Customer Reviews

Viore LC26VF59 26-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

WARNING >>> WARNING>>> WARNING!!!

If you're buying this to serve as a computer monitor, it is perhaps the best value out there for this screen size, especially if you do intensive graphics or Autocad. At the same time, and since it has a built-in Tuner, it can serve as an emergency TV set at the office, whether the office is inside or outside your residence.

If you are buying it to serve primarily as an HDTV, however, Stop right here and Read:

This is Not a 16X9 Screen; this is a 16 X 10.5 .... Read carefully: The Ratio of this screen is Not a 16 X 9 .... It is 16 X 10.5 ..... You will Not be able to obtain a true Wide Screen Image on this TV ! .... The tuner sends the signal processed for Wide Screen display Yet there is No Wide Screen to Display it as processed, the result is a vertically stretched image. This cannot be corrected by selecting a different display mode.

As a Computer Monitor, I will give it 4 Stars. .... As an HDTV, however, I can only give it no rating what so ever .... Zero Stars as a TV....!

This should be reclassified as a 1920 X 1200 Monitor .... But should never be classified as a 1080p Wide Screen HDTV because it is simply misleading.

Conclusion:

Buy it with total confidence as a 1920 X 1200 Monitor.

Do Not Buy it as a 1080p 16 X 9 Wide Screen HDTV .... It is Not.

Do not count on any type of response if you have a question or a problem. The 866# only refers the caller to a long distance number via automated responder. When called you are put on hold for the "next" available service tech (I think there is only one and they wish you would go away). When they do answer, the person does not know anything. He will take your info. and tell you a "trained" technician will call you back soon. No one ever calls. Even after following up from my end with an email and another call. No response.

I did my comparison shopping, but not enough research on this one.

Before you consider this TV for the decent size and 2 HDMI inputs, you should be forewarned about one big flaw:

It has a 16:10 aspect ratio.

This means that although it supports full 1080p resolution, the image is ALWAYS vertically stretched, like a Paula Abdul music video. I noticed this and thought that I might be able to view content with letterboxing, but this is absolutely not the case. There are options on the TV to zoom (crop) the display, but regardless the stretching will remain.

If this kind of thing doesn't bother you - maybe you always stretch your standard definition content to fill a wide screen? - then your overall impression of this TV is sure to be better than mine. Personally, I wish I had returned it before my kids destroyed the packaging.

You can see what I mean by looking at the photos, it's not wide enough to be a 16:9 TV. Although, if there were truth in advertising, that woman's head would be stretched out.

For many, I'd suggest a slightly smaller TV for a similar price, or making the leap to a more expensive one. It is flat and light and the picture quality is decent. But it does have that one glaring drawback.

I bought this television as a gold box on Thursday and had it delivered to me on Saturday by FedEx. Excellent service - thanks!

The TV is a very basic model (no DVD). Quality is always subjective, but in my opinion the picture quality is excellent and the sound quality is average. I am replacing an old smaller Toshiba analog that had Dolby, so I might just be a sound snob at this point. The TV does have plenty of connection ports available, so if you could easily hook up a home theater system if you wished.

The pictures on Amazon don't clearly show that there is a red stripe bordering the bottom of the TV - if you look very closely at the picture it is most visible where the base connects. This border stretches the length of the TV on the bottom - I think it is attractive but it may be a deal breaker for some.

Overall - simple TV, simple to connect, really great value. I am very happy with this purchase.

Other than the name brand being new to me (I have recieved a few jokes about the name being similar to a facial cleanser) I would have no reservations about buying this tv again. We have it set up with basic cable and on the major networks that broadcast the HD signal the picture looks as sharp (If not better) than our Samsung HD and Sony HD LCD sets. Sad but true. I'm a bit dubious of how long this tv might last but so far so good. At the price, we kind of thought that if it lasts a year or two, we probably got our money's worth.

