Perfection is not just about pictures. If we at What Plasma & LCD TV spot picture nasties like blur, judder or dodgy colours, we tell you.

Brace yourself: this Sony's Freeview pictures are dreadful. But don't run for the hills just yet. The KDL-32W4000 – Sony's first Full HD resolution 32-incher – still constitutes a massive leap forward for flat tellies.

Brilliant menu system

One reason is that we're suckers for a good menu. The iPod's clickwheel, the Xbox360's idiot-proof simplicity, or even the all-conquering iPhone, all pale into insignificance in comparison with Sony's exquisite new invention.

Called the XrossMediaBar and operated using a familiar remote control, this gorgeous menu system has been designed with a cool blue theme and with immaculate high-resolution graphics.

If you hover over the digital or analogue TV icons, a list of what's on now and next springs up, as well as the option to delve up to a week ahead into the schedules.

Radio stations can be found just as easily – all on the same screen – while there are also some more novel options. Shove a memory stick crammed with photos into the TV's side and the XrossMediaBar immediately recognises it. It's a cinch to watch a slick slideshow, although it's disappointing that XrossMediaBar doesn't deal in MP3 music or video files.

Our love for XrossMediaBar comes full circle when the remote reveals a 'heart' button. It's for adding your own pictures to a pre-installed gallery of the greats, a feature that's called Picture Frame mode.

Full HD magic

Our salivating over, it's on to the important question. Is Sony's debut Full HD 32-incher any good? The sad truth is that it's brilliant with hi-def and disappointing with everything else.

Its 1,920 x 1,080 pixel screen and three HDMI inputs (one on the TV's side for occasional gamers or HD camcorder owners) make it primed for our Blu-ray test disc There Will Be Blood.

Using the 24 frames-per-second mode, the KDL-32W4000 supplies smooth and eminently cinematic pictures that swim in dazzling colour and stunning levels of colour gradation and detail.

Fast-moving footage does provide some problems with ghosting, which suggests that an anti-blur 100Hz version of the KDL-32W4000 might be worth the wait.

Freeview fail

Thanks to CEC connectivity, the TV's remote can also manipulate the basic functions of a Blu-ray player. So, is there anything it can't do? Yes: Freeview.