[The News Bot]

<img src="http://www.homecinemachoice.com/images/news/8516.jpg" align="right">Following is the press release from Toshiba about its new range of HD Ready Picture Frame LCD TVs… "Toshiba launches the WLT66 series, with four large screen models – the 32WLT66, 37WLT66, 42WLT66 and 47WLT66. Each of these stunning TVs is HD Ready thanks to 2 x HDMI inputs (with HDCP) and...

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[laser]

Shame there are no details on the Toshiba website for the 42 and 47 inch models....!!!!! Toshiba must have forgot to put the details on the site. Oh dear...

[telford_mike]

This could be good news for folk (like me) who are looking to purchase 37 or 32 inch displays - hopefully the WLT58 series will get a little cheaper with the introduction of these new models - the WLT66 models don't seem to offer much more in these sizes as far as I can see.

[thegalaxyboy]

I was contemplating on buying the 37" WLT58 but now with a new model pending release, I'm going to have to wait. Why are Toshibal releasing the WLT66 within 4-6months of WLT58 going on the market? Have they had issues logged re the later?

Anyway, what's the cheapest deal for a WLT58 out there then folks?

Thanks
TGB

[telford_mike]

Amazon have one at £1,799. Somebody must be doing them cheaper than this surely?

[TheSmeagle]

Comet do the Tosh 37" 58 includind floorstand for £1699.

[prinjm]

See this thread. Apparently you can buy the 37 inch for 1299

Should I Tosh 32wlt58 £840.00 @freemans

[nevsan]

Is it worth waiting till April for this new version then? I would be wanting the 37inch..

I asked Toshiba the difference between the 37WLT58 and 37WLT66, here is the official response . . .'Thank you very much for your enquiry, In response to your query the 37WLT66
model will have 3 HDMI inputs and will have 1000:1 contrast ratio.

The finish of the unit will be black.'

Make your mind up time !

[Pooon]

Originally Posted by telford_mike

This could be good news for folk (like me) who are looking to purchase 37 or 32 inch displays - hopefully the WLT58 series will get a little cheaper with the introduction of these new models - the WLT66 models don't seem to offer much more in these sizes as far as I can see.

I hope your right. I'm in the market for a 37" shortly so fingers crossed the prices will be cut on the 58's before the 66's arrive

I was looking at the 32" 58 and then I see this.... but if the 3 main differences are the third hdmi connector and contrast ratio and the new finish... I'll hang on for a bargain 58 methinks

[Glenzo]

Being new to the interesting world of Flat Panels, I wonder how one of these Toshibas, say 42" would look compared to 42" HD Plasmas like Panasonic say or Samsung which I have to say look fascinating showing true HD material.

Can you see the picture on these new LCD Tosh models at angles?

I suppose I'm also hinting at which is best HD Plasma or HD LCD.

Comments please

[usagi13]

Originally Posted by markporter

I asked Toshiba the difference between the 37WLT58 and 37WLT66, here is the official response . . .'Thank you very much for your enquiry, In response to your query the 37WLT66
model will have 3 HDMI inputs and will have 1000:1 contrast ratio.

The finish of the unit will be black.'

Make your mind up time !

This set is going to have 3 HDMI inputs?

[HT4]

Availability from late April. 42WLT66 £1360+V.A.T.
47WLT66 £2190+V.A.T. Anyone know if these beasties accept a 1080P source and whether these are "native" 1080P Jobs ? These are the best priced screens I've found that seemingly meet might my (most anyone's?) High Def vision. Cheers in advance for any useful info. Hope the pricing helps. Harry.

[ash]

Where did you get those prices from?

[HT4]

Need to keep pre-launch prices a little on the QT. Waffly b******s contracts etc. But suffice to say there should be NO problem buying the WLT66 range at the prices listed above or below (sic). Hope that helps, We still do not know response times or viewing angles for these beasties. Any help appreciated. Cheers, Harry.

[ash]

Well no worry, if your right, that's pretty damn cheap! The WLT58 came out at a much higher price.

[HT4]

Picking up signs(deals done etc)that the High-Def side of things is going to become a little more 'dynamic' in the near future. Its obvious to anyone that with Sky & Cable etc going High-Def that the demand/market is going to become H U G E! Market Share/Brand Prestige/Kudos are going to be fought over for this Motherload! The WLT66 pricing could be regarded as an opening salvo...........................Could be wrong of course! Regards, Harry©

[ash]

Any more news, April is coming.