Before I bought (as part of the Gold Box special) I tried to look around for information. The brand got some good reviews, good consumer reviews but was not well reviewed by the Better Business Bureau, not responding to consumer complaints, etc. And as for the brand itself, it seems like a 2nd (or 3rd?) tier (on par with vizio, etc) made exclusively for Wal-Mart. Possibly made by WalMart as they share the same corporate headquarters site in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The only downside really is the sound quality but we have a little bose stereo that we hook up and Viola! Problem Solved. (It's not awful sound by any means, probably wouldn't go out of our way to even do that but it sits right next to it and really takes less than three seconds so...) It also seems to take a little while to come on after hitting the power button and the volume and channel buttons seems to be set beackwards on the top of the set itself. On the other hand, for such an economical set I'm pretty impressed with the amount of outlets for inputs it has.

Bottomline: this is an inexpensive tv set. It probably isn't going to have a long life (without warranty) and you proabaly won't have a lotta luck with customer relations department if something should go wrong. But impressive picture quality.

Having only had this for a few weeks, I'll update later on the quality over a longer duration.

The TV looks good and has a very good picture, however after less than a week the TV would come on but would not allow channel or volume control. I sent the TV back and received a replacement in less than 3 days.
(One of the reasons I shop Amazon - ease of retuning items if needed) After 1 day - same problem. I called Viore tech support and was promised a return call withing 3 business days. I never received a return call. I returned this unit and ordered a Sony that was delivered by Amazon withing 3 days.

I am very impressed with the overall quality of the sound and picture for this TV. This is the first time I have owned a HDTV. The set up was easy and again I applaud Amazon for it's prices and service. The only complaint I have about this set is the ac plugin is not in the same location as the picture shows on the Amazon site-the plug is underneath the bottom of the set and once you plug the TV up-the cord is bent at an angle. The ac plugin location is the only reason I gave this product 4 stars instead of 5.

The remote on the unit failed, I contacted Viore for support, what I have discovered is a collection of rude incompetent support staff who's main job is obviously just to get you off the phone. It's been six weeks since this remote has failed and I still have no replacement... I've been getting the run around every time I call.. they want a proof of purchase e-mailed to them and gave the e mail address to send it to..ok, fine I e mailed... called back to check status again... was greeted by a sighing rude staff member telling me that I shouldn't have emailed the proof of purchase " cuz dat don't work" so now they tell me to fax it in... OK... I will now do that part of the game..I was also informed "der aint any replacement remotes in stock and don't know we getting dem in so you just have to wait" A TV without a remote is pretty much useless.. I'll just end up buying one.. The difference between Viore and a GOOD company is customer service. So take your chances..and hope nothing fails.. Viore customer service is an absolute joke.

I was unable to get my Dish remote to work with my new Viore HDTV and when I talked to the Tech Rep he said that no universal remote will work with any Viore TV's.

This means if you are on cable or satellite you will not be able to change/mute the volume or turn off the set without using the Viore remote. You will have to have both available to you in order to use the set.

Those of you that have large universal remotes to operate your entertainment centers may want to pass on this otherwise good deal.

We have cabinetry in our den that was designed for a built in, tube type, TV and have wanted a HD TV that fits the space. Viore was the largest screen possible with the width limit that we have. That was our single selection criteria.

We then found out that Amazon sells this particular set so we ordered it and everything that follows was a pleasant surprise.

FIRST bonus. We decided to let Amazon ship it without additional freight charges but it arrived the next day nonetheless.

SECOND bonus. The installation was almost automatic. Viore includes many diagrams and the instructions are simple and written by an person with an English native tongue (easy to understand).

THIRD bonus. We obtained the right cable box, turned on the set and immediately were impressed by the picture quality.

We have read other comments about the sound being a bit tinny - and it is a little hollow so I'm going to add a set of speakers to help that a bit. There are ample connections on the unit for adding items like this.

For the money (~$300) you cannot beat the deal. Very possibly, if you would go to a store and put this set next to others you'd see a difference in the picture quality. Perhaps. But I find it just fine with the kind of detail, color, clarity that you would expect.

We had never heard of Viore before this. That does make you a bit apprehensive. It's OK. They do a fine job.