It seems everyone and his brother is flocking into the HDTV business. Even PC makers have gotten into the act, and Dell is certainly no exception. The company has introduced two plasma-based TVs (one HD, one standard) and true to Dell form, has brought its aggressive pricing model to yet another product category. The Dell W4200 HD Plasma TV is a 42-inch HD model that stands out from the pack.

The W4200 has a native pixel resolution of 1,024-by-768; that means it isn't a true HD device, since it doesn't have enough pixels to draw a 1,280-by-720 (720p) HDTV image. This is common among 42-inch plasma panels, and the W4200's PixelWorks video processor does a very good job scaling both 720p and 1080i HDTV images to fit onto the screen. The W4200 has two tuners built in, one of which is an ATSC over-the-air HD tuner. Having a built-in ATSC tuner allows this set to display HDTV channels that are broadcast in your area, though you will need an antenna (not included).

The unit's remote control has number buttons that light up, although the control isn't fully backlit. The W4200 has 13 inputs, which is likely why the remote lacks individual buttons for each available video source (an on-screen menu lets you navigate to the source you want). The two-channel 40-watt speaker system consists of two detachable tower speakers. They produce good sound, though they are no replacement for the full-bore surround-sound system you'll want if you're investing in this class of TV.

On our objective tests, the W4200 performed well, though like all plasma panels, white-luminance levels diminish as more of the screen displays full white. The panel's black levels were very solid, however, and it exhibited a good average contrast ratio of 506:1. The W4200's color response was good, though its default settings had the green response boosted, likely to improve perceived brightness.

On our initial subjective tests using HDTV content, the W4200 looked pretty good, though color saturation needed to be brought up a bit. We also observed that black levels seemed a bit washed out. To remedy this, we used the Digital Video Essentials DVD to calibrate brightness, contrast, and color saturation and temperature. After the calibration, the W4200 looked much better, with deeper black levels and richer color saturation. The video processor ably handled both scaling up DVD images and scaling down HDTV images, and we observed neither jaggy lines nor excessive softness to image edges.

Dell has made a strong first showing with the W4200. If you're looking for a good-sized HDTV and are on a budget, consider a rear-projection unit, as they deliver the best bang for the buck. But if you're looking for a panel that can hang on the wall or perch on a console, the Dell W4200 should be on your short list.

Benchmark Tests
Average Contrast Ratio: 506:1
Average Black Level: 0.3 candelas/m² (cd/m²)
Average White Level: 146 cd/m²
VESA Uniformity Black: 79%
VESA Uniformity White: 95%