Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I received the E472VL three days ago and have been exploring and evaluating its various features. First off: Here is a list of the features I wanted in my new TV. 42-47 inches 1080p 120 hz Internet connectivity (primarily Netflix...despite their recent price increase BAH!) Enough HDMI ports for my XBOX 360, PS3 and cable (minimum 3) No more than $800 First Impressions: I upgraded from a 3 year old 32 inch Sony Bravia, which served me well through college and since graduating, but it was time to upgrade to something more suitable for my living room (about 14 ft x 18 ft). My viewing distance is around 10 feet and this TV is definitely big enough for me. I'm not an interior designer, but the styling seems pretty standard. All black bezel. The outside of the bezel is matte while the inner edge closest to the screen is gloss. It is a nice two tone effect, but the styling of the tv was of a little concern. The base is large and glossy, and it does not swivel like many other models. Having a swiveling base was not important to me either as I rarely move the TV. Some other Vizio TV reviews note issues with the TVs turning off randomly periodically. I did experience this once in the first hour of using the TV. After rebooting the TV it automatically downloaded a firmware update and has not turned off again. Also, this TV does not come with the QWERTY remote like some other Vizios. Viewing facebook/twitter works very well on this TV, but if you want to post comments/updates you may want to consider a TV with a keyboard remote. Features: I felt this model was the best balance of features and price. I do generally prefer to buy big brand name electronics (Sony, Samsung, LG), but there were a number of features I wanted, which can't be had in this price range with those brands. Getting the newest, fanciest LED tv was not a priority for me as that is a still a new technology and I can only see marginally improved black levels during side by side comparisons, and that is only with full-array LED tvs with local dimming. That technology still demands a premium of about 150-200 dollars, and has not reached its full potential. Internet Apps: The internet apps have worked flawlessly in my short time with the TV. The interface Vizio has created is one of the best i've seen. My parents have an internet connected TV; when the apps are opened the entire screen is dedicated to scrolling through and choosing your desired app. With the Vizios, a small bar of apps appears along the bottom of the screen, which you scroll through to find the app you want all while the TV signal is displayed over the rest of the screen. When you select and app, ~1/3 of the screen becomes dedicated to that app. You can get a quick facebook or twitter update while still watching TV on the right 2/3s of the screen. Some other apps (Netflix, amazon instant video) will then expand into full-screen mode after selecting "launch app" or once you've made a video selection. It is a great, responsive interface. You can delete "widgets" you don't use and move them wherever you want along the scroll bar. 120 hz: I haven't watched any hockey or sports for that matter, but the smooth motion technology can definitely be seen when it is turned on. As many people have said, it does look a little funny, and isn't appropriate for all content. I keep the option set to low or off most of the time, but for some shows it is nice to have on, which is where the different "picture modes" come in handy. There are 9 separate modes which can all be changed individually and selected quickly while watching the TV so you can immediately see the effect. Performance: Picture: This TV has a wonderful picture. Vizios are known for accurate and vibrant colors. That is certainly apparent here. The black levels are always the question mark as there is no standardized way to measure contrast ration, so 100,000: 1 on a Vizio vs. 2,000,000 : 1 on a Samsung doesn't necessarily mean the Samsung will be 20x better. The black levels are completely acceptable for my use. I am not a videophile, but I have researched and viewed many tvs. I have seen tvs with noticabley bad black levels and plasmas with amazing black levels. This TV should pass all but the most hardcore videophile's critique. Compared to my old Sony this is a major upgrade. Sound: A common complaint about these thin TVs is the poor speakers. In my fairly large, open and carpeted (carpets will reduce sound travel and require you to turn the volume up louder than in a room with hardwood floors) family room, the speakers perform admirably for everyday TV viewing. I only have to turn the volume up high when I have the windows open and a fan blowing. However, I do have a surround sound set up, which I use for movie watching. The SRS TruVolume technology does not seem to have any affect while channel surfing, which is unfortunate, but I commend them for trying. The SRS SurroundSound is noticeable. When switching between basic stereo sound and surround, the "surround" option creates much more full and real sounding audio. Videogames: Here is where I had my first real fright. I tested for any input lag (a well known issue with some LCD HDTVs) by playing Geometry Wars 2 on XBOX. It's not a graphical stunner, but it requires split second input and reaction time. At first there was noticeable lag. After scanning through the picture settings I could not find any cure. Important Note: the various "picture modes" include a "gaming" setting. It is important to remember these settings are mainly there for you to modify to your liking. The names are more there for your convenience. However, in the "settings" tab of the menu there is a "gaming" mode option. The option only becomes available once you switch from the "TV" input to the input your console is connected to. This did remedy the input lag. Menu/Interface: Like I said previously, the menu can be viewed while watching TV, which makes optimizing your picture settings a breeze. Also, any settings you choose for each input, will save to that specific input. E.G. After turning "gaming mode" "on" on HDMI-1 for my XBOX, that setting will save to HDMI-1 so you don't have to change it every time you switch devices. The same goes for the picture and audio modes selected. It is a very convenient system. Overall: I am very pleased with this TV. 42" TVs with similar features were only $50-$100 cheaper. I feel the extra 5 inches is worth it especially if you are on the fence as far as size like I was. The picture is terrific. The sound is completely acceptable if there is not too much background noise, otherwise consider a beefier set up. Sorry for the drawn out and wordy review, but I hope it was helpful to some of you. I actually waited a couple extra weeks before buying this TV hoping someone would write an in-depth review. I would be happy to answer any questions in the comments section if I missed anything.