Home > Consumer Reviews > Toshiba MD14FP1 14" Pure Flat Screen TV/DVD Combo

This was bought for me as a gift and an extended warranty was purchased for it as well. Good thing, because it is on it's third trip back to Best Buy. The first time it embarrassed me by working once I got it to the store. The second time it died and ate one of my DVDs. The third time it died while I was watching a DVD, but by the time I took it back to the store I was able to resurrect it long enough to get my disc. The problem was the same every time. I'd be watching something and the T.V. would shut off by itself. It might or might not come back on but within a few hours or days, it would not come on at all.
I am more fortunate in that my TV worked well for about three months before I had to return it. I am most fortunate that I have a warranty. The next time I bring it in they will replace the TV - and you bet I'm going to ask for another brand. Hopefully by then they will have taken this one off the market!
I am sad because until recently I would have sworn by Toshiba products, and I had the same experience with my notebook. No more Toshiba for me.

While I had no problems with the combo while it was in working order, one morning the tv just quit. The screen disappeared and was then followed by this high pitched hiss/buzzing sound that lasted for about 20 seconds even after the tv was unplugged. I bought mine from best buy as well, so with taxes I dropped $249 for the thing. I think it should have lasted at least 24 months before anything major should have happened to it. I live in nyc so for me to schlep the thing to a repair place (taxi fare), have them tell me it's going to be $100-$150 to fix, then keep it for a month or 2....it just didn't seem worth it to me. I'm giving toshiba one more chance by buying a new one (this time only $185 at amazon! woo hoo!) for the only reason is that there aren't many smaller tv/dvd combos available with flat screens. We'll see what happens.

Originally, I purchased this unit because the size matched my needs and the price did not seem exorbitant. I also thought that a Toshiba would be dependable. But after only two months of light use-2 hours per week max-the DVD unit would play erratically and stop for no reason. I would also have trouble opening the slot so that the DVD could be removed. This would happen no matter which DVD was playing so I knew it was not the fault of any individual DVD but of the unit itself. The first time I called Toshiba, the customer service rep suggested that I unplug the unit so that it could "reset itself" and that I purchase a DVD cleaner to see if that would take care of the problem. I did as instructed but, not surprisingly, the problem persisted.

On my second call to Toshiba, I got the same service rep. We discussed my bringing it to an authorized Toshiba dealer, the procedure, he took information on me and the machine, and I was told that a file had been opened on my case.

On February 5, 2005, I brought my TV/DVD player to the closest authorized repair station. The shop's name had been given to me by the service rep and it also appeared on Toshiba's website.

At the beginning of March, because a month had elapsed and I had not heard from the repair company, I called them regarding my machine. They told me that due to the high number of these sets breaking down, Toshiba was not sending its repair agencies sufficient parts quickly enough so that they could keep up with the demand for repairs. I was concerned about this because I wanted my TV back and, furthermore, I knew that the warranty date had now expired so that if I had any further problems with the set it would not be covered by the warranty.

On Monday, March 7th, I decided to contact Toshiba itself to investigate the problem. (This was my third phone call to the company!) I spoke to another young man who could not find my file and, through conversations with his supervisors, I was told that my TV/DVD player was not being repaired because Toshiba did not have a file on it. This was absurd! As of that date, I had done everything the company had asked me to do and had spent time giving my purchasing information to two customer service reps. Not only did I have to waste time duplicating my efforts, but I was further insulted by the supervisor(s) who 1) initially tried to deny that I had brought the unit to an authorized repair shop and 2) then declared that it was my word against Toshiba's that I had ever spoken to any of their customer service personnel. The audacity-what ever happened to the business adage that the customer is always right? How dare Toshiba try to shift the blame for their inefficiency on to the consumer?

On Tuesday, March 15th, I received a call from Toshiba-they wanted to verify my choice of repair agent because, again, the information had not been entered into my "file." I had to call them back on Wednesday-my fourth phone call-to tell them that I was staring right at the company's name on their website, they were truly an authorized repair agency. I was told that this was the final bit of information that they needed to expedite my set's repair. We shall see. . . .

I have never been so dissatisfied with a company and its workings in all my years of purchasing computers and other electronics. This product is shoddy and Toshiba's commitment to customer service is non-existent. Stay away from this unit and this company!

I bought this item at Best Buy for more than the Target price. Two months after I bought it the DVD drawer would not open. It was in the shop for 2 1/2 months while I waited for a part to come in and then 2 months later the TV just died. Since the 90 day warranty for both parts and labor has expired the repair shop said it would be a minimum of $42 cost on labor, though parts are still covered. I am sick that I wasted $250 on a TV that didn't even last a year. I will NEVER buy another Toshiba product.

For such a small, compact package, this Toshiba TV/DVD combo has much going for it.

First off, the picture quality is very good, with enough settings to allow it to be adjusted any way you want. I've never owned a flat screen tv in any size, and it does reduce glare quite a bit.

Sound quality is just ok. There are only stereo/mono/SAP settings. No separate bass/treble adjustments like in bigger tv's. But the stereo sound is passable, even when playing audio CD's.

The DVD player is good with very clear picture. Very nice.

Remote control is ok, and like some other Toshiba tv reviewers have noted, some of the colors that a couple of the buttons' graphics are printed with are hard to read. Pink graphics on a light grey remote color just don't make it.

All in all though, this 14" color TV/DVD combo is a great product. I really like it a lot.