Remote control defect.

The so-called multiple-function remote control doesn't have the features it claims that it can control cable/satellite and DVD/VCR. If you set the code for CBL/SAT buttom, the code for the DVD/VCR you've already set will be lost, and vice versa. The Hitachi customer service told me it's design intend instead of a defect, and this information came from the design team of Hitachi! If it's true, why Hitachi claims in the user's manual that it is designed to operate with different type of equipment with "one touch"? Why does it put two seperate buttoms for CBL/SAT and DVD/VCR instead of single buttom, since one destroies the onther one? What's mean "one touch"? It couldn't mean user had to set the code everytime before using it. The customer service didn't tell customer the truth when a problem was found.

Many aspect viewing options allow you to fill screen with 4:3 content and depending on what you're viewing, you may not miss much.

3 channel PIP doesn't work on satellite, which isn't the Hitachi's fault, but if you press Last Station while on Satellite, it switches you back to cable, which is stupid.

I bought this right after the Super Bowl at Circuit City because just like I was clued in, there were some product returns after the game. $2425 out the door with a 4 year Circuit City warranty included was unbeatable at the time. But it had to include a good picture and I thought this had the best one of the sets I looked at, including Sony, Mitsubishi, RCA. Mitsubishi Platinum Series was equal or better but $100s more for a 55". I was also tempted by a 4:3 60" Mitsubishi HDTV but the Hitachi looked better. Once you disable junk like Noise reduction and Scan Velocity Modulation the picture is excellent. I have not yet hooked up a true HD signal; have to get satellite upgrade. DVDs in Progressive mode are wonderful on this set just like being in the movies with a decent AV receiver and speakers to work with the set. I wish there were some options on how the remote works it is not always logical.

Similar Products Used:

Looked at similar size/featured Sony and Mitsubishi. Had Mitsubishi RPTVs for many years

User Friendly Remote Control Virtual HD 540/1080i Realiabiliy

None so far!

This is Hitachi's 2002 Model and can I say it all in one word, WOW!! I absolutely love this TV. Connected it HD this past weekend and I've been convince HDTV is the way to go! (if offered in your area) Remote is very user friendly with one button operations. Picture is excellent in all formats standard cable, Digital cable, DVD w/progressive scan, and finally HDTV. Actually the HD picture quality beats the DVD picture hands down.

Similar Products Used:

Compare it to Sony's 57'

Menus, Remote and Picture. (Except for the red push problem.) Switchable from 540p to 1080i. SVM can be disabled from the menu. Great picture. Regular NTSC pictures looked better than the Toshiba.

Red Push - Although I am not aware of other Hitachi owners with this problem. Stretch Mode for 4:3 programming isn't as good as the Toshiba.

I purchased this tv because two Toshiba 57H82s broke down after getting them. I was tired of Toshiba's reliability problems. Went with Hitachi. I've owned this tv for just over a month. I love the menus and the remote. Most functions of the television can be performed by pressing just one button. On the remote there are seperate buttons for each video input. One button to switch to antenna. Aspect ratio can be changed by pressing just one button and menu navigation is real easy. Compared to the Toshiba which required the menu to 'Fly' onto the screen for any little function. That got annoying. The picture quality is excellent. The OTA picture looked much better than Toshiba. You can turn off SVM from the user menu and that improved the picture significantly. After an AVIA calibration I found problems with the color decoder. Either I am doing something wrong or the red push is over 15%! I hope to get this fixed via the service menu or by attenuation. This seems out of whack. Hitachi's are not known for red push. For most sets that have it, it is usually around 5%. I have not heard of anyone else having this problem, so I am guessing it is just my TV, and not an overall 57uwx20b model problem. I have to lower the color setting to compensate for this. I have not viewed HDTV on this set. I do not have access to a signal. Watching DVDs on a Progressive scan DVD player is better than going to the movies! Great image. This is what I bought the set for. I love the widescreen, I am glad I bought it even though we watch a lot of 4:3 programming. I really enjoy watchnig wide screen enhanced DVDs. The stretch mode on the Toshiba was much better by comparison. This Hitachi's stretch mode is just barely acceptable. The 'Virutal HD' mode can be switched from 540p to 1080i. I haven't noticed any difference in picture. Some people have reported that some signals look better in mode or the other. Hitachi give you the ability to change that. Other models do not.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba 57H82