Sharp reveals gamer-centric 1080p LC-32GP3U AQUOS LCD TV
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 6th 2007 11:31AM
posted Dec 6th 2007 11:31AM
Sharp's new GP3U family may be marketed towards the sophisticated gamer, but we're pretty certain just about anyone could get down with a set like this. Announced today, the 32-inch LC-32GP3U comes in a trio of hues (black, wine red and white), boasts a "unique swivel stand for ultimate viewing and gaming flexibility," and offers up bottom-mounted speakers to boot. Furthermore, this 1080p AQUOS touts a slim-line design, a Game Mode button on the remote for activating Vyper Drive and providing quick access to side terminals, a subwoofer audio output, two component / three HDMI 1.3 inputs, a VGA port, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, six-millisecond response time, integrated ATSC / NTSC tuner with Clear QAM support, 450 cd/m2 brightness and 176-degree viewing angles. If you're champing at the bit to fix your eyes on this one, all three versions will be available just in time for you-know-what for $1,599.99.
32" 1080p screen? Isn't that a bit silly?
You gotta love marketing department's definition of gamer-centric. I'd consider lowest possible response time the most important factor in gaming, so to hell with all the swivel/speakers/audio-out bull-crap.
I own a 32" sharp with the same panel and features (the earlier GP1U) and 1080p looks great on it. Of course, I usually sit abnormally close to the TV while playing games (console games), so it matters to me. If you sit further than 4 feet away, there is no point at this size.
more silly is $1599 for a 32 inch.
Especially when right now you can get Sharp Aquos 46" 1080p LCD for less than $2000 (TigerDirect and Costco had them for around $1600).
So 32" for same $1600? No, thanks!
Does it have Wiimote shielding?
Doesnt sound much different from their original "gamer-centric" series GP1U units aside from the swivel screens and choice in colors.
yeah... My and keyboard is special cause it's XP compatible!
Drop the price on that 32" ... up the brightness a little
32" really isn't small. Yeah compared to 50 and 60" screens but the first HDTV I had was a 30" CRT and that was quite a bit bigger than my 23" TV I had for 15 years.
I saw a 32" 1080p Sharp LCD in Circuit City for $1100 with the same specs as the G-series only without Vyperdrive. If Vyperdrive is worth $300 then spend it but I'd just go with the cheaper one. Overall it is a great TV, little expensive but the picture is a whole lot better than most $1000 sets. Besides why buy a 32" 720p set for $1100 when you can have a 1080p set.
By "gamer-centric" I assume they mean "console gamer-centric" since this is obviously not suited to PC gaming.
How do you figure?
I had been stuck with a an old Standard Def 18" Sharp tv for probably 6 or 7 years and just recently purchased a 26" HDTV. The difference is amazing especially for my 360. While I would have liked to have bought an Aquos or something similar, the prices once you hit the 32" realm are still rather high for my budget.
So, while this sounds like a rather nice set to hook my Xbox up to, $1600 dollars just does not compete pricewise for the $650 I spent on a 26" which is still more than I need as of now. Mind you I'm still 19 and just do not make enough money to get anything better.
Vyper Drive
Actually, even low response times can require processing and television processing is the enemy of gamers. Overprocessing is what creates lag time. Vyper-drive, as it was explained to me, bypasses the video sub-processors so the game unit can drive the monitor, thus eliminating any lag time. Anyway, it works with my PS3 better than my old Samsung did. And it's got a great picture when set to the TV inputs. It is pricey. But most of the time, I get what I pay for.
37" 1080p Westinghouse lcd
I got it for 900 plus 65 shipping.
This aquos is overpriced.
As someone who considered that Westinghouse versus an earlier version of the Sharp (the same panel in a different case, the 32GP1U) and ended up with the Sharp, you may have spent less, but you ended up with a TV that can't produce black to save it's life, has a horrible scaler, no built in tuner, horrible color accuracy, and HDMI issues with the PS3 that took forever for Westinghouse to resolve. In car terms, you bought the base Civic.
"...champing at the bit..."
That's was a gaming pun, right?
actually, that's a correct use of the term:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/champing+at+the+bit
kudos for using it!!
Or as they're occasionally known to say in Northern Ireland, 'Biting at the champ.'
;-)
theChipmunk
It is, after all, a TV, not a monitor, so here are things some Sharp LCD TV models are known for: 1) no "Last Channel" button or "Favorites" button on the remote; 2) it takes 3 to 4 seconds to display the channel; 3) it takes 14 or more seconds to "turn on; 4) simple tasks like adding or deleting a channel can become overwhelming due to the cumbersome setup menu.
I don't know if these attributes are true for this model, as this type of information rarely appears in reviews, but they will negatively affect your viewing experience for as long as you own a TV. Make certain you can return this model if you're unhappy.
I own a 37GP1U. This is the first-gen 37" version of these TV's and by far, the best looking in Sharp's catalog. Yes, these are a tad expensive but I have to admit, I got this at wholesale price. The picture and response time is great. I have no regrets getting it. The only thing I would change is the position of the side-inputs (VyperDrive). The cables stick out and look pretty ugly. If there are cables with 90degree jacks, I'd pick them up in a heartbeat.
In response to Harvey's comments;
1) There is a "Last Channel" button, it's just called "Flashback" on the remote.
There are 4 "Favorites" buttons that can each cycle through 4 different channels, thats 16 favorites total.
2) Channel switching does not take 3-4 secs, not that I have timed it but its certainly quicker than that, or so it seems to me. I could be wrong.
3) Turning on takes a moment but I dont believe its 14 secs. No big deal, I'm never in such a rush to watch TV that it causes me grief.
4) Adding/Deleting channels is a tad bit of a chore, yes, but you only need to do it once. I dont see something like this being a factor in buying a TV at all. Especially since I dont normally browse channels outside my faves. Adding/Deleting faves is easy (if thats what you meant).
Sharp claims that a swivel stand is unique? Samsung, Toshiba, Philips, and Hitachi LCD's have had swivel stands for a while now.
I'm still bitter about Samsung calling the GXTV a gamer TV...
Wonder if I should believe Sharp...
Needs to be smaller and they need to remove the tv reciever option to make it cheaper. They really need to come out with a gamer "monitor" rather then a gamer tv.
I have the GP1U. It is the same without the swiveling. It is a great TV, but I didn't pay $1,500 for it either. It always gets compliments on the picture. Two points I'd like to make, if 1080P is silly on a 32", why don't you downgrade your computer monitor to 800X480, and two, the 37" Westinghouse is a terrible tv. Not only can it not show black at all because it looks like a flashlight is in the tv, but the colors are very washed out in comparison.
You people have no life.
My friend has one of these. I have been able to notice lag in every other HD set that I have played on. At times it makes some games unplayable while at others it severely hinders my playing. When I play with the vyper drive I do not notice any lag at all. I recommend this TV to anyone who notices lag when they play on HDTVs but if you don't then there is really no reason to buy this set.