It's got nothing to do with Vudu's service, which is largely unchanged from the days of the Vudu set-top box. (I mean, we're still in those days, technically, but hey, narrative! ) The interface is the same easily navigable set of panels and menus, which seem to work fine with LG's standard remotes—no standalone clickwheel controller here. The movie selection is still decent, with concurrent releases for SD, 720p and 1080p HDX films on a near-DVD timescale, which has been one of Vudu's selling points since it first hit A/V stacks last year. And it's certainly not the 1080p HDX video quality, which was excellent on the 47-inch LH50 and started streaming in just a few seconds, even on the demo room's ~4.5mbps connection. Nope, it's not that.

The strange feeling I got from the movie samples, whether in SD, 720p or 1080p modes, was down to LG: The NetCast sets that'll carry the Vudu option have LG's 120Hz Trumotion interpolation technology, meaning that they essentially insert frames between what's already on the source material, with the stated purpose of "smoothing" the video output. As we—and others—have complained about before, though, the effect can be strange, making motions seem unnatural, and giving a multi-hundred-million-dollar films an odd, camcorder-like aesthetic.

That issue is really offputting here, and not optional. It made The Knowing look like a daytime soap opera, and made the bus chase scene in The Prisoner of Azkaban look like an extended Benny Hill sketch. Sure, I'm being a little hyperbolic, and for a lot of people—the people who actually like the idea of these high refresh rate sets, I guess—this won't matter. But for anyone who's sensitive to this kind of thing, it could be a dealbreaker. Vudu says they're in talks with LG to include an option to disable this feature with future Vudu-enabled sets, but for now, well, sorry,

But despite this admittedly obnoxious issue, the previous conclusion still stands: set-top boxes are on their way out, and multi-service web-connected TV's are The Thing Right Now. Netflix is showing its bright red face basically everywhere right now, and apparently, Vudu's in talks to try to get that same kind of presence. Which, 120Hz or not, is a step in the right direction. [Vudu on Giz]

So what gets this? It's a decent spread of 42-inch-and-up plasma and LCD TVs, including the 47-inch LCD 47LH50 and 50-inch plasma 50PS80, available now for $1,699 and $1,799, respectively, and the forthcoming 42-inch LCD 42LH50, and the 60-inch plasma 60PS80, which should land outside the price spread of the current sets on both ends.

Vudu has promised a smattering of improvements on their side of things, from video quality tweaks to a snappier user interface—mostly due to these HDTVs' more substantial hardware, I'd assume. But the most important part of this announcement isn't even about Vudu:

With LG's NetCast Entertainment Access, consumers have instant access to millions of streaming movies, TV shows and web videos through an Ethernet connection. These models, ranging in screen size from 42- to 60-inch class sizes*, also include access to content from Netflix, Yahoo! Widgets, YouTube and more

This "choose your widget" scenario is an increasingly common scenario for new HDTVs right now, which is fantastic news for customers, and not so fantastic news for whatever poor companies got roped into manufacturing the various standalone streaming set-top boxes we'd just started to get used to. (Sorry, Roku!) Without the hardware entry cost, these video services can fight it out with the features that really matter: Netflix's monthly subscription vs. Roku's per-movie rentals and purchases; Vudu's 1080p HDX streaming vs. Netflix's 720p VC1AP video; etc. Open platform TVs and Blu-ray players are the new battlefield, and they won't be a forgiving one. [LG, Vudu]

LG ELECTRONICS FIRST TO BRING VUDU HD MOVIE SERVICE
TO BROADBAND HDTVs

VUDU's Unique Streaming Movie Service, Largest Library of HD Movies,
enhance LG ‘NetCast Entertainment Access' LCD and Plasma HDTVs

NEW YORK, July 29, 2009 — LG Electronics will be the first to introduce broadband HDTVs with the instant-access high-definition (HD) movie service from VUDU Inc., a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment services, the companies announced today. VUDU on-demand movies will be available on LG's LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 Plasma 1080p series with "NetCast Entertainment Access," beginning next month.

"Our alliance with VUDU further demonstrates LG's commitment to delivering the ultimate HD viewing experience, by providing instant access to more 1080p movie content than ever before" said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing and strategy, LG Electronics USA. "VUDU highlights the superb video quality of our ‘Full HD' sets with NetCast Entertainment Access, while providing consumers with access to thousands of HD movies with the touch of a button."

