Reviews and Deals

VIZIO XVT373SV

Posted on 5/24/2011 by Mr_Deal

Surprisingly enough, even the smallest, lightest version of the XVT troupe still sits in a rigid, glossy black frame. But for under a thousand bucks for 37 inches of 1080p HD video in a 1,920x1,080 resolution, some of you on the hunt for perhaps that coveted basement HDTV might look past that. Though unfortunately, a cut had to be made somewhere to keep it under that four-digit ceiling, so Vizio sliced its refresh rate in half to 120Hz. Though, this could also be a limitation of HDTVs smaller than 42 inches. Yet here's a shocker: there was still enough room in the XVT373SV for this line's impressive four HDMI ports, which again, the true HD enthusiasts will be happy to hear about. Not to mention that VGA support is also included, but with both Ethernet and 802.11n WiFi connections that might not be necessary.

This is thanks to VIA, Vizio's suite of web apps, video, and music available for streaming on all the TVs in the XVT line. And yes, the Vizio Bluetooth remote with QWERTY keyboard will come in handy when tweeting and Facebook posting while watching HD video over VIA.

While the XVT373SV is an LED HDTV, this is where it truly distances itself from its much bigger bros. Claiming to be the first to bring LED technology to smaller, thinner HDTVs, Vizio introduces Razor LED with this 37-inch flat panel. And oh, how slim it is with a 2-inch profile while maintaining Energy Star 4.1 compliance and absolutely no mercury. Better yet, the 178-degree viewing angle is luckily still around to be enjoyed from nearly anywhere in the room. While Vizio had to make a few key sacrifices to keep the XVT373SV under $1,000, this 37-inch HDTV brings nearly all the same trimmings of the larger sets while holding on to what's most important in this case: LED.

Recomendation: Good value, Buy
Only $598 at Amazon

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Posted on 5/14/2011 by Mr_Deal

No matter how much you love or hate Radiohead, they continue to unravel their own expectations of what they can create. They continue to keep us in suspense of what comes next. This is all coming from an average Radiohead fan. I've never seen them. I don't celebrate their entire catalog. I just believe they write some of the most creative and intelligent music still out there. While I don't believe they'll ever surpass the greatness of OK Computer, and its glitchy follow-up, Kid A, they continue to find who they are. Even this far in their career, I don't even think Radiohead know who they are, how they want to be remembered or even how to continually fight becoming stale in their own writing. They just seem to do it.

With the release of The King of Limbs, not much has changed. In easy comparison to Amnesiac, the album offers up harmonic melodies twined together to create tribal, yet fluid atmospheres of music. When the album is at its heaviest, the upbeat guitar swill and full sounding rhythm section of "Little by Little," you're then drugged mostly from here on out. "Feral" throws you into frantic and possible confusion. The mix on the track is the best part of it. Effects, voices and tones are brought forward and back. You can almost feel yourself part of the song and physically feeling the experience of getting through it. Nothing stays stale throughout.

Recomendation: Buy
Only $5 at Amazon