Count on TVs Being Cheaper For the Duration

Wall Street Journal ^ | NOVEMBER 26, 2008 | Christopher Lawton

[Pontiac]

a weakening economy this holiday season, there are signs that many of the discounts will stick around through the end of the year. That means shoppers seeking a TV could have several extra weeks of lower-than-usual prices to find the right deal.

The Black Friday discounts will be even heftier, according to estimates. A 32-inch LCD TV will be discounted 54% to an estimated $399 in limited quantities on Black Friday from an average $875 in October, according to iSuppli. If those prices don't spur sales over Thanksgiving weekend, Ms. Patel says, many of the discounts will continue in December.

The price-cutting is being fueled by more than just the slow economy. Last year, some sizes of liquid-crystal-display and plasma TVs were in tight supply. Wanting to avert any shortage this holiday season, electronics manufacturers increased their output, counting in part on the February 2009 transition from analog to digital airwaves to boost TV sales. But the increase in inventory coincided with the onset of the economic slump, leaving the TV industry in a bind.

[Las Vegas Dave]

When did that report come out? New sets are coming out all the time.

I have the 2009 Consumer Reports buyer's guide ;
for LCD's Samsung is top rated from 40" to 52",and 32".
Panasonic top rated for 26" and 37".

For Plasma tv's Samsung top rated for 50" and 58", Panasonic top rated for 42" and 46".

[oh8eleven]

The Black Friday ads indicate this will be on sale for $899 at BestBuy.
Mitsubishi - 60" 1080p DLP HDTV

[CE2949BB]

The Black Friday ads indicate this will be on sale for $899 at BestBuy.
Mitsubishi - 60" 1080p DLP HDTV

....

Looks... promising.

Thanks! :D

[Sans-Culotte]

I have a 62” Mitsubishi DLP 1080i TV that I bought a few years ago. I would not recommend Mitsubishi. Had all kinds of problems with it (including one that lasted a week and was replaced with one that was DOA and one that finally worked but has had lots of expensive repairs). My next TV will be a LCD by someone other than Mitsubishi.

[WackySam]

In the mean time I am content with my Panasonic 50" - 720p.

Nothing wrong with a high quality 720p Plasma (Pioneers and Panasonics). When viewed at the correct distance there's no discernible difference between them and a 1080p. In fact I have a Pioneer 720p set that gets nothing but compliments from visitors who own 1080p LCD sets. To a person they always say the picture looks better than theirs.

[Hot Tabasco]

As far as plasma tvs go,

Pioneer's 60" Kuro is awesome....

[oh8eleven]

I would not recommend Mitsubishi. My next TV will be a LCD by someone other than Mitsubishi.
Four years ago I bought the Sony 42" LCD HDTV. Two years later with zero problems on my TV, my brother went out and bought the same model.
A year later he ended up with some major LCD problems and had to have the TV replaced. You just never know.

[Red_Devil 232]

Our Panasonic 50” 720p has a great picture. I am very pleased with it. Not one problem in the two years we have had it. We are usually sitting about 15 ft. from it. The closest seating is on a side couch about 6 ft. away and even at an angle it has a very good picture.

[TruthFactor]

Here's something that's close. Sorry, didn't have time to do the tinyurl thing.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11306684&whse=BC&Ne=5000002+4000000&eCat=BC|79|2341|3316&N=4001382%204294908732&Mo=9&pos=1&No=6&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10605-Cat2341&topnav=

[word_warrior_bob]

The pioneers and panasonic plasma’s are the best, no matter what Consumer Reports say. You can make a fortune trying to get “experts” to tell you what tv is 720p vs. 1080p, or 1080i. I have sony rear projections lcd’s 55 and 60 inch. Amazing picture, just not a panel, even the AVS geeks started making a run for them when they heard they were being discontinued, best bang for the buck picture, everyone wants a wall mounted panel though. I never liked the picture on the Mitsu DLP’s, I can see why they might be on sale for 900 for a 60 inch, I would advise everyone stay far away from that one.