The VUDU service allows consumers to instantly buy or rent from an extensive library of movies and TV titles, including an industry-leading catalog of more than 2,000 high-definition movies – with no monthly fees and without having to buy, install, or connect any additional hardware. Consumers will enjoy movies in VUDU's unique HDX format, with Full HD 1080p resolution, plus Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound.

VUDU's streaming movie service delivers a near-instant viewing experience – movies start immediately, including high definition HDX movies, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with slow buffering. The VUDU catalog is updated weekly, and newly released movies from major studios are typically available months before they are available on subscription-based services.

"Together, LG's Broadband HDTVs and the VUDU service set the industry standard for easy access to on-demand HD movies," said Alain Rossmann, CEO of VUDU. "VUDU is blazingly fast on LG's Broadband HDTVs and makes discovering and watching new HD movies a truly exciting and fun user experience. With this partnership, VUDU is raising the bar on delivering Hollywood movies to this new class of Smart TVs."

With LG's NetCast Entertainment Access, consumers have instant access to millions of streaming movies, TV shows and web videos through an Ethernet connection. These models, ranging in screen size from 42- to 60-inch class sizes*, also include access to content from Netflix, Yahoo! Widgets, YouTube and more. With this enhanced connectivity, LG's Broadband HDTVs transform and personalize the home theater experience by offering a virtually endless array of entertainment options.
LG's 47-inch class* LCD HDTV (model 47LH50) and 50-inch class* plasma HDTV (model 50PS80) with NetCast Entertainment Access are available now at national retailers with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,699 and $1,799. LG's 42-inch class* LCD (model 42LH50) and 60-inch class* plasma (model 60PS80) will be available and existing LG Broadband TV owners will be able to add the VUDU service next month.

In addition, those who purchase a Vudu VBX100 Internet Movie player from Best Buy ($300) will receive a $200 voucher for downloadable content, effectively lowering the price to $100. To see their full list of new HD and HDX downloads of the week, read on.

HDX (35):

The Punisher

King of New York

Top Gun

Distant Voices, Still Lives

Happy Endings

House of D

The Job

Undiscovered

Wooly Boys

The Running Man

Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home

Silent Hill

Platoon

To Live and Die in L.A.

Mission: Impossible 2

The Rock

The Matrix Revolutions

The Rookie

Finding Amanda

Shutter

Nim's Island

Street Kings

What Happens in Vegas (Unrated)

Day Watch [Dnevnoy Dozor]

Alien vs. Predator

The Day After Tomorrow

Fight Club

Ice Age

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Little Miss Sunshine

Men of Honor

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Unrated)

Speed

Super Troopers

Transporter 2

HD (389):

Bull Durham

Mad Max

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Robocop 2

Mississippi Burning

The Punisher

Hoosiers

Platoon

The Return of the Pink Panther

King of New York

Shanghai Surprise

The Resurrected

Barfly

The Right Stuff

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

Unforgiven

Body Heat

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Grave of the Vampire

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Last Tango in Paris

The Magnificent Seven

Midnight Cowboy

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Hang 'em High

Thelma and Louise

Red Dawn

Fiddler on the Roof

Hoodlum

Much Ado About Nothing

Leviathan

The Secret of NIMH

Jason's Lyric

Posse

The Thomas Crown Affair

The Train

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

At First Sight

Pork Chop Hill

Dirty Work

The Dark Half

Cooley High

Diggstown

The Package

Storefront Hitchcock

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Force 10 from Navarone

How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying

Mr. Mom

F/X 2

F/X

Desperately Seeking Susan

Miss Julie

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask

Interiors

Manhattan

Easy Money

Pumpkinhead

The Amityville Horror

Pajama Party

Tales of Terror

Ghoulies 2

The Playboys

Code of Silence

Rancho Deluxe

House of Games

Breaker! Breaker!

The Conversation

Mystic Pizza

The Organization

Coffy

Baby Boom

Moonlight and Valentino

City of Industry

The Mighty Quinn

Mermaids

Dr. Phibes Rises Again

Die, Monster, Die!

