Samsung UN60ES6100 60-Inch 1080p 120Hz Slim LED HDTV (Black)

Samsung's SmartTV line is proof that you don't need to drop $4,000 to get a beautiful big screen TV. This ultra-thin 60" TV sports a back-lit LED display for dramatic brightness and clarity, but there's a lot more under the framework. Several features have been added to this full 1080p display to make it stand out from others in its class. The "SmartTV" feature blends browser-like media access to the internet, and a host of immediate ready-to-use apps such as YouTube and Netflix, making it convenient to watch your favorite movies and TV shows without having to stream from a computer or a video game box. App responsiveness is both quick and easy to use, though your experience may differ. Netflix utilizes the same structure as the PlayStation 3 version, which is quite handy and easy to use, yet lacks a genre search function. You'll have to browse Netflix's website to get a full listing of all their films and TV shows, then search for any that aren't included on the list of quick search bars. The YouTube app is passable, yet clunky and limited. Far too much attention has been put on headlining material, while the search feature has suffered. Samsung offers a host of downloadable apps as well; everything from fitness to Hulu Plus, and even Pandora.

The unit comes with 3 HDMI ports that ferry video and audio through one cable, which is a plus, though there should have been 4 for a TV of this size. It also includes Component and Optical Audio jacks to ensure compatibility across a vast array of devices. Setting up devices is quite easy, and the TV automatically detects any available media source that is turned on, and active. If you have a PC set up with a streaming media app such as PS3 Media Server, the TV will automatically detect if the program is active on your home network, and give you instant access to any of your shared music, movie, or photo folders.

The real complexity lies in the setup of the picture itself. The 6100 comes with Samsung's patented AutoMotion technology, which utilizes higher Hz rates to smooth out the picture. Essentially, this gets rid of the standard 24FPS "feel" of movies and most television shows by intelligently smoothing out the picture and creating a more realistic feel, akin to shooting on a home video camcorder. AutoMotion comes with several presets, including the ability to customize the technology to your personal liking, but in truth, it does more harm than good. Activating AutoMotion even on the lightest setting will "ghost" most TV shows and movies. Netflix's material is especially prone to this, as clearly demonstrated on TV shows like 24, where the picture appears to have been shot like a British drama series during the 1980s. The smoothness of play is eradicated, creating a wholly noticeable and altogether distracting and unenjoyable feel. AutoMotion does look extremely vibrant on Blu-Ray discs, however. I turned the technology on for a test run using Avatar on Blu-Ray, and the results were staggering and jaw-dropping, making you feel as if you were actually there on Pandora. Yet, for all its splendor, it was too difficult to get used to for the long haul, and we eventually turned it down to a lower setting. This corrupted the feel of the picture, though, and gave us the same problem as Netflix. Only by shutting off AutoMotion completely are you able to get a normal picture out of your movies and TV shows. It is ONLY recommended for high-def or Blu-Ray content, and even then, it's going to be a matter of personal preference. Some might like it, but most will undoubtedly hate it.

Despite this hiccup, the display is flat-out beautiful, even for a television that costs under $2000. Detail levels are pinpoint, color saturation is staggering, blacks are deep, rich, and devoid of artifacts, and the brightness......oh, the brightness! If you're migrating from an older style LCD, Plasma, or DLP TV set in favor of an LED display, prepare yourself! The maximum brightness of the TV set will almost peel the paint off the walls. Naturally, this can be fine-tuned, and there's even an option built into the SmartTV software that will automatically dim the TV set depending on the level of light in a room. Novices may wish to download a setup disc that will walk them through the proper calibration of their TV set, but those familiar with color, brightness and contrast balancing won't have much of a problem. There are simply too many good things to say about a TV that carries such a respectable price tag. Having a 60" TV set is no longer the stuff of bragging rights, as it was 10 years ago, but Samsung has crafted a lightweight television that takes up extremely little space, and looks dynamite at the same time. We did research on this TV, and compared it to several others in the same price class. None could compare, or they lacked the SmartTV features, which we feel are essential for those who wish to have a one-stop media hub that is ready to fire on all cylinders. Our only one true gripe about the TV set was the Remote Control, with its sticky, unresponsive buttons and outdated IR technology. For a TV with this much bravado, and so many features, it's practically a sin for Samsung to have omitted a Bluetooth Remote. Shame on them! Invest in a universal remote, and you'll quickly remedy this problem, however. Once you've gone through an hour or two of setup, you'll be quite happy with your Samsung 60" SmartTV. The 7, 8, and 9 series Samsung TVs are obviously all sporting even better technologies, but you'd be hard-pressed to really care about the difference if all you want is an excellent all-around display. The UN60ES6100 is a true gem.