The point isn't the glossy screen versus the matte finish but rather the technology behind the surface. People keep focusing on the whole glossy screen thing rather than the underlying tech that makes the IPS-Alpha tech work. Maybe Panasonic should have presented it with two matte finishes or two glossy finishes so the easily distracted among us could focus on what's actually happening here.

Tremendous interest? Compared to what? They're getting to where you can't get a standalone BD release. I really don't care if they throw a DVD in and it does have it's advantages but let's not stroke our Johnsons too much here, I wish they'd just admit that it's an easy way to charge another 5 or 10 bucks for a release (or 15 in the case of Wall-E) to combat the already falling BD software margins. I don't know why I even try to rationalize it though because I end up buying the damn discs after everything's said and done, I'm such a consumer whore lol.

There are only 3 majors in the LCD biz (Samsung, Sharp, LG, not counting cheapie Chinese panels) it doesn't surprise me that they'd eventually buy from one of those 3. Any real picture differences between the edge-lit style Samsung employes on their 6,7, and 8000 series and the RGB LEDs Sony uses on their XBRs are so negligable and the price war so extreme now in our economy that Sony pretty much has no choice but to go the Samsung route. Besides, Samsung is dominating this market segment so much if Sony doesn't act fast they'll not stand a chance. I think it's a really amazing descent from dominance that Sony has taken over the past 5 years and I wonder if they'll ever regain their no. 1 status in any of their core product catagories. Saying all that I anticipate their edge-lit panels (assuming they are, which I don't see them not being) and hope they can stay somewhat competitive.

What's funny is that if you use the Media Player option and play 720p video off of a thumbstick or harddrive you can in fact set 720p to pixel by pixel mode, borders and all. Try it. Now I haven't figured out why they'd let you do it with video on a portable device but not with a feed from a game console, DVD player, computer, etc. but it's there.

After seeing UP in Disney 3D I can say that I am a believer. It was an amazing experience and well worth the additional cost. I don't like wearing the glasses for that long but I'll make sacrifices to get that experience. Now I just hope they don't screw me and introduce a 3D standard not compatible with my Sammy plasma.

"GO TO THERE WEBSITE JACKASS THE CONTEST IS ON THERE"

Lol but that'd mean people would have to use common sense and we ain't got time for that. I wanna be hotlinked dammit!

I'd imagine that the panel is an actual 240hz refreshed display as in it accepts a 240hz signal, not software assisted from 60hz like every other 120/240 set out there. What applications there are for that fast an input are few and far between but it's interesting anyway.

"Because the incremental video quality increase alone does not justify the price increase for blu."

So buy it for what's on the discs, like every other release out there. What's not to understand here? It's the best looking, best sounding version of the show out there and people are complaining? Can't please everyone I guess. I didn't know people are still getting hung up over the price of Blu-Rays. It's not like we haven't discussed this topic a thousand times already. If you want it you'll buy it otherwise do like others and rent.

What's wrong with Dolby Digital for audio? It's what you heard on tv and with that show I really doubt you'd notice much difference anyway. I don't really understand why people would bypass the BD version just because of the audio. Get over it and enjoy the show in HD.

From what I can tell from talking to people within the company the issue was because there was (is currently) one machine in the world capable of producing the parts needed for the laser assembly and it broke. Because there are no off the shelf parts available some needed to be manufactured, hence the delay. Regardess of whether they should have thought about that prior to production it's apparently resolved and most retailers (Fry's, Best Buy) should receive their units in April/May.