Alfie

Yours, Mine and Ours

Napoleon

Support Your Local Sheriff

12 Angry Men

Fluke

The Greatest Story Ever Told

King of Hearts

Tank Girl

Youngblood

Semi-Tough

Return of the Magnificent Seven

Shadows and Fog

Throw Momma From the Train

The Pope of Greenwich Village

Pit and the Pendulum

Moby Dick

Sweet Smell of Success

The Barefoot Contessa

Cutter's Way

The Hotel New Hampshire

Reptilicus

Count Yorga, Vampire

Planet of the Vampires

Quigley Down Under

The Return of a Man Called Horse

Valdez Is Coming

A Hole in the Head

Irma La Douce

Little Man Tate

Lawman

Clambake

American Ninja

Bucktown

Colors

Running Scared

Radio Days

The Dogs of War

A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy

Lone Wolf McQuade

The People That Time Forgot

The Purple Rose of Cairo

The Lover

Witness for the Prosecution

Topkapi

Inherit the Wind

The Defiant Ones

Mademoiselle

Romeo Is Bleeding

Lenny

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Khartoum

The Pride and the Passion

UHF

Caveman

Unforgettable

L.A. Streetfighters

A Rumor of Angels

The Return of the Living Dead

The Knack, and How to Get It

The Long Goodbye

Urban Cowboy

CQ

How to Murder Your Wife

Exodus

Border Cop [aka The Border]

Windtalkers

A Kiss Before Dying

A Great Wall

Legend of the Lost

Company Business

Making Mr. Right

Music from Another Room

Mr. Majestyk

Road House

Life Stinks

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

The Couch Trip

Memories of Me

Popi

Personal Velocity

Terror in a Texas Town

My Beautiful Laundrette

Dark Blue

Prisoner of the Mountains

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Avanti!

One, Two, Three

Raw Meat

Thrashin'

Hot Dog... The Movie

Johnny Be Good

Article 99

The Hospital

Bulletproof Monk

Straight Out of Brooklyn

It Runs in the Family

Livin' Large!

Cops and Robbers

To Live and Die in L.A.

Real Men

Flesh and Blood

Follow That Dream

Stay Hungry

Crisscross

Little Monsters

The Magnificent Seven Ride!

Osama

Moulin Rouge

Sleepover

Species 3

Nobody's Fool

Confessions of an American Girl

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia

Electra Glide in Blue

Mac and Me

Ambush Bay

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Scalphunters

Dance with Me, Henry

Undertow

What's New Pussycat?

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

Lady Chatterley's Lover

I Love You, Don't Touch Me!

Inserts

A Dry White Season

Hard Promises

Kid Galahad

F.I.S.T.

21 Hours at Munich

Trail of the Pink Panther

Curse of the Pink Panther

Inspector Clouseau

Farewell to the King

Yellowbeard

Art School Confidential

The Chocolate War

China Doll

Play Dirty

Gun the Man Down

Sabata

Return of Sabata

Adios Sabata

The Battle of El Alamein

The Charge of the Model-T's

Cool Blue

Crusoe

The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission

Double Trouble

Enter the Ninja

Erik the Viking

The Food of the Gods

From Noon Till Three

Futureworld

The Gallant Hours

Ghost Warrior

Ghoulies

The Group

High Tide

The Honey Pot

The Horror Show

Huckleberry Finn

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

The In Crowd

Kid Colter

The King and Four Queens

L.A. Bounty

Lupo

Madhouse

The Masque of the Red Death

My American Cousin

Navajo Joe

Octavia

Paper Lion

The Peacekillers

Poltergeist 2: The Other Side

Pursuit

Queen of Hearts

Revolution

Rich Kids

Rolling Thunder

Scandalous

Scream and Scream Again

Some Girls

Teachers

Troll

The White Buffalo

Yentl

For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers

Iphigenia

Number One

Angel Unchained

Black Girl

The Return of Dracula

Davy Crockett, Indian Scout

The Delinquents

A Fistful of Dynamite

For Those Who Think Young

The Gunfight at Dodge City

The Hawaiians

I Escaped from Devil's Island

Kings of the Sun

Man of the East

Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country

Braveheart

Clue

Escape from Alcatraz

Pootie Tang

Posse

Soapdish

The Presidio

The Virgin Suicides

Days of Thunder

Friday the 13th: Part 2

The Running Man

Parents

Beverly Hills Cop 2

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Director's Cut)

