Vizio emerges from flat-panel TV shadows (US company)

Associated Press ^ | Sept. 7, 2007 | GARY GENTILE

[secret garden]

These look nice in the stores. Has anyone here bought one?

[TheDon]

In 2002, he launched his own company, then called V Inc., with $600,000 from friends and a mortgage on his Newport Beach home.

Ya gotta love it!

[linn37]

I’m going to check at work later, I think these are the new flat screens they are using in the newly remodeled rooms. If its the same TV they have a nice picture for such a small size.

[Theo]

Made in ... China?

[Greg F]

Made in Taiwan though. I’m all for an American co. getting a piece of the action . . . but made in Taiwan.

[Zhang Fei]

I saw a Vizio at a Circuit City several weeks ago. It was the best look TV in the line-up. And the cheapest one. I was pleasantly surprised that a no-name Chinese brand could do this. Now I know why - it’s actually a no-name American brand.

[papasmurf]

I looked at one at BJ’S Wholesale, but the box said made in Korea?

As a side note, before I bought, I called several manufacturers’ support and asked questions. This made me want a Samsung...their CS people were the most helpful and knowledgeable I have spoken to in years.

I bought a Panasonic LCD. Which turned out to be a POS, IMO. I took it back, and BJ’S was very helpful, gave me a full credit (offered to refund even) and I chose an LG Plasma. I am happy with the product, but their CS sucks.

[BlabItGrabIt]

bttt

[BKerr]

TV’s and Broadband Technology are my specialties; in fact I hold two certifications in such. And, I can attest that Vizio has always been one of the finest HDTV’s money can buy, yet have always been priced below any within its category of quality.

[BKerr]

And, anything made by LG should worry you.

[JOAT]

the need for all Americans to upgrade to a digital TV by the federal government's February 2009 deadline.

There is so much to comment on in this statement.

[Tribune7]

A American company that makes TVs

[decimon]

TV’s and Broadband Technology are my specialties; in fact I hold two certifications in such. And, I can attest that Vizio has always been one of the finest HDTV’s money can buy, yet have always been priced below any within its category of quality.

That's good to hear. Sounds like their business model is working.

[Ron in Acreage]

LGs screens are made by Panasonic. Same sets. Like GM and Chevy. Ford/Mercury. Dodge/Chrysler etc.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“the need for all Americans to upgrade to a digital TV by the ederal government’s February 2009 deadline.” [There is so much to comment on in this statement]

Yep, whoever is pushing for that can to straight to hell.

[BKerr]

Yep, whoever is pushing for that can to straight to hell.

You won't think that when you go digital and all of sudden you can receive 30-60 FREE, over-the-air channels (a lot of them in High Definition) with the right antenna, especially if you still have your old Grandma-style, bird-cage looking antenna on the side of your house. Right now, with that old antenna receiving old-fashioned, analog signal, you might receive 10 channels for free, but with digital technology, local broadcasters can transmit multiple channels on the same frequency (you'll understand by 2009).

[Zhang Fei]

You don’t actually need to if you have cable TV. And you can always get an HDTV - over the air - tuner for about $50. I love HDTV broadcasts - I get a better picture than most people get with analog cable TV, and more channels than I used to get with analog NTSC broadcasts.

[philled]

When we moved, my Toshiba 32" HD tube (crt)television wouldn't fit (too deep) where my wife wanted it. We had width for a 37" LCD and I looked at a ton of them. I was all set to buy a 37" Toshiba Regza but saw the Vizio was $500 less.

True, the picture on the Toshiba Regza is a little better but to me, it wasn't worth nearly twice the price. As we will be finishing the basement next year and buying a set for there, I went with the Vizio and don't regret it a bit. I've had ours for seven months now and it works great for the price. I'd also considered buying an Olivia for the same price but they hadn't started carrying them locally yet. One thing I like about the comparably priced Olevia is that you can easily update the firmware.

The picture on my tube Toshiba HD set blows it away but that set is about 120 pounds heavier and limits placement. It was also $400 more than I paid for the Vizio- and that was almost five years ago. One of the reviews of a Vizio set (50" plasma) calls it "a miracle of price erosion". Seems appropriate.

[Afronaut]

Bought one 42" from costco in Dec06 failed in Jan07. They wanted to replace it with a referb. I spoke with supervisors and the like and they were just going to send me a used set that was fixed (refurb)

I took it back to Costco and got my money back. Bought a Samsung. No Visio for me in the future.