Review: HP Hits High Note With New LCD And Plasma HDTVs

Digital Connect LCD

The products all display sizable improvements over similar products HP offered in the past, making them useful for digital integrators as the basis for home installations. However, some integration problems remain.

Since HP rolled out its Media Center PCs a few years ago, the success of the device has rested on its ability to do it all and easily fit into a customer's entertainment center. Integrators can use the newest model, the z556, as a versatile device that opens the door to a world of multimedia options.

Upon first glance, Lab engineers were happy to see the black, brushed aluminum finish, which will match any home theater or living room. The remote control and keyboard are subtle and sleek enough to fit into any home decor as well. The remote also provides instant access to everything housed on the computer. There is nothing the remote cannot control, and Lab engineers were able to perform typical entertainment actions when using it in conjunction with the keyboard.

The z556 ($1,499.99) includes three TV tuners, one of which is high definition, so users can simultaneously record three different programs on the hard drive. The PC also has strong specs, including a 250-Gbyte (7,200 rpm, Serial ATA) hard drive, Pentium 4 630 (3.00GHz, 2 Mbytes of Level 2 cache, 800MHz front-side bus) processor and DVD±RW/DVD-RAM (8X, double-layer write) drive.

Initial setup of the z556 and integration into a home setting is straightforward. HP provides a user-friendly diagram and setup foldout that breaks down most of the different audio and video scenarios an integrator may be subjected to in the field. The quick-start guide is a great starting point. Of course, tweaks and minor adjustments can always be made down the road once the unit is connected to a display and is operational.

The z556 also includes a wizard that guides installers through the setup of Windows XP Media Center Edition via a series of questions and answers. During installation, there is also plenty of room for integrator input and suggestions via the Media Center software. The other option is doing everything manually without the help of a wizard. Lab engineers tried both installation scenarios, and while the wizard-driven install takes slightly longer, they are both viable options.

The z556 also includes a wireless LAN and Internet setup wizard. Lab engineers recommend connecting the computer to the Internet as early as possible during the setup process to download any patches or updates, as well as the TV channel guides the z556 needs to operate at optimal performance.

Integrators need to pay close attention to what other equipment is involved during the setup process because that is where most installation procedures go wrong. In particular, Lab engineers ran into a huge problem during cable setup, as the z556 needed to be connected to a cable set-top box to receive content. No matter what engineers did, the z556 could not recognize the Scientific-Atlanta set-top box supplied by cable company Cablevision.

Engineers tried using the Media Center's setup wizard and later tried doing it manually, both to no avail. The z556 also could not receive signals from the set-top box's remote control, even though it should have been able to. The Media Center software offers integrators a way to import a new remote control's commands by telling it how many numbers the cable box goes up to and by importing the numbers shown on the screen. No matter how many ways engineers tried to get the z556 to recognize the set-top box, they were unsuccessful.

In the installation materials, both HP and Microsoft say that if the installation does not work with a set-top box, installers should skip setting up the set-top box altogether. This is odd, because if integrators are not able to properly set up the Media Center with the existing set-top box, the customer will be unable to use the TV functionality to watch live TV through the Media Center, which defeats one of the z556's main purposes.

After several hours of trying to get this feature to work, Lab engineers next tried to get in touch with an HP product manager to find a solution. Unfortunately, after two weeks, HP was unable to provide an answer. An HP representative did suggest via e-mail to contact the TV signal provider to change set-top boxes and contact Microsoft to see if the set-top box is compatible with the z556. This response was also surprising since the service and set-top box are both standard and widely used. Besides, the particular set-top box is officially supposed to be supported by Media Center. There are millions of customers with the same set-top box. The fact that HP did not have a solution to make its Media Center PC work is a concern.

Integrators also should be wary of bringing a new, expensive Media Center PC into a home and telling the customer that they need to suddenly change a set-top box that has worked well for years simply because the Media Center PC vendor has not found a way to make it compatible. While this may be solely a Media Center issue, the problem is still part of the entire HP solution and should have been resolved by the company.

Media Center PCs and the z556 in particular have a lot of potential for digital home customers. But with the flaws in the unit and the lack of sufficient support from Microsoft and HP, integrators should be careful.

The z556 was used with HP's Pavilion LC3200N 32-inch LCD HDTV ($1,899.99). In order to achieve high definition, Lab engineers used component cables and connected them directly to the set-top box. Component cables were not supplied by HP, although most other essential cables were included in the box. Many of the cables did come in handy during installation. Access to cables at different junctions really saved time.

The picture displayed through the LCD TV was crisp and superior to many other LCD TVs on the market. There was a slight pixilation when the screen image was viewed from inches away, but since the LCD TV will either be wall-mounted or placed on a TV stand the slight pixilation at close ranges is irrelevant.

Another gripe about the LC3200N was the shell that surrounded and housed the TV. The glossy acrylic felt cheap and very hollow, especially the attached speakers.

The LCD TV comes with a standard one-year warranty and integrators can offer customers a three-year warranty through HP. However, the three-year warranty covers only basic parts, so an integrator may want to offer an additional warranty for other parts, labor and cosmetic fixes.

Lab engineers also took a look at the Pavilion PL4200N 42-inch plasma from HP ($3,299.99). The overall presence of the unit is very striking. It is designed in a piano-black, rich acrylic finish. It would look great on any wall and is without question an eye-pleaser.

Lab engineers are always asked: plasma or LCD? Until seeing this unit from HP, engineers suggested LCD based on price vs. performance issues, but the PL4200N has changed the way engineers look at plasma.

What really counts is the overall picture quality, and the 42-inch plasma delivered bright and clear images that produced vivid colors time and time again. The integrated speaker quality also was worth noting, and integrators can always suggest an upgrade to the speakers. With screens of such great dimensions, integrators also can suggest wall-mounting procedures, which will provide a post-sale.

Along with the product facelift, HP is in the midst of rolling out a new home networking partner program. The initiative is aimed at providing digital integrators with the proper education and installation techniques on a comprehensive suite of digital products to simplify home networking setup and enable stronger security implementation. HP says it will partner with other technology and consumer-electronics manufacturers with the hope that propagating seamless integration will enable a better user experience. In addition, the company plans to provide a better understanding of third-party equipment such as speakers and cable set-top boxes so it can improve their integration with its products. Lab engineers welcome the efforts.

Overall, HP understands the digital integration market and is going in the right direction to bring its partners and integrators onto the same page. With any niche market, education and timing are the top concerns. HP is addressing these issues and says it aims to ease installation procedures. Without question, tech support also is an area that could use some improvement, especially with the Microsoft Media Center software. If the software doesn't work seamlessly with the hardware, installation issues will arise and integrators could be left in an awkward position, clamoring for answers. Suggesting a change to the infrastructure is definitely not the answer that integrators and their customers deserve.

As for HP's technology, it is impressive, especially the new 42-inch plasma. Lab engineers would have no qualms purchasing the plasma and using it in their own home.