Gattaca

Silent Hill

Distant Voices, Still Lives

Happy Endings

House of D

The Job

Undiscovered

Wooly Boys

The Foot Fist Way

Beverly Hills Cop 3

Avalanche

The Bed Sitting Room

Blue State

The Neanderthal Man

Phaedra

Child's Play

Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You

Rebel in Town

Revolt at Fort Laramie

The Revolt of the Slaves

Robbers' Roost

Salt and Pepper

Scarecrows

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

He Who Must Die

Hurricane Streets

Species: The Awakening

This World, Then the Fireworks

Convoy

Death Rides a Horse

Hercules Against the Barbarians

The Last Man on Earth

Welcome to Woop Woop

The Wonderful Country

Young Billy Young

The Young Savages

The Relentless Four

To Kill For

The Rock

The Maltese Falcon

Ben-Hur

Blade Runner (Director's Cut)

Murder at 1600

Once Upon a Time in America

Scooby-Doo in Where's My Mummy?

Swing Shift

Three Kings

The Baby-Sitters Club

The Rookie

Cyborg Soldier

Reprise

For Your Consideration

Cinderella Man

The Juror

The Counterfeiters

Brian's Song

If Lucy Fell

A Slipping Down Life

The Hard Word

Shutter

Nim's Island

Street Kings

What Happens in Vegas (Unrated)

In the Name of the King

Day Watch [Dnevnoy Dozor]

Alien vs. Predator

Behind Enemy Lines

Courage Under Fire

The Day After Tomorrow

Die Hard With a Vengeance

Fantastic Four

Fight Club

I, Robot

Ice Age

Ice Age: The Meltdown

The Jewel of the Nile

Kingdom of Heaven

Little Miss Sunshine

The Longest Day

Man on Fire

Me, Myself and Irene

Men of Honor

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Unrated)

Phone Booth

The Sentinel

Super Troopers

Transporter 2

X2: X-Men United

X-Men: The Last Stand

Fay Grim

The Omen

[Vudu]

HDX (33):

Beverly Hills Cop

Beverly Hills Cop 3

The Love Guru

Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow

Love Story

Hero Wanted

Hitch

Kung Fu Hustle

Be Kind Rewind

Mongol

The Usual Suspects

Rain Man

Mad Max

Robocop 3

Rocky 3

Rocky 5

Carrie

Get Shorty

Into the Blue

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London

Barbershop 2: Back in Business

Benny and Joon

Betrayed

The Black Stallion

Blacula

Cadillac Man

Chicago

The Counterfeiters

Married Life

Prom Night (PG-13 Rated)

Redbelt

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Original Theatrical Version)

HD (153):

The Terminator

Navy Seals

Robocop 3

Blood Simple

Singin' in the Rain

What a Girl Wants

Wyatt Earp

Sitting Bull

The Black Stallion

Get Shorty

Rain Man

The Usual Suspects

Rocky 2

Rollerball

The Call of the Wild

The Great Escape

Annie Hall

Thief

The Great Train Robbery

Lord of Illusions

Carrie

Hackers

The Saint

The Rainmaker

The Pink Panther

Fled

A Fistful of Dollars

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America

Clueless

Stigmata

Betrayed

Mission: Impossible 2

Blue Velvet

Spaceballs

No Way Out

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Bananas

Henry V

Stardust Memories

Airplane!

The Bounty

Still Smokin'

Breakheart Pass

Benny and Joon

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Blue Sky

The Big Country

Vera Cruz

Donovan's Reef

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Some Like It Hot

Apache

Blame It on Rio

Eight Men Out

Something Wild

The Thing with Two Heads

Who'll Stop the Rain?

Wayne's World 2

Rocky 3

The Woman in Red

Zelig

Frankie and Johnny

Wuthering Heights

Wild Orchid

Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy

The Billion Dollar Hobo

Blue Steel

Rush

The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course

The Black Stallion Returns

All or Nothing

Nicholas Nickleby

A Guy Thing

Evelyn

Battle of Britain

Shattered

White Lightning

Agent Cody Banks

The Boost

Sleep with Me

Blacula

Pieces of April

La Chamade [Heartbeat]

Man of La Mancha

The Wild Party

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London

Thunderbirds Are GO

The Show

Saved!

