Instruction: Answer the given question by extracting information from the supporting document.

Input:
Question: Use with standard TV signal? I'm looking at this Samsung LNS3241D 32" LCD, but I plan to use it with a standard definition (SD) for the first several months. How does it perform with an SD signal? Will I see black bars on the side, or will it stretch the picture in an acceptable manner? Thanks!
Document: Okay first let me say that most everything the other reviewers have said about this TV is true. I too saw this TV on display at Circuit City side by side with other LCD flat panels from Sony, Sharp and others, and looking at them all running the same video the Samsung picture quality was as good as or better than any of them, to my eyes.
Be prepared to watch these channels in standard squares (vs. widescreen) with black bars sorrounding the frame. Zooming into widescreen mode (to overcome this flaw) distorts the picture, not recommended for detail-phobics [such as myself].Putting these flaws into perspective, however, the LNS3241D is a steal from a price versus feature perspective.
This set top box, for optimal HD output, must be set to 1080i mode. If you set it to 480i or a similarly lower configuration, your HD picture will have black bars at the top and bottom. Setting the set top box to 1080i will give you full screen, awesome quality HD picture.However, in the 1080i mode, the regular programs (standard definition) such as Seinfeld, etc.
I went into my local Circuit City expecting to buy the Sony WEGA 42" LCD rear projection after months of research. While it is hard to trust these retailers with proper calibration of the picture, the Samsung LNS3241D 32" LCD blew away the Sony and the Sharp AQUOS 32" LCD (my second choice). The 3000:1 contrast ratio is one of the highest available. The picture is extremely bright...colors are brilliant, great whites, pretty good blacks.
My father in law and my father both have the 32 inch Sony XBR and although I did not have them side to side I felt the Samsung's HD picture was just as colorful and vibrant as the Sony XBR.The biggest differance I noticed between the XBR and this Samsung was how they handled SD TV. The Sony is in my opinion is significantly better at handling SD TV than this Samsung (although the Samsung is also good).
Note: it is possible to do this if the set top box is configured to 480i, or if the cable is connected directly to the TV. But for HD, you'll want to have it set through the set top box with 1080i, and will have to live with black bars while watching standard programming.Second disappointment. Applies to people who connect to use a Sony Vaio laptop to this TV.The Sony Vaio laptops and this TV currently do not interoperate.
Oh... Forgot to mention, I can differentiate between blacks far better on my 15 year old 20'' Mitsubishi CRT.Also, on a completely black screen (i.e. programming with a shot of the night sky, or no programming and having the TV on an input with no signal) you see white splotches on all four corners of the screen. This other annoying feature became apparent after the first week of watching, and was not present in the first few days.
I have seen LCD HDTVs my friends got from random off-brands and there is a noticable difference. Something about the picture on this TV just makes it "pop" more. Some games almost look like 3d. Watching HD discovery channel makes you feel like you are looking out a window on a plane, its that real. Also, the Samsungs handle SD content very well compared to any other LCD HD on the market. I watched some standard DVDs and they almost looked like HD-DVD on this screen.
In addition, this TV definitely won't display dark, "rich" Black like a Plasma TV can. When watching a Widescreen DVD, the "black" bars aren't quite as Black as I'm used to. Its an issue with the LCD format, unfortunately - that's the price you pay for being able to leave your TV paused all day without concern.All told, I'm VERY happy with this purchase.
Not here. Everything I plugged in (via component cables) looked great. Even the Nintendo Wii connected through composite still looked decent. Standard SD broadcast programming looked pretty good as well, not much different than watching on a high-end SDTV.If you are looking for an LCD HDTV for under $1000, then this is definately the TV you want to get.
Answer: You can adjust the aspect ratio so that it fills the entire screen, but that would distort the picture somewhat. I like to put it in 4:3 mode, so it looks like a normal picture. Burn-in warnings be damned! But you'll be watching the important stuff through the HD air antenna anyway.I think the SD picture is just okay. It's a bit pixelated (probably because of the size of the TV) and the colors don't seem as sharp as my 23-year old Sony Trinitron. Once you see the HD picture, SD will look that much worse.