Get ready for flatscreen TV price wars

CNNMoney.com ^ | November 13, 2009: 7:48 PM ET | Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Retail experts say the sweetest deals in the coming weeks will be on smaller LCD televisions and some bigger-size plasma TVs.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- If you're in the market for a new flatscreen TV this holiday season, you're in luck.

As nervous merchants prepare to draw reluctant shoppers with juicy sales, retail experts say some of the sweetest deals in the coming weeks will be on high-definition televisions.

As they compete for customers, TV sellers are going to wage a price war, and the biggest bargains will likely be on smaller models.

"The difference from prior holiday discounts on TVs is that consumers will find really, really good prices on 32-inch to 37-inch HDTVs and not necessarily the 65-inch models," said Phillip Swann, a consumer electronics expert and publisher of TVpredictions.com.

"We're already seeing 32-inch LCD models under $400. Typically they are $500, or more," he said. "And we're also seeing prices drop from about a $1,000 for 40-inch screens to $800."

One example, Target (TGT, Fortune 500) is reportedly featuring a 32-inch Westinghouse LCD HDTV for $246 as a "doorbuster special" on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when holiday shopping kicks off in earnest.

"The $246 HDTV is the lowest price that we've ever seen for that model," said Brad Olson, founder of Gottadeal.com, a Web site that markets itself as one of many "official" Black Friday deal sites.

Ross Rubin, a consumer electronics analyst with market research firm NPD Group, agreed. "A 32-inch [TV] under $400 is going to be a key price point for merchants," Ross said.

"The smaller TV models also appeal to consumers who already have a 47 or 50-inch HDTV in the living room and they want to add another flatscreen in the bedroom or elsewhere," Rubin said.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

That makes you a candidate for the death penalty in Kalifornia. Bet you have an assault weapon buried in the yard somewhere as well. Hey, they can only hang you once!

[listenhillary]

Some of the new computers have a HDMI outlet that will make using a flat screen TV as a monitor a little more workable.

Larger the screen, the longer the HDMI cord you need to get back far enough to see comfortably. I stream netflix movies and youTube videos from my laptop to my 46” tv.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I’ve been looking for a 13-17 inch wall mount for my office. I was thinking of waiting till after Christmas and watching Ebay or Craigslist. Anyone got any better ideas?

[Las Vegas Dave]

Pinging the HDTV list..

HDTV pings!

[Revolting cat!]

Oh sheesh, Ernie, who needs a radio with pictures?!

[AustinBill]

Re: Dinosaur disposal

Call your local Salvation Army store. They will pick up and remove your old CRT TV as a charitable donation. Easiest disposal around. Did this with my old 35” Toshiba which also weighed a ton.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Mine won’t, they also won’t take any CRT computer monitors.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Sometime back we did some measurements and found that the best viewing possible for the large screen TVs (55 inch or thereabouts) could be obtained ONLY in two places ~ a double-wide trailer, or a converted townhouse basement.

The only tv we own is in our townhouse basement, 52-inch Sony WEGA

[ironwill]

Too bad there's no programming worth watching. I called Comcast the other day and had them remove TV from my bill, and leave the high-speed internet. Everything I want is on Hulu, YouTube, or torrents.

I did the same exact thing on Friday!

[fr_freak]

Can a flat TV screen be used for a computer? I don’t want a TV and a computer screen if I don’t need it.

Absolutely. Just stick to LCD rather than plasma, because plasma is supposed to be much, much more vulnerable to screen burn. With the LCD TVs, most have the RGB connectors (the same connector that you find on your PC monitor) built in. Most now have HDMI and DVI built in too.

I bought a 46" Samsung LCD a few years ago and used it almost exclusively for my PC monitor (I watched most videos using my PC anyway). It was great, plus you can web surf from your couch across the living room, heh (with a cordless mouse). It had HDMI, but it wasn't designed to support PC output so I had to use the RGB. The newer models probably are built more for PC usage.

[fr_freak]

I called Comcast the other day and had them remove TV from my bill, and leave the high-speed internet.

Interesting. Did they give you any trouble? I tried to do the same thing a while back, and the Comcast people told me I had to have at least basic cable in order to have the cable modem. That's an extra $15 or so a month. If you were able to get rid of yours and keep the internet, I might have to give them another call.

[GunnyB]

saw the LED with Blue Ray and was blown away. The depth was amazing!

I just purchased a 40" Samsung LED, and it is by far the most incredible TV I've ever seen. The whole screen is less than 1.25" wide - front to back. Add to that 40% LESS energy use (Crutchfield tests TV energy use and published that these TV's use less than $2 per MONTH in electricity). I just got done watching my first weekend of Football and the difference between 120Hz LED and LCD is night and day... If there is a price war coming on, I'm going to get another one - maybe the 46"...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Go for the 42". The prices will be good at that size and anything over 42" will start showing certain lack of definition.

I looked at 42" and above and finally went with the 42" because of pic quality.

[freedomtrail]

Yes,they can be used as a computer screen. I just bought a 54” plasma and i noticed that there was the exact same t.v. for $1000 more.I asked the salesperson why. He said i could use it as a comp. screen.But for 1k more, i passed. Oh,by the way it was a panasonic.

[George from New England]

“Ten years ago it was torture enough getting it upstairs”

And ten years ago we were all in better shape to do that. At least you will have gravity working in your favor this time!

[Spirochete]

igh-speed internet. Interesting. Did they give you any trouble? I tried to do the same thing a while back, and the Comcast people told me I had to have at least basic cable in order to have the cable modem. That's an extra $15 or so a month. If you were able to get rid of yours and keep the internet, I might have to give them another call.

They didn't give me any guff, but they *did* increase the internet portion of the bill, which negated some of the savings.

[bmwcyle]

The companies are dumping their LCD’s because people (like me) are buying LED’s.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yes,...I have an LG Digital TV + Monitor... 2 in 1.... 23" 1920 x 1080 display I like very much...has a coax connection as well as VGA and the other Monitor connection.

Simple press of the TV/PC button on the remote switches between ....there is a noticeable time lag.

[Chances Are]

Hey! You really sound like my kind of guy!

Congratulations!!!

CA....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Man,...a real Knuckle Dragger...