It's only been a few hours since I sold my beloved "big screen" and loaded it into my friend's truck. The rear projection HDTV was like a part of the family. It was with us through sporting events and movies, good times and bad. Nevertheless, its time had come. No longer did a three-foot deep and five-foot high cabinet fit our lifestyle, not to mention our living room. It was the first thing people saw when they entered our house, and it stood out like a sore thumb.

I've been searching for a substitute for a big cabinet television, and thought my best option was a flat panel plasma or LCD. However, InFocus has an alternative large format consumer display called the ScreenPlay 61md10. The 61md10 is a 61-inch, ultra-thin high definition television for consumers looking for a big screen that doesn't take over the room. Its svelte design integrates into the room design and can be placed on a tabletop, set on a floor stand or mounted on the wall like a flat panel display.

Unique Features
InFocus, a company well known for their front projector displays, has developed an innovative rear projection television (RPTV) using a one-of-a-kind wide-angle projection lens and screen, which significantly reduces both the projection distance to the screen and distortion. The InFocus Engine is based on one of the most advanced DLP chips from Texas Instruments, the HD2+ chip. This DLP microchip uses hundreds of thousands of tiny, swiveling mirrors in a 1280 x 720 pattern to create an image. The TI DLP circuitry has been enhanced with DarkChip 2 technology designed specifically for native 16:9 high definition displays and 720p output. Absent from the 61md10 are problems associated with other thin displays, i.e. image retention, brightness loss and limited serviceability. Paused images and video games will not be frozen permanently on the screen, and brightness levels won't decrease over the life of the television. The new engine also has a longer life that other TVs and maintains a perfect resolution free of image warping or pixel loss.

The proprietary lens is the key component that reduces the depth of the television while creating large image sizes with full resolution and the highest contrast ratio available in a DLP design. The result is a cabinet 6.85 inches deep and light enough to mount on a wall. The 61md10 comes with a base for floor or tabletop use, but the large TV can adapt to its surroundings with an optional InFocus wall mount or floor stand to match your décor. The stylish display has an unbelievably small footprint and convenient removable front panel to access the lamp door on the right and numerous connectivity options that reside in the jack panel on the lower left of the set.

I hate using the term "future-proof", because no one knows what the future of consumer electronics holds, but if the term applies to any display, this InFocus model fits the bill. Evidence of future-ready technology is in the Digital-Cable Readiness (DCR) for cable HD programming (CableCARD), two integrated HD tuners (cable and off-air), HD connectivity through HDMI, and two IEEE 1394 for D-VHS compatibility. Of course, plenty of component, S-Video and composite connections are included to connect any digital source unit. In addition, to further prepare for the future, the 61md10 has an Ethernet port and built-in web browser. Connect a router, cable modem or digital subscriber line (DSL) modem to the TV with an Ethernet cable (CAT5), and begin surfing the Internet with the wireless keyboard included.

Installation/Setup/Ease of Use
As previously stated, the InFocus ScreenPlay 61md10 can be placed on a tabletop, on a floor stand or mounted to the wall. I placed the display on a base in a precariously small space that would have made connecting lesser screens difficult at best. However, I was able to access the jack panel by removing the entire lower front panel piece and setting it aside. This allowed access to the connections through a hole on the left side of the TV. There is ample room for hands, and the jacks are well-labeled and laid out in a logical manner.

I connected my HD DirecTV DVR with an HDMI cable and DVD player with component interconnects. With a network connection already established between my two computers and cable modem service, it was easy to connect my router and cable modem for high-speed to the InFocus with an IEEE 1394 cable to the Ethernet port. I also used a coaxial splitter to attach to the analog cable input. Once I pressed the front panel back in place and turned on the set, I began the assisted setup sequence.

The on-screen menu system allows adjustments to the TV features for proper setup. I cycled through video settings to improve the picture quality, audio settings to adjust the sound from the six speakers and subwoofer, plus I tweaked the connection setup and chose my preferences. The InFocus ScreenPlay comes with a matching, fully-programmable, backlit, universal remote control capable of controlling most brands of VCRs, DVD players, audio systems, and cable or satellite set-top boxes. It's a very effective input device for the TV.

Final Take
Ambient light from my living room window has always been an issue with my CRT RPTV. Sunlight washes over the display in the morning and creates a bright spot on the wall, making a very intense reflection. The 61md10 uses an innovative lamp with a daytime setting to increase brightness for daytime use and a movie setting to lower brightness and increase the contrast ratio for nighttime viewing in a dimly lit room. The results from changing the settings and the low reflective screen were impressive. It allowed me to see the brightest possible picture and lessened the effects of ambient light. The set also has a wide viewing angle good for viewing off-axis left and right. However, with the set placed low on a floor or high on the wall, the picture turns dark.

Watching Discovery HD on the ScreenPlay display was awe-inspiring. I chose to use the normal Color Warmth setting, splitting the difference between cool for more blue levels and warm for more red. Ocean images were a cool blue and appeared lifelike, while red lava flowing from volcanoes was rich and warm. Concerns that an ultra-slim RPTV would compromise picture quality for convenience quickly flew out the window. The picture quality exceeds any rear projection television I've seen before, and is a great representation of 720p DLP performance.

The ScreenPlay 61md10 is an affordable alternative to large flat panel displays with solutions to many of the shortcomings of plasma and LCD sets. The sleek, space-saving design is one of the nicest available and offers a spectacular picture with no image warping and no loss of pixels. Most plasma screens this size cost considerably more and have burn-in issues and short life weaknesses.

Kudos are many and complaints are few. For wall mounting, it would be nice if the speakers were removable to lessen the cabinet size. The cabinet is very thin, but takes up more wall space than a typical flat panel. The wireless keyboard with a joystick mouse control is a nice inclusion for web browsing, and can even double as the remote control. The space-saving design is impressive, especially when you consider the wonderful performance the 61md10 offers. Add in the reasonable cost for a 61-inch display, and you have a winner.

InFocus ScreenPlay 61md10
61" DLP 16:9 RPTV
Dual-Mode Lamp
Twin Tuner PIP
15 Watts x 2, Plus 30 Watts for Subwoofer
Illuminated Universal Learning Remote Control
Integrated Web Browser
Wireless Keyboard
(2) S-Video Inputs
(2) Component Video Inputs
(4) Composite Video Inputs
HDMI Input
(2) IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Inputs
(2) RF Inputs (1 Antenna, 1 Cable)
Optical Digital Audio Output
Ethernet Port
Wall-Mountable (bracket not included)
62.24" W x 46.65" T x 6.85" D (w/o base)
135.2 lbs (w/o base)
189.5 lbs (w/base)
2-Year Warranty
90-Day Lamp Replacement Guarantee
MSRP: $6,999