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By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
Nov 23, 2007

If you haven't heard yet, Toshiba is expanding it 2007 lineup with three different series from entry to midrange and high-end. While there're very few details on its upcoming premium models, the recently launched X3500E Regzas are breaking new ground at an unprecedented S$4,999 (US$3,675.74) price point. Putting aside the unusually affordable offerings from the Chinese vendors, this is one of the rare Japanese gems packing both a luxurious 46-inch screen and future-proof full-HD resolution. While there are obvious tradeoffs (more on this later), it's definitely an attractive and viable option for budget-conscious HD wannabes.

Design:

On the aesthetics front, Toshiba has finally adopted the wildly popular black piano finish for its slim 2 inch-thick LCD frame. This sits on a set of streamlined speakers dressed in matching gun-metal hue running through the entire length of the screen. With the exception of an embossed company and supplementary logos, the set presents an overall simple and clutter-free styling. The combination of clean lines and subtle shimmer when coupled with its unique V-shaped swivel stand further eludes class sorely missing in many of its past Regzas.

The placements of the onboard TV controls and side A/V inputs are just about right, too. These are stacked on top of one another and mounted on the right, within easy reach for impromptu access. To minimize wall-mounting depth and to keep the cables tidy, all the rear sockets are housed within a series of deep and wide grooves. A handful of them such as the HDMIs are vertically aligned, making initial setup a little trickier than usual. On the plus side, there are two plastic clips large enough to hold a bundle of thick cords for cable management.

It is a love-hate affair when it comes to its redesigned black-and-silver remote controller, which is quite unlike any of its predecessors. On the one hand, there is auxiliary Toshiba DVD control complete with handy direct playback keys. On the other hand, little has changed regarding its quirky usability. You still have the dreaded manual toggling button for input switching. Same for the hardly self-explanatory symbols fronting many of its bottom controls--a pity considering the stick's otherwise ergonomic feel, soft rubbery buttons and tactile feedback.

Faring better is its intuitive and well-structured software menu. You simply can't go wrong with its onscreen navigation instructions and simplified settings. As a matter of fact, almost every essential configuration is covered under its six sub-menus, ranging from basis video parameters to advanced six hue-based color management and dual multilevel noise reduction systems. If you are finding these technicalities intimidating, there are always the Dynamic, Standard and Mild picture modes, plus a well-written 37-page user manual to fall back on.

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