if you are not technically inclined.