The Sony Bravia KDL-65W5100 may not have generated much fanfare, but it definitely has many great features, particularly its interactive features, which, along with its semi-affordable price, set it apart from and above other models in its size range.
The Sony Bravia KDL-65W5100 starts off its interactivity suite with the usual Yahoo widgets, namely Yahoo News, Yahoo Weather and Yahoo Finance. Yahoo News displays the latest headlines of top news stories from different categories like Entertainment and Politics, along with the first two lines of the news. Yahoo Weather keeps you posted on the current weather in your area and other parts of the world, and even gives you a five-day forecast. And Yahoo Finance is a handy widget for those who want to keep tabs on the stock market and their own stock portfolios. All these take a few minutes to load, especially the Weather and Finance, but it is pretty reasonable compared to having to check the info on your computer. Unlike with most models, these widgets can be displayed anywhere on the screen of your KDL-65W5100 so you don't have to live with them being stuck at the bottom where they might not look best.
If you have a Twitter account, you'll be happy to know that this Sony HDTV has a Twitter widget, too, which allows you to view recent tweets. You cannot view past tweets, though, but you can post a tweet if you like, that is, if you can find the patience to navigate through the virtual keyboard using the directional keys on the remote.
Do you like watching online videos on your computer? If you get the KDL-65W5100, you can watch High-definition videos from Amazon Video on Demand and your favorite videos right on your HDTV screen after just a few minutes of buffering. Indeed, you don't have to buy the Bravia Internet Video Link, which costs extra, since this Sony HDTV has built-in video streaming capability.
Other channels or providers available include YouTube, Sports Illustrated On Demand, CBS, The Minisode Network, Blip.tv, FEARnet, Style.com, among others, although the videos they have available are not as clear as those on Amazon's. Not to worry, you will have more choices once Netflix becomes available, which Sony promises it will.
If you have video content stored on your other computers, you can access them, too, thanks to the enhanced DLNA capability of the KDL-65W5100. Of course, you can access your stored music files, too, without even leaving your seat, although you can simply listen to your favorite Internet Radio station with the push of a few buttons.
Last but not least, the KDL-65W5100 wraps up its interactivity suite with an interactive program guide. Compared to the usual program guide offered by your cable company, this guide gets updated regularly via the Internet, which in turn, means that you won't have to miss out on your favorite TV shows and movies, even if their timeslots have been changed.
Because of these interactive features, the Sony Bravia KDL-65W5100 is a tough competitor for other models in its range. Take note, though, that its picture quality may not be as impressive, although it still is good with black levels that are relatively deep and colors that are generally accurate. As for connectivity, this Sony HDTV should have everything you need. Just take a look at the side panel where you will find three of its four HDMI inputs - something new for a Sony HDTV - along with its PC input and USB slot. - 29967
The Sony Bravia KDL-65W5100 starts off its interactivity suite with the usual Yahoo widgets, namely Yahoo News, Yahoo Weather and Yahoo Finance. Yahoo News displays the latest headlines of top news stories from different categories like Entertainment and Politics, along with the first two lines of the news. Yahoo Weather keeps you posted on the current weather in your area and other parts of the world, and even gives you a five-day forecast. And Yahoo Finance is a handy widget for those who want to keep tabs on the stock market and their own stock portfolios. All these take a few minutes to load, especially the Weather and Finance, but it is pretty reasonable compared to having to check the info on your computer. Unlike with most models, these widgets can be displayed anywhere on the screen of your KDL-65W5100 so you don't have to live with them being stuck at the bottom where they might not look best.
If you have a Twitter account, you'll be happy to know that this Sony HDTV has a Twitter widget, too, which allows you to view recent tweets. You cannot view past tweets, though, but you can post a tweet if you like, that is, if you can find the patience to navigate through the virtual keyboard using the directional keys on the remote.
Do you like watching online videos on your computer? If you get the KDL-65W5100, you can watch High-definition videos from Amazon Video on Demand and your favorite videos right on your HDTV screen after just a few minutes of buffering. Indeed, you don't have to buy the Bravia Internet Video Link, which costs extra, since this Sony HDTV has built-in video streaming capability.
Other channels or providers available include YouTube, Sports Illustrated On Demand, CBS, The Minisode Network, Blip.tv, FEARnet, Style.com, among others, although the videos they have available are not as clear as those on Amazon's. Not to worry, you will have more choices once Netflix becomes available, which Sony promises it will.
If you have video content stored on your other computers, you can access them, too, thanks to the enhanced DLNA capability of the KDL-65W5100. Of course, you can access your stored music files, too, without even leaving your seat, although you can simply listen to your favorite Internet Radio station with the push of a few buttons.
Last but not least, the KDL-65W5100 wraps up its interactivity suite with an interactive program guide. Compared to the usual program guide offered by your cable company, this guide gets updated regularly via the Internet, which in turn, means that you won't have to miss out on your favorite TV shows and movies, even if their timeslots have been changed.
Because of these interactive features, the Sony Bravia KDL-65W5100 is a tough competitor for other models in its range. Take note, though, that its picture quality may not be as impressive, although it still is good with black levels that are relatively deep and colors that are generally accurate. As for connectivity, this Sony HDTV should have everything you need. Just take a look at the side panel where you will find three of its four HDMI inputs - something new for a Sony HDTV - along with its PC input and USB slot. - 29967
About the Author:
Edward is an electronics expert who writes HDTV reviews. To learn more about the sony kdl-65w5100, visit HDTVReviewLab.com