If I were to buy a pure panel it would be a pioneer or panasonic plasma, most of their 720p’s look superior to most other 1080 sets if you’re on a budget. If you can still find a Sony rear projection LCD I would jump at that too.

[WackySam]

Our Panasonic 50” 720p has a great picture. I am very pleased with it. Not one problem in the two years we have had it. We are usually sitting about 15 ft. from it.

At 15' the human eye can not differentiate the difference between 720p and 1080p. On a 50" you'd have to sit less than 8'away to notice the difference.

[word_warrior_bob]

Pioneer’s 60” Kuro is awesome....

_______________

If you can afford the top of the line Pioneer Plasmas the choice is easy, there is nothing else to think about.

One thing I’ll tell everyone, BIGGER IS BETTER, remember these are Wide Screen Tv’s, I thought I had a monster when I had a 36 inch regular tube tv and it was, but a 42 inch wide screen doesn’t look that big. Once you have any of these tv’s home you will be kicking yourself for not getting something bigger. 50 inches is nice, 55 or 60 or bigger is much nicer. Size matters.

[Grampa Dave]

We will probably increase our Nov/Dec 2008 Spending for high $ items and staples with great prices and long shelf lifes.

By buying necessary big ticket items and staples, this year instead after Obama is coronated as FDRII, we can as individuals help derail the 0bamination, Pelosi and Reid tax and $pend plans for 2009.

In other words buy now, not under the Zer0’s rule of economic terror/failure.

All of us probably have a few things that will probably quit working in the near future, like our 20 year plus tv and 13 year old microwave. I have some fly reels over 10 years of age and some fly lines that are a few years old.

If you need and can afford big ticket items, washer/dryers, furnaces, refrigerators, Tvs and similar items, and staples with a long shelf life, buy them now instead while under the Obama rule of economic terror.

So I will be negotiating and looking out for good prices to purchase the above items before the year ends.

Pre and Post Christmas sales should be great for our side.

That way Zero, Pelosi, Reid, Barney Frank will not benefit from this year’s purchases after Zer0 is installed as our life time dictator.

Buying now would also avoid any Carter type of inflation under the Zer0.

[Grampa Dave]

What are the Samsung 40 and 42” 1080p models selling for\?

Has Toshiba been replaced as the most reliable?

Thanks.

[ErnBatavia]

The KIA dealership in this area is giving away 32” LCD TV, if you buy a KIA.

Our local Kia dealership locked their doors for good last Friday evening....caught even the employees off guard.

[Pontiac]

Obama is coronated as FDRII

I think Obama with the aid of Pelosi, Reid, Barney Frank and the rest of the new Fascisti will push the bar of socialistic excess to heights that FDR could not dream of.

The real question is will Obama push the country in to hyper inflation or deflation in the FDR tradition?

On your personal out look as to what the answer to that question is will you make your spending decision.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The problem with older stuff is that it is just so doggone reliable. We are still using our Sony Trinitron 27” XBR - must be 18 years old and had one $125 repair. Picture is still incredibly good. We recently retired our 25 year old GE microwave and the replacement unit is a piece of junk. Ditto for our old refrigerator (30 years), stove (40 years) and DW.

I really lust for a new 50 inch Pioneer Kuro, but will probably go for a Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U at 40% of the price of the Kuro. I just worry about the reliability of these units.

[edge10]

I’ve thought for a while that topic would make a great vanity:

What will you do with your Zero tax ‘rebate’ of $1000?

As far as HDTVs go, I still have my RCA FS38310, the largest widescreen HDTV CRT ever made! Knock on wood it will last a few more years.

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-F38310-38-Built-Receivers/dp/B00005BIB8

[RightWhale]

What will you do with your Zero tax ‘rebate’ of $1000?

I will buy stock in General Motors.

[edge10]

You might be better off buying lottery tickets, or going to Vegas and blowing it there.