It isn't too bad.  I sit about 12 feet from it, and I run the audio from my headphone-out jack to the PC audio in jack, and I get pretty good sound.  I prefer the TV to the laptop.  You also need to hit "full screen" on the player so that you don't get any burn-in from the player boxes and internet explorer.  Also, adjust the screen saver so you don't end up seeing that every 10 minutes or whatever you have it set to.  I think Siouxmama also set it up through her plasma, I wonder what she thinks.