[Broadsword]

Theres a user manual posted in the lcd tv forum re the WL66 range. This range has a 32", 37" and a 42" model. The news report above only mentions a 32" and a 37" WL model not a 42"WL model. The 42" WL66 model has a 1920 * 1080 resolution as per the manual but it also says it accepts 1080i only, not 1080p like the report above may or may not suggest.

So do we think the 42WLT66 model will be 1080i or 1080p and is this 42WL66 an extra set not mentioned in the above report?

Im patiently waiting for the 42WLT66 set and Im now worried this will be another false dawn re 1080p sets.

Confusing.

[HT4]

Regarding the Tosh's everything is erm cool etc. All in hand Ash so get your sister ready to do the Rock nang thang and 'accidentally' knock your old Tosh out the window. Regards, Harry.

[tonymccandless]

HT4

Re prices best I can get pre-release is £1,789. Can you drop me a PM to hint at where I might pick up the 42" at the £1,600 you mention ?

Re 1080i or 1080p I spoke to Tosh today who confirmed both the 42" and 46" are 1080p.

I am going to go ahead and order as soon as I can find someone who will confirm stock and meet the £1,600 price point as the other options in Philips and Sony are way beyond the Tosh price for the spec.

HT4 : Looking forward to hearing from you

[ash]

They are all 1080i, not 1080p.

[tonymccandless]

ashmufc

I spoke directly to Toshiba and got assurances from them that they are indeed 1080p not 1080i. Why do you think they are 1080i ? The manual does say this this but the screens are absolutely 1080p according to them.

I do have to admit though that the prices are extremely low v's the opposition which does give some food for thought.

[ash]

Mm... maybe you are right, but there should be some mention in the manual then, we have to wait and see.

[tonymccandless]

ashmufc

Gutted to say I was wrong mate. I phoned Toshiba again then sent them a mail asking them to confirm by return about the screen doing 1080p. Following is response :-

"Thank you very much for your enquiry, In response to your query, the 42WLT66 is 1080i - interlacing complaint. The 1080P is only used in America at the present time and is not complaint with this set.

If you have any further queries please don't hesitate to contact us on 08704 424 424.

Kind regards

Brian Baker
Customer Service Representative"


Totally gutting and quite annoying in that it takes a lot of questioning before you get to the truth beyond what is quite plainly meant to be misleading advertising E.g.

"At its annual showcase in Hertfordshire last week we gained some interesting insights into Toshiba's HD strategy. The big story concerned its two top-end WLT66 series sets the 47inch 47WLT66 and 42inch 42WLT66.

Both are billed by Tosh as Full HD as they have 1920x1080 panels capable of displaying 1080p pictures. Yet as we already know there is currently no 1080p footage available anywhere and even Tosh's own HD DVD players are only capable of outputting 1080i signals. This will probably change over the next year or so, but it will be fascinating to see how other manufacturers, especially those who have been selling HD sets with 1366x768 pixels, respond."


CAVEAT EMPTOR doesn't even begin to describe what is going on just now around 1080p screens.

[/////AMG]

John Lewis are doing the 32" one for £883 including their 5yr warranty!!

[gandley]

Tony
"1080p footage available anywhere and even Tosh's own HD DVD players are only capable of outputting 1080i signals."

Thats not really accurate. With HD-DVD the film is stored on disc as 1080p24. Which means if you had a 1080p display it would reconstruct the original 1080p24 signal from the 1080i output from the HD-DVD player. So there is an advantage to having a 1080P able set now.

[David Mackenzie]

The 1080P is only used in America at the present time and is not complaint with this set.

Sounds to me like "Since Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are being released a little bit later in Europe, we decided we'd skimp on a few parts and give you guys an inferior TV".

Happened to me back in 2004 when I bought a Sony WEGA HDTV - the European model had the DVI-HDTV input changed to... you guessed it... a second fricking SCART

[dieard]

GUys,
I have had the 37wlt58 for 3 months, its a mint t.v,
ye i only have 1 x hdmi slot, but its currently free!, there nothing out that actually uses it!,
go for the 58 if you want to save a few hard earned denero`s