Samsung FPT5094W 50-Inch 1080p Wireless Plasma HDTV

I just got this TV delivered to me today. A couple of pros: This is the nicest looking flat screen TV I have seen. The picture and sound are both fantastic, and I haven’t even gone HD on it yet. However, within 30 minutes of owning it, I noticed a few problems.

1. That little box in the picture where you plug in all your cables? I didn’t realize that thing is the size of a cable box or DVD player. This is obviously my fault for not realizing the perspective of it in the picture, but I’m sure others will make the same mistake. I thought I’d be able to tuck it away somewhere. No can do. I’ve actually decided to put the TV on top of it, cause it is actually as wide or wider than the stand, contrary to what the picture would have you believe.

2. This TV doesn’t have a game mode because it is wireless. The wireless transmission to the TV causes a slight delay in seeing what you just did on your video game. For example, I have a Wii. After I roll a bowling ball down the lane, it takes about one second for me to see and hear it on the TV. So I need to move my Wii to my old TV, which is disappointing. This brings me to problem 3.

3. You can plug just about anything into the wireless box, including an external hard drive through which you can pull up MP3’s and photos on the TV, which is awesome, but you can’t plug anything into the actual TV except the power cable, so there’s just no way to solve the gaming problem. I bought it without planning to hang it on the wall. Other than the fact that it comes with a stand, it is completely meant to be hung on a wall.

4. You kind of have to mash the buttons on the remote for a while before it does what you wanted. You can’t just tap a button and the channel changes. You have to really get after it. I get the feeling that it’s having to communicate back and forth with the box to get things done. This will probably be solved when I get a comcast box, but I’ll still experience a delay.

Other than those issues, it rocks. But if you’re a gamer, I’d get a non-wireless LCD.

If you are looking for a beautiful picture and sound, flexibility in placement, and WOW factor don’t look past the Samsung FPT5094W.

Purchased this TV at the end of June after having little luck finding much on the web other than the 4 reviews here on Amazon. After I placed my order I did find 5 reviews on Bestbuy for the 58″ version of this TV which caused me to experience buyer’s remorse while waiting for my TV to arrive. I’m happy to report that within an hour of the TV arriving and being setup, all regrets were quickly replaced with joy. The picture on the set is beautiful. I own 3 Panasonic plasmas in the 37″ to 42″ range and the picture is easily equal to if not better. HD programming pops on the Samsung and during a 4th of July party we recieved comments from at least 30 people about how beautiful the picture was.

Now the best part. The wireless capabilities are incredible and allowed us to hang the TV over our fireplace which is on the opposite wall from our outlets. We have our DirecTV HD DVR, OTA HDTV antenna and PS3 connected to the wireless AV unit stored away in a wooden cabinet approximately 17 feet from the TV. Everything works like a charm…even with the doors closed. Being cable free except for the power cord provides the ultimate in flexibility and looks. We have experienced no issues with picture or sound quality with the wireless capabilities. I have played games like MotorStorm and Resistance Fall of Man on the PS3 with output set to 1080P and everything looked and sounded perfect. Personally I think the reviews on BestBuy were written by installers who are scared that this technology will take a bite out of their profits. If I could make one improvement, it would be to allow any input in the picture-in-picture. Currently it is limited to OTA antenna.

If you are looking for a beautiful picture and sound, flexibility in placement, and WOW factor don’t look past the Samsung FPT5094W.