Philips's new 50-inch plasma is
packed with features
Philips 50PF9830A 50-inch plasma TV
The product: In an effort to differentiate its flat-panel TVs from the rest of the growing pack, Philips came up with something called Ambilight, which allows you to project a backlight on the wall behind a TV and in theory, produce what seems to be a better picture. For 2005, we get Ambilight 2, a more advanced and customizable version of the original that's built into a 50-inch plasma set, the 50PF9830A. Philips is also touting its Video Picture Quality enhancement and Pixel Plus 2 HD features, which it says will help produce sharper, smoother images, with better color saturation. More interestingly, the 50PF9830A is Internet ready (built-in Ethernet) and is designed to work with Philips Streamium products, which allow you to stream audio, video, and images from your PC. The 50PF9830A also has a Wi-Fi option and a media card reader.

• 1,366x768 resolution
• Ambilight 2 technology
• Two HDMI and one DVI inputs
• Built-in HD tuner
• Built-in Ethernet for Internet connectivity
• Memory Card reader
• Optional Wi-Fi connection via built-in USB 2.0 port
• Compatible with Philips Streamium products
• Wall-mount bracket included

The prospects: This is one of the most feature-rich plasmas we've seen to date. Philips is obviously hoping consumers will also opt to purchase its digital media server products, such as the RC9800i remote or the Wireless Music Center (WACS700).

By David Carnoy, executive editor, CNET Reviews