Panasonic Viera TC-P42X1

Ease of Use (6.0)

The Panasonic TC-P42X1's menu system is just about the same as all the other Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. The main menu has eight different options, which are, from top to bottom: VIERA Link, Picture, Audio, Timer, Lock, SD card, CC and Setup.

As with other HDTV menus, you browse through the menu using the d-pad and select button on the TV's remote. You can press the return button to back up a level or press the exit button to leave the menu system entirely.

Like other iterations, the TC-P42X1's menu is very simple and intuitive. We've seen prettier menus, and menus with more options, but since the TC-P42X1 is an entry-level set, simplicity is probably beneficial.
 

The TC-P42X1 has the standard VIERA menu.

Picture Controls (6.0)

The TC-P42X1 has a basic array of picture controls. The preset picture modes include Vivid , Standard, Cinema, Game and Custom.  Custom mode will let you adjust standard settings, like brightness, color, tint, sharpness, and color temperature.
 

The TC-P42X1 has standard picture options.

This is the second page of the picture menu, which has a few more options.
 

The second page gives users access to a few additional features and the Advanced picture menu.

The Advanced Picture menu doesnt have many options, but it does let users fool around with zoom modes, noise reduction, and black level. 
 

The advanced menu doesn't have many options.

Audio Controls (5.0)

The TC-P42X1 is also basic. Users can set the bass, treble and balance. There's also an advanced menu for toggling surround sound mode, boosting the bass, and setting up HDMI audio settings. There's an audio leveler option, but no true equalizer. All in all, another basic menu. 

Again, there aren't many menu options available.

Other Controls (5.0)

The other available menus let users control minor features, like the timer, closed captioning, and parental control features. If you put an SD card into into the TV, you can also access a photo viewer, which we discuss more in the Formats & Media section. The TC-P42X1 also has a VIERA Link menu, which should help you get your remote set up with other Panasonic gear. 
 

This is the menu for setting up channels or enabling 'anti image retention' features.

Manual (6.0)

Our review unit of the TV didn't come with a manual, but retail versions should with a manual similar to other VIERA TVs. This means you'll have instructions written in three languages (English, Spanish and French), featuring lots of clear diagrams. The downside is the lack of an index or tabbed menu. Overall, there's nothing special about the TC-P42X1's manual, but its diagrams end up making it more helpful than what we typically see.