WHAT $1,000 BUYS: LIVING

Cool Entertainment

42-Inch Plasma TV, Vizio VP422 Upstart Vizio sells flat-panel high-definition TVs for hundreds less than the big boys. The picture on the VP422 is surprisingly bright and sharp and the set displays dark images well.

The 1024-by-768-pixel resolution is good enough for today’s high-def TV shows and sports, although it's not 1080p—full HD -- but then no 42-inch set could do justice to the splendor of full HD. -- Jeff Bertolucci