Samsung PN51E490B4F

Because it's such a large 720p screen, you will notice a difference between it and a 1080p HDTV. The picture simply isn't as sharp because it's showing lower resolution over a large area.

As expected from a budget HDTV, the PN51E490 is unassuming in its design. The bezel is flat, black, slightly glossy, and utterly plain, with a single red light in the lower left corner to show whether it's on and responding to the remote control.

A control nub is hidden behind the bezel near the light, and all on-screen controls are done with that nub. Instead of individual buttons for power, channels, volume control, and menu navigation, the nub moves in four directions like a small joystick and can be pressed like a button to confirm choices.

On the back, only a single HDMI port and a single USB port sit facing left for easy access.

The screen's only other HDMI port (for a total of two) sits facing directly back, along with component, composite, digital audio, and Ethernet ports.

The 6.7-inch remote is short and simple, but slightly awkward. The numbers are tightly clustered and backlit. The clustered buttons can be a problem for the control pad; the directions are rectangular and surrounded by similar rectangular buttons, so it can be hard to get a good feel for the directions and confirmation/source button.

If you want a big, 3D picture in your home and don't mind making a few compromises for a very low price, this is the screen to beat.