Wild at Heart

Smooth Talk

New York, New York

Code 46

Amityville 3-D

Amityville 2: The Possession

Viva Maria!

Hustle

Tom Sawyer

A World Apart

Into the Blue

Son of the Pink Panther

Stagecoach

Thieves Like Us

True Confessions

Solarbabies

Casino Royale

She's Gotta Have It

The Siege of Firebase Gloria

Ski School

Some Kind of Hero

Stealing Heaven

Teen Wolf

Trapeze

Troll 2

Two for the Seesaw

Unmasking the Idol

The Way West

Zero to Sixty

Alias Jesse James

Left for Dead

Rules of Engagement

Grease

Heaven Can Wait

Before the Rains

Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck

Drive Thru

Surf School

Flatliners

Kung Fu Hustle

The Love Guru

Beverly Hills Cop

Top Gun

The Wiggles: Sing a Song of Wiggles!

Mongol

Behind Enemy Lines

A Dog's Breakfast

Sugar Hill

Thunder Alley

The Visitors

The White Bus

Woman of Straw

Dangerous Liaisons

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Chicago

The Recruit

It Could Happen to You

Married Life

Prom Night (PG-13 Rated)

Redbelt

Brothers in Arms

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Original Theatrical Version)

HD:

Chariots of Fire

Little Shop of Horrors

The Devil's Advocate

Enter the Dragon

A Clockwork Orange

Bonnie and Clyde

Malibu's Most Wanted

Space Jam

Purple Rain

Rebel Without a Cause

Blazing Saddles

The Green Mile

Under Siege

Black Caesar

American Buffalo

The Apartment

Beach Blanket Bingo

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension!

China Moon

Bad Influence

Beat Street

Bowling for Columbine

Bright Lights, Big City

Beach Red

The Eye 3

The Baby's Room

The 24 Hour Woman

The Forbidden Kingdom

Dragon Wars

Resident Evil

Son of Rambow

P.S. I Love You

Darfur Now

Rest Stop: Don't Look Back (Uncut)

Sex and the City (Extended Version)

Quest for Camelot

2010: The Year We Make Contact

Beetlejuice

The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Client

Cool Hand Luke

Deliverance

Demolition Man

Fallen

Hard to Kill

Heartbreak Ridge

Love in the Afternoon

The Road Warrior

The Man with the Golden Arm

The Man with Two Brains

Ocean's Twelve

Singles

Strange Brew

Tango and Cash

A Time to Kill

Tin Cup

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

The Missing

The Queen

The Wild

The Happening

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

HDX:

The 24 Hour Woman

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights

Sex and the City (Extended Version)

Bad Influence

Beat Street

The Wild

The Happening

HD releases:

All the President's Men [HD]

An American Haunting [HD]

Be Kind Rewind [HD]

Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club [HD]

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 [HD]

Chaos Theory [HD]

CSNY / Deja Vu [HD]

Death of a President [HD]

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights [HD]

Dirty Harry [HD]

Doctor Strange [HD]

Fatal Attraction [HD]

Fido [HD]

Full Metal Jacket [HD]

Funny Games [HD]

Ghost [HD]

House of 1000 Corpses [HD]

Invincible [HD]

Kickboxer [HD]

Mama's Boy [HD]

Mistress [HD]

Mr. and Mrs. Smith [HD]

My Fellow Americans [HD]

Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow [HD]

Patriot Games [HD]

Saturday Night Fever [HD]

Saw [HD]

Saw 2 [HD]

Signs [HD]

Speed Racer [HD]

The Naked Gun [HD]

The Prestige [HD]

Timeline [HD]

Training Day [HD]

Ultimate Avengers 2 [HD]

Ultimate Avengers: The Movie [HD]

What's Eating Gilbert Grape [HD]

Xmas Tale [HD]

xXx [HD]

HDX Releases:

The Breakfast Club [HDX]

Pitch Black (Unrated Director's Cut) [HDX]

