Toshiba 19AV500U 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV (Black)

NOTE: this is a general review of Toshiba's customer service center. Should you have any concerns about what may happen when or if you tv breaks, this is the chaos and frustration you will find in dealing with them. Please go with a different brand...

We bought a TV/DVD combo from Toshiba as a gift from Santa last year for my 8-year old so that she could watch her Full House and Lizzie McGuire movies on it in her bedroom. Unfortunately, after 4 months, the tv's picture stopped working. She told me to send it back to Santa, so off it went to our local authorized Toshiba repairman, as you cannot return these items to Amazon after a certain period of time. We were told by Toshiba that the tv was under full warranty for parts and service. The repairman said no. We would have to pay at least $80 in service repairs. Well, it's been six months and we have yet to see our tv. The part that was supposedly broken was out of stock. Toshiba has sent out part after part after part...spending more in shipping and parts I'm sure than we actually paid for the tv. Now they are shipping out their 4th part...and we still have no tv and it's November. NOTE: the Toshiba representatives were rude and their supervisor (Dave Thomson) was scripted and condescending. TOSHIBA DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND DOES NOT HELP ITS CUSTOMERS.

My daughter got so upset that Santa didn't return her tv that we had to buy her another tv a few months ago. Then, she overheard one of the numerous heated discussions between my husband and Toshiba. Every time my husband called, we were told the issue would be "escalated". The representatives are scripted and said whatever they could to passify us. In the end, we were told by Toshiba's supervisor (Dave Thomson) that this was their final decision...to just continue to keep trying to fix an inferior product with no hope that it may get fixed. By the time we get the tv back, if we get it back, it will no longer be under warranty.

In the end, with no return of her original tv and the numerous phone calls to/from Toshiba, my daughter finally got the clue and realized Santa doesn't exist. Thanks Toshiba. MAY NO PARENT EVER RELY ON YOUR PRODUCT AGAIN! THE TECHNOLOGY IS LOUSY AND YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT! GIVEN HOW TIGHT CONSUMERS' WALLETS ARE THIS SEASON, I HOPE PEOPLE LOOK PASSED YOUR BRAND AND SELECT A BETTER CHOICE.

FYI...When we purchased the tv, it was not made clear to us that it would be outdated within 14 months with the switch to digital.

Happy Holidays from a very dissatisfied customer.

Got this TV and thought the video features were great...but the sound was awful - very "tinny" sounding speakers. Sounded like a bad Nextel phone! Could not even add external speakers because there is no audio output jack - only optical digital outputs. We bought this to use in our kitchen, and have no room to hook up a surround system. We don't want that just to watch the news, etc., so the TV went back.

These 19" Toshiba tvs have a very nice picture and a slim look to them. They are very reliable, and one of the best small tvs.

I got this television today and as soon as I turned it on noticed how terrible it sounded. The picture was great, but I couldn't get around the tinny sound that made to tv seem loud no matter how I lowered the volume. I tried manipulating and could not find a decent setting. It's the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. I generally like Toshiba products so I was very disappointed with this television and am sending it back tomorrow morning. If you care at all about how your television sounds, do not buy this TV.

I think this tv is fantastic. The order came pretty quick, and it was free delivery, and the quality of the picture is beautiful. I am now forever in love with HDTV, the colors in the picture are just awesome and amazing.