As stated, one of the biggest problems with flat panels is that most folks really don't know how to use them in order to get the most out of them. You don't even need an ISF calibration to get one looking pretty damn fine. You just need to learn how to adjust the picture controls properly, and for god sake, if you've bothered to buy a plasma or an LCD, don't connect your dvd player to it with a composite video cable. LOTS of people make those little mistakes that add up to BIG differences in picture quality and then write the sets off as "lousy". More often than not, it ain't the set, it's the user. I've gotten flat panels that I hate the picture quality of to look pretty damn fantastic. You just need to know what you're adjusting and why. The manuals are your friends. People have to realize that these aren't our parents televisions. We have LOTS of fine tuning ability when it comes to modern televisions. It's really amazing how drastic a difference a good setup can make. But it takes time, patience, and experimentation with room lighting, brightness, contrast, etc. The AVIA setup disc should almost be sold with every HDTV purchase.

And I know that lots of people like to use the "zoom" functions on these sets, but honestly, if you want the picture to look its absolute best, I beg you, DON'T. Aside from switching between 4:3 and normal widescreen mode, any other setting will do little more than fuck up your image quality and magnify any flaws in the source material while distorting the picture's geometry. A few of my friends are in love with these "zoom" modes, and I honestly can't stand looking at their televisions. They think it looks great, and that it's better to have the whole scree filled in. Why? Why? Buying a tv like that and setting it up that way is like going to a four star gourmet restaurant and ordering a Big Mac. With displays like this quality should be favored over quantity.