Field of Dreams [HDX]

Casino [HDX]

The Chronicles of Riddick (PG-13 Rated) [HDX]

The Fast and the Furious [HDX]

Happy Gilmore [HDX]

Lord of War [HDX]

Requiem for a Dream [HDX]

The Last Samurai [HDX]

Troy [HDX]

Unleashed (Unrated Director's Cut) [HDX]

Stop-Loss [HDX]

21 [HDX]

The Jerk [HDX]

Uncle Buck [HDX]

Weird Science [HDX]

Death of a President [HDX]

Fido [HDX]

Witless Protection [HDX]

Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll [HDX]

The Bad News Bears [HDX]

Boomerang [HDX]

Chinatown [HDX]

Harold and Maude [HDX]

Bless the Child [HDX]

Up in Smoke [HDX]

Fatal Attraction [HDX]

G.I. Blues [HDX]

Ghost [HDX]

Patriot Games [HDX]

Saturday Night Fever [HDX]

Staying Alive [HDX]

The Longest Yard [HDX]

The Naked Gun [HDX]

The Two Jakes [HDX]

Tommy Boy [HDX]

What's Eating Gilbert Grape [HDX]

The Italian Job [HDX]

Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier [HDX]

Drugstore Cowboy [HDX]

Close Encounters of the Third Kind [HDX]

Resident Evil [HDX]

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder [HDX]

Over Her Dead Body [HDX]

Darfur Now [HDX]

Mama's Boy [HDX]

Semi-Pro (Unrated) [HDX]

Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights [HDX]

Fool's Gold [HDX]

The Bucket List [HDX]

Snow Angels [HDX]

Speed Racer [HDX]

Run, Fat Boy, Run [HDX]

Step Into Liquid [HDX]

The Spiderwick Chronicles [HDX]

In Bruges [HDX]

Signs [HDX]

The Prestige [HDX]

Invincible [HDX]

Cube [HDX]

Shaun of the Dead [HDX]

The Recruit [HDX]

No wonder though, the bit rate averages around 9Mbps and spikes to 20Mbps during action scenes, which totally blows away the competition. Still, that giant flood of data takes a while to squeeze through our tiny broadband pipes, so one downside is that the movie needs a bit of lead time before it's ready to be watched, though you can start the download process remotely from a computer, so it can be ready when you get home from work.

Right now, there's only 65 movies in HDX, though every new movie released will be available in HDX. And while six bucks is pricey for a rental, it's almost worth just to push Vudu to keep breaking new ground in video downloads. Pogue says that it's coming to Best Buy this week, and if you buy one from there before Dec. 31, you get your first $200 of movies for free. [NYT]

I love this machine's design. First off, the 20.1-inch widescreen ultrabright has a generous 1680 x 1050 resolution, backlit by two lamps. A hinge let's it swivel from two places, the middle of the panel's back and the standard location, for optimal screen positioning. HP even promises to bump the res to true 1080p-capable 1920 x 1200 pixels in a future version. Secondly, the keyboard tray is so generous that it can fit a media center remote in its left side, and a built in SD/HD OTA tuner (something many vendors have abandoned.)

Laptop Mag reviewed one of the first preproduction samples, and quoted their performance results:

This preproduction model wouldn't run PCMark05, but its 3DMark03 score of 12,240 and 3DMark06 score of 4,002 mean this system can plow through graphics-intensive applications. Thanks to Intel's new draft-802.11n connection, wireless scores were through the roof, hitting nearly 18.9 and 15.8 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet, respectively. Battery life, while not great, was better than we expected at one hour and 31 minutes on our DVD rundown test. This is likely attributable to Santa Rosa's power-saving technology.

[DEEEP Breath]And then 400GB of storage spread over twin 200GB SATA drives, and HD DVD Rom with a DVD+/- double layer burner, gigabit ethernet, quad speaker setup plus subwoofer, 4 gigs of RAM, and a Centrino Duo setup with Core 2 Duo proc at T7700 (2.40GHz, BTW), and an ATI HD 2600XT with 256MB of GDDR3 RAM that can use some system mem to eek out more performance. [INHALE]

HP HDX Preview [Laptop]
HP HDX News [Notebooks.com, thanks Xavier]