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We’ve just posted the latest TV Ratings (available to subscribers of ConsumerReports.org), and once again we find that an overwhelming majority of the sets can display excellent or very good picture quality when showing good-quality HD content. But sound is getting worse in some LCD and plasma TVs, perhaps as a result of their ever-slimming profiles. Along with some ultra-thin LCD sets, we tested several Samsung plasma TVs that are just 1.5 inches deep.

Some newer LCD TV technologies, such as LED backlights and 240Hz refresh rates, are spreading to more sets. There are different approaches to each of these technologies, and our tests show that the effectiveness varies both by technique and brand.

In addition, more sets of both types now offer extra features, including access to online news and entertainment content. Some sets provide either built-in or optional wireless connections to home networks, a real convenience for those who don’t have an Ethernet jack near their TV. Also, some sets now have integrated iPod docks, USB ports or SD card slots for playing digital music, photos and videos directly on the TV.

The most feature-laden sets typically command a premium, but the Ratings also include some modestly priced models that should appeal to budget-conscious shoppers, including a recommended 42-inch LCD TV for just $650 and 42-inch plasma model for $700.

Even though our newest TV Ratings have just been posted, we’ve already started testing 16 new models. Among the highlights: a super-slim 1-inch plasma from Panasonic; a Mitsubishi LCD set with a new version of its “sound-projector” surround-sound audio system; and Sharp’s first mainstream model with a full-array LED backlight. We expect to have the results for those sets available in about four weeks. —James K. Willcox

[UPDATE: For more on the lawsuit settlement and another free online video of Attorney General Cuomo, see
Cuomo: Lots of Dell users in NY are due compensation on the Consumer Reports Money Blog. —Ed.]

The $4 million settlement agreement Dell entered into with the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo could well lead to consumers nationwide receiving millions of dollars in compensation from Dell.

Other state attorneys general have also been pursuing cases against the company, said New York AG Andrew Cuomo in an interview with Consumer Reports Technology Editor Jeff Fox at a press conference held today at the magazine’s headquarters. And given the results in New York, he inferred, it’s likely that other states will succeed with their own cases.

“Even when you’re as big as Dell Computer, we still expect you to honor your contracts,” said Cuomo during the press conference. “Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can abuse the consumer.”

As a result of the settlement, spurred by more than 3,000 complaints received by Cuomo’s office, Dell will change its warranty, advertising, and debt-collecting practices. The company will also pay New York consumers who had difficulty obtaining tech support under service contracts, or who paid interest when they believed they’d purchased their computers under a no-interest promotion.

Other companies face similar scrutiny of their tech-support and service practices, Cuomo added.

If you live outside New York State, but have had an experience with Dell similar to the types described above, you may want to contact your state attorney general to see if a similar settlement may be in the works in your state. If so, it’s a good idea to gather any documentation, such as notes and receipts, you might need to support your claim. —Donna Tapellini