Toshiba CZ27V51 27" TV

Toshiba has souped up this TV set with some impressive technology, including advanced picture-in-picture and still-frame functions. In particular, we liked the wide variety of viewing options available in the picture-in-picture mode. This unit allows you to adjust the size of the second picture window to display a program at either one-ninth or one-sixteenth of the main television screen. You can also switch the location of the picture-in-picture window to any of the four corners of the main screen.

We were perplexed, however, by the frivolous still-frame feature, which allows you to freeze the picture on your TV screen at any time with a simple click of the "still" button on your remote control. This feature is useful for capturing on-screen text and information (such as a Web-site address or phone number), but most people probably won't use it.

In addition to these fancy features, Toshiba delivers superior video and audio quality through standard AV cables. It also supports the higher-quality S-Video format, which delivers a crisper picture than a standard AV connection. If you combine this TV with a high-end Toshiba VCR or DVD player, you may be able to take advantage of a significant video-performance boost via Toshiba's proprietary ColorStream technology. The manufacturer claims that ColorStream delivers the best possible picture.

Overall, we found the Toshiba CZ27V51 to be a good value. With both high-quality performance and expanded features, this model outshines most other TV models in the same price range.

Pros:

• Top-of-the-line video quality
• Advanced picture-in-picture features
• Freeze-picture option

Cons:

• Access to advanced ColorStream technology requires other Toshiba components