Toshiba's 10 new REGZA LCDs: 3x Ethernet, built-in DVR, and much much more

In Japan, the hand can be used as a knife. And you can't swing a Yume Neko Smile cat without defacing a 1080p TV with built-in Ethernet and a hard disk drive recorder. Case in point, Toshiba's latest batch of REGZA LCDs, ten in all. The top of the line ZH500 series measures in at 52- (52ZH500) and 46-inches (46ZH500) with 120Hz VA panels, 4x HDMI (1080/60p, 24p) inputs, 3x Ethernet (with DLNA support), 2x USB, Bluetooth, Firewire, SD slot, and a DVR to record your shows to the built-in 300GB disk. These lack the eSATA jack found in the 42-, 37-, and 32-inch RH500 series, but you can add more disk over Ethernet via an I-O Data REGZA drive wrapped in DTCP-IP DRM to keep your HD recordings off the global torrents. Rounding things out are the 42- and 37-inch ZV500 series of 120HZ IPS panel LCDs and the relatively low-end, 42-, 37-, and 32-inch CV500 series of diskless TVs. Prices will range from ¥160,000 ($1,560) on up to about $5,850 when products start hitting shelves between April and July. Pics of the in/outs on the ZH500s after the break.

Read - ZH500 and ZV500 series
Read -- RH500 and CV500 series

[sip @ Apr 9th 2008 3:16AM]

Can it compute the internet?

[gabe @ Apr 9th 2008 3:18AM]

i can just imagine my fellow stupid americans having issues with all the additional functionality of this tv -

[fowl @ Apr 9th 2008 4:31AM]

Why does a TV need 3 Ethernet ports? I can understand 1, but three?

[nDee @ Apr 9th 2008 5:31AM]

If you have placed lan in your house,
you would be annoyed that there's only one Lan port in the tv area (which is suppose to be enough)
I think those ports can work as a router and saver $30 on that

[Taylor @ Apr 9th 2008 6:17AM]

The more tubes there are, the more internet can flow through each.

[The Cadet @ Apr 9th 2008 4:36AM]

It's A Computer!!!!

[mike @ Apr 9th 2008 4:46AM]

I can't understand the advantage of having three ethernet ports on a tv. It doubles as a router for two more devices? Or just for redundancy?

[Darkest Daze @ Apr 9th 2008 4:52AM]

I'd give up 2 ethernet jacks and the DVR for a good LED backlighting system. I'd personally rather have the DVR separate since I've actually had a couple go kaput on me already. Plus the extra heat on the TV and drive can't be great for the longevity of either.

[The Future @ Apr 9th 2008 6:11AM]

Must admit, this is an impressive work of art.

Everytime you think there is nothing left to enhance the technology, they come up with another innovation


This exemplifies hi tech competition at its best

[Roofus @ Apr 28th 2008 10:42AM]

Swiss army knife solutions are never the peak of anything good. Just ask any guitarist if he wants an all in one pedal.

[Dan Davis @ Apr 9th 2008 8:52AM]

This is great, until something happens to the ethernet or HDD and you need to take it off your wall to ship it in for service.

I'll take my components separately, thank you.

[Nikos @ Apr 9th 2008 10:01AM]

OK Dan,
very good point !

You're good to buy a MacBook Air (oh no! there is an HDD) -> you'll have to buy an external HDD drive.

[nathan.wong @ Apr 9th 2008 11:09AM]

Wow, the writers for Engadget are really dating themselves with the first sentence "In Japan, the hand can be used as a knife." Infomercials rule!

[Allen @ Apr 9th 2008 11:28AM]

None of this fixes Toshiba's terribly picture quality, though...

[treacherous @ Apr 9th 2008 12:54PM]

Neat, but it would be better if it had Media Center Extender software built in instead of a wimpy DVR...

[Taylor curry @ Apr 10th 2008 2:10PM]

NICE

[Evan @ Apr 12th 2008 5:59PM]

Ohh I Need One

[SomeGuy @ Jun 15th 2008 6:48AM]

Allen @ Apr 9th 2008 11:28AM

None of this fixes Toshiba's terribly picture quality, though...




Ummm Toshiba Regza TVs have excellent picture quality... Dont spout BS around the internet..


Check a review of a Regza at the link below.... But here's a quote from it...

"The Toshiba Regza 42HL67 has a lot going for it. In our preliminary review, we were impressed with the picture quality, which had an almost three-dimensional appearance that made images pop off the screen. The brightness and contrast made a strong showing in bright, daytime lighting--not the best milieu for plasma sets--and in dim lighting. If the set does as well in full testing, it’s likely to wind up as one of the top performers"


http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/news-electronics-computers/2007/07/preview-toshiba-regza-42hl67-lcd-hdtv/overview/0707_.htm
Link^^^