The printed setup instructions are among the worst I've seen. They're on a fold-out pamphlet, with one side in English and the other in French; both versions are in such a tiny font that it hurt my eyes to try to read them. You're much better off going online to download a PDF of the full owner manual (not provided in print).
The fairly typical first-time wizard asks you to configure your language, time zone, setup location (home or store), and video source for cable/antenna hookups. The on-screen menus are also typical: You get five video presets (sports, standard, movie, PC, and a customizable preferences option) plus a separate toggle for game mode that's supposed to speed up the set's response to controllers; a full complement of aspect-ratio settings; channel-lineup editing; sleep-timer functions; and parental controls. The advanced image-control settings offer access to motion compensation, static gamma, dynamic contrast, color temperature, noise reduction, and other features, but you don't get any on-screen explanations as to what those controls do, so you have to consult the manual.
You can view .jpg stills and play MP3 audio files from a USB drive in the Media Player, but it does not support video playback. You can set up a slideshow from images in a folder, however, and use background music.
Also minimalist in its approach is the remote, which is a bit shorter than other HDTV remotes and lacks a backlight or color-coded context-sensitive buttons. But while most of its buttons are reasonably sized and clearly labeled, they're also the mushy, rubbery kind that doesn't provide great tactile feedback. At least the remote offers limited support for HDMI-connected devices that are compatible with Regza-Link, Toshiba's brand of .
For people who aren't interested in a connected TV, or who aren't fussy about audio quality (or a great remote), the Toshiba 55SL412U delivers decent image quality on a roomy, ecofriendly screen--and it's certainly easier on the wallet than more-polished, full-featured competitors are.