Now I've heard that in this day and age, some folks are inclined to do silly things and even shoot video of them. Most corporations tend to look the other way, a few might frown on it, but we didn't think any actually encouraged it.

Nevertheless Gateway is planning to give away a $3,000 FX540XT machine and one of the coolest monitors in the world, the 30-inch 1600p XHD3000 with Silicon Optix Realta HQV upscaling to the best video submitter. The contest's only main rules are that a) the video must be under 3 minutes and b) it must feature "a genuine or fake Holstein cow." Yep, you are completely bananas, Gateway.

While this contest is in no way affiliated with Gizmodo, any of you ballsy submitters out there can feel free to CC your craziest works to our tips line as well. [Gateway Contest]

• VP504F-50 1080p Plasma. It's got Silicon Optix HQV Processing for better images than most higher-priced sets.
• SV42LF-42 and SV47LF-47 has 120Hz, 1080p, Anti-Judder, and a side HD Game Port. Great for movie watchers (thanks to 120Hz refresh) and gamers.
• Jive Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio Kit. Adds onto many of their sets (including SV42LF and SV47LF) to give you an all-in-one entertainment system.
• Plasma line: 1080p and 720p sets.
• LCD line: 1080p and 720p sets, with the Envy line looking slightly fancier than the Evolution series. Then there's the VW series that's sold at Wal-mart.

I don't think it'll be as beautiful as a Pioneer or Panasonic Plasma, but check it out: Contrast ratio is at a high of 30,000:1, due not to deeper blacks but greater light output (traditionally a plasma weakness), and it has 4 HDMI 1.3 inputs. It also takes deep color avail through that HDMI 1.3 connection and processes it at 10 bits. It comes in 50 and 60 inch models. June arrival, estimated MSRP of $1699 and $2899.
The Catch: Two HDMI ports are on the side. Only one needs to be. I have to look at the glass live before judging this thing. The 50-inch sounds like a steal, though.

VIZIO VP605F 60" 1080P and VP504F 1080p with SILICON OPTIX HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) Processing VIZIO jumps into Full High-Definition 1080p performance with a bang in 2008, launching an all new series of ultra high-performance Plasma technology displays. While the new VIZIO VP605F boasts 60" of large screen high definition 1080p performance to capture the imagination of even the most discerning of consumers, the 50" VIZIO VP504F packs an enhanced punch with integrated Silicon Optix's REON HQV chip, ensuring the sharpest and most detailed image possible. Silicon Optix HQV's advanced noise reduction removes noise and artifacts caused by signal compression from cable and satellite providers. Since the HQV's REON chip can process two full channels of HD or SD channels, this allows users to achieve full resolution with picture-in-picture images. With advanced technology built into both models, both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) sources will bring out even the finest details. VIZIO's new 1080p plasma HDTV's, the VP504F and VP605F are compatible with all of today's popular input resolutions [1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i] and use an integrated, DTV-compliant HD/QAM tuner so users can enjoy high definition and regular television programs with or without paid high definition service. Both models are significantly brighter than previous VIZIO plasma models boasting an amazing contrast ratio up to 30,000:1 and include four HDMI v1.3 inputs, two of which are available as a side access HD Game port. Independent RGB adjustments allow users to fine-tune the sets' color settings plus a new remote control makes it even easier to operate TV and other system component functions. Additional feature sets include true four-field motion adaptive de-interlace, 10-bit diagonal interpolator which removes jagged or stair step artifacts from de-interlaced video sources and true 10-bit processing which output 4:4:4 color processing which renders more than one billion colors.

Lucidium Mirror Series Deep Black 32- and 22-inch 1080p-capable LCD HDTVs incorporating NiDO II image processing, deep black LCD panel, DSDB and 2x HDMI 1.3 inputs, with a behind the mirror in-wall mounting frame system. Pricing for the NMU22L Lucidium is $1299 and the NMU32L Lucidium is $1599. Both ship Sept. 30.

The 52-inch monitor is also 1080p, natively, but loses the HQV processor for a "NiDO III" scaler. Deep, x.v. 10-bit color. The jargon at this point becomes indecipherable, but it has a combination of DSDV "Digital Switching Deep Black", 4HDMI 1.3 inputs and will be a much more reasonable $4400.

The 47 and 42-inch 1080p LCD has the same NiDO III processor, 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, misses the 10-bit color and goes for $2900 and $2300.

The 37-inch LCD is suprisingly 1080p native, has the Nido II processor, DSDB of the 52-incher (whatever that is) and 3 HDMI 1.3 inputs (one side mounted). $1900.

The rest of the sets aren't full 1080p res, but can accept the signal.

32, 26 and 22 inchers that have NiDO II image processors, "deep black" LCD panels, HDMI 1.3 inputs (3 or 2 on the 22-incher) for $1300, $900, and $699. [NuVision via Twice]

They're good for testing how a video processor handles jaggies, noise, and other factors.

The discs aren't complete testing suites, though. They don't give you any way of quantifying brightness, shadow detail, contrast and other things you can watch by seeing sets side by side, or by watching movies you know like the back of your hand cough*ChenAndHowardTheDuck*cough. And the standard-def version of this disc not only has more tests, but is useful for checking out the standard DVD video performance of a piece of HD gear.

And like I said earlier, these test discs can be used for HDTVs or HD disc players. By switching your disc player to output in a 1080i pattern, you can test your TV; putting it into 1080p tests the video processor in your player. Here's the full scorecard and instruction manual for using the disc: Download file

The discs go for $20 bucks, or $15 with the code below.

Enter the special promotion code HQV4GIZ1BR (Blu-ray) or HQV4GIZ1HD (HD DVD) to receive $5 off the HD HQV Benchmark DVD. In addition, a portion of the proceeds will be sent to the ELF Foundation, a nonprofit charity bringing music and movies through "Rooms of Magic" to children's hospitals across the country. For more information, visit www.elfsystems.org

HD HQV Benchmark [HQV]