After freeing the md5880n from its reinforced cardboard box, I found a willing assistant to help hoist the 118-pound TV onto its new perch. Handholds on the sides made this part of the setup safer and easier. The md5880n sports an all-black color scheme with a matte finish that minimizes ambient light reflections. Its minimal branding touches include a small, metallic-colored HP badge, a DLP logo, and the word "Pavilion." The md5880n's antireflective screen is bordered along the top and bottom edges by thin metal bezels. The left and right sides of the screen are framed by perforated grilles that conceal two-way stereo speakers. With 55 watts of power and an integrated subwoofer, the md5880n's sound system had more oomph than any other TV speakers I've heard to date. Sure, a good 5.1 surround sound setup is practically a must-have for movies, but the md5880n delivered rich-sounding tones with no distortions noted at high levels.
I noticed significant color breakup when viewing black-and-white movies with high contrast, but color content was generally free of this artifact. Sensitivity to color breakup varies from person to person; if you are thinking about buying a DLP-based RPTV, I suggest viewing a variety of content on it before you swipe your credit card.

The md5880n utilizes Texas Instruments' DLP technology to provide native 1080p resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels progressive). The TV accepts 1080p input via its HDMI inputs only—its VGA input supports a maximum resolution of 1,280 by 1,024 pixels, or 1,280-by-720 for a 16:9 aspect ratio image. The DLP chip used in the md5880n (and all 1080p DLP-based RPTVs) incorporates a pixel-doubling technology that effectively eliminates an image artifact referred to as the "screen door effect"—a darkened outline around each pixel that makes the picture appear as if it were viewed through a screen-like material. But color breakup (aka the "rainbow effect"), a byproduct of a sequential color system (spinning color wheel), remains an issue with all single-chip DLP displays, including the md5880n. The md5880n's use of a seven-segment color wheel and fast rotational speed has helped minimize the perception of these rainbow artifacts.

The md5880n's menu system is just about perfect, with its elegantly uncluttered layout, clearly labeled options, and (my favorite) advanced picture controls for videophiles and professional calibrators. The TV's source selection menu can be accessed with the press of a button on the remote. Pressing the button a second time enables a feature called Visual Select, which displays a grid of ten windows that contain snapshots of what is playing on each of the TV's A/V inputs. Input naming is fully customizable, with support for up to 11 characters, including upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and some symbols thrown in for good measure. The md5880n's lack of an integrated electronic programming guide will disappoint broadcast-TV enthusiasts, but this shouldn't be a concern for cable/satellite TV subscribers.