HDTVs Growing to Epic Size This Season

Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:28PM EST

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If you went shopping this weekend, you might have noticed that deep discounts were comparably lacking on new flat-panel TVs, at least compared to 2006. Instead, they've simply gotten bigger, part of manufacturers' strategies to avoid getting sucked into the huge discounts that siphoned away virtually all profits for the sets during last year's cost-obsessed holiday season.

Jumbo sets are flooding the market this year. Sony has 20 models measuring 40 inches or larger in LCD alone, now making up 68 percent of the company's TV lineup, according to the Wall Street Journal. And Sony, like everyone else, is hoping you'll go big: At $1,273, the average 40-inch TV offers substantially better profit margin than a $763 32-inch set (in part because there is less competition in bigger sets from budget brands like Olevia and Westinghouse). The goal is obviously that you'll get sucked into jumping up a size or two when you see the difference in the stores.

Still, prices are dropping, just not as much: 12 percent on average this year for LCD sets. As well, technology continues to improve, with focus on deeper blacks, faster response times, and even lighter and thinner screens. Interestingly, Sharp says it can now fit a 42-inch screen into its old 40-inch frame because there's less wasted space around the edges.

So... are you TV shopping this season? If so, what's the magic number (in inches, I mean) that's tickling your fancy?

LINK: TV screens grow, prices drop 

Comments on HDTVs Growing to Epic Size This Season

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  • 66 Posted by dfairfax31 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    darn! There's a real push to sell these things for the holidays...everything I'm reading is about how great this deal is or that deal, these big TV guys are spending an awful lot getting us to talk about TVs. We're so wrapped up in it that we're insulting one anothers religions, political views and mental capacities, all that's left are the mother and wife insults. I'm not BUYing any of these ploys, I watch my regular ol TV and can actually see it really clearly, it's a bruiser at 32" because it's probably as bulky as my love seat, but I really don't see what the BIG deal is. I'm sure no one at all is with me on this but there are surely far more important things to think about

  • 67 Posted by buffalosnow71 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    geraldsalata .......Your comments classify you as an insanely jealous underachiever.

  • 69 Posted by thewazs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    The problem with most LCD screens is that they are so huge, the response time across the entire screen becomes slower. Developers are trying to counter this by making OLCD. However OLCD screens diminish after time, showing grays more and more each time you turn your tv on. 720p is still nice... don't let those others folks put it down, especially since video games and tv in itself hasn't quite developed well enough to be in 1080p. BlueRay/HDDVD are pretty much the only exception to that. Personally, I'd wait just a bit longer (or at least until the end of 2008, the last year of classic broadcasting to regular television), and then purchase either LCD or Plasma in a native 1080p. Then you'll have a nice tv that can adapt to the increase in technological advances later on, and, it'll be just a bit cheaper than what it is now.

  • 70 Posted by lorischutz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Unless your planning on buying a Blue-Ray player or HD-DVD player, buy a 720P instead of the 1080P. Nobody is broadcasting in 1080P and they won't be for years to come. If your just going to be watching through cable or DirectTV, you will see zero difference in picture quality. As far as LCD and plasma is concerned, even the 120HZ LCD's have motion blur, especially when your watching sports or fast moving scenes. Opt for a plasma for the best picture quality. Best bet plasma's? Pioneer, Panasonic and Samsung.

  • 71 Posted by vladagoca on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why are you even concerned of prices anyways??? If any of you can remember...I can because I used to sell them at a major electronics company, T.V.s were the same prices as these awesome flat panel T.V.s. So why even the big complaint when noone is even comparing the diferrence of the new sonys to the old 40" sony xbr's or sony widescreens that used to be so freakin expensive,more expensive actually than the new high quality flat panels. Not only that...technically one person can bring up to their house or apartment a 40" flat panel unlike a 40" C.R.T.of yesteryear.

  • 73 Posted by derfrah717 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    rbyarsr is a fascist because he has reveled himself to be a corporatist. The dolt is buying his beloved Sharp from a "commie" country. Way to go captain America! On a side note: people need to stop ranting about communism unless they know what it is and can make distinctions when discussing it. Otherwise it just reeks of stupidity and ignorance.

  • 74 Posted by georgecycc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought a 32 inch 1080p last year and have been happy with it, but I'm not buying any more until the March 09 changeover unless I see a great buy on a 32 inch. My house isnt large enough to allow me to sit in any room so far away that a 50 inch or even 42 inch makes sense, so my max is 37 inches, and for the bedroom, 32 inch. I also wont buy anything but another 1080, because I am so pleased with the picture. One problem that I have is that I have a lot of the old TVs, both our own and from both my parent's and my in law's homes which we closed up in the last few years. They are in great working order. I doubt very much, though, that I'll want to spend the money for the converter boxes for digital (we dont have cable, just get over the air tv). In the meantime, I've got old TV in my teen's room, one in our master bedroom, one in my office, one in the guest room, one in the kitchen, one in the basement workout area, and one stored in the basement. They just never seen to die on us. I have to laugh when I see people trying to sell the old tvs on Craig's List- who the heck would buy them today? I wouldnt even buy one of the projection TV's because they are so darn heavy and bulky. In addition to being pleased with my LCD HDTV last year, carrying it into the house was so easy because of it's light weight, as was set up, moving it to vaccuum, etc. Just my 2 cents.

  • 75 Posted by waleryan29 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    i got a 32 inch 720p olevia with 3 years of insurance BRAND NEW for $400

  • 76 Posted by ppira on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I purchased my tv last November before the huge explosion of HD. I got a 56" Samsung HD DLP, which in my opinion looks just as good as an LCD, & its so much less in weight. Try the department store called Conn's. They work strictly off commission & you are able to haggle them a little more on the price unlike your Best Buy's & Circuit City's

  • 77 Posted by bburdick87 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    There will never come the day that I will spend $1,000 to watch TV. Never!

  • 78 Posted by vabblue on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    oh yes, there is always a ploy to hike the price back up. If they see people buying something, they will raise the price. We the people have to hunker down and just not buy them, and see how fast the price drops. I remember when they first came out and you could get a 54 inch for 1000-. They are introducing new technologies to warrant the higher prices. My 25 inch tube tv does me fine, no sucker here..

  • 79 Posted by uzaleja on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    People dogging 720p need a reality check. Even in 2009 the vast majority of programming will not be in HD. The only thing guaranteed in 2009 is standard definition digital television. The public is being scammed into buying these high end 1080 LCD TVs by misinformed media and greed of the electronics retailers. Also most of that HD programming is being broadcast in lower quality to save bandwidth for the extra digital channels TV stations are allowed to have.

  • 80 Posted by kriss1951 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    robinclenndar, you're exactly the type of individual that geraldsalata's comment was directed to. I'm guessing a hard working, capable individual, perhaps well off, buying into the american consumerism, and probably living beyond his means. Needing to have the latest, the fastest, the biggest, the most talked about, the thing that no other person has yet, and living beyond his means and probably will be stuck in paying all that off until he drops. Go ahead brother, do your thing.

  • 81 Posted by kabarnes85 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got one of the new 52" 1080p Sharp Aquos slim-line models at Circuit City on Black Friday for $2199. A $3500 dollar tv that was on sell at Best Buy for $3199. Congrats to you folks that got last years 46" model at Sears for $1000.

  • 83 Posted by janderson252002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    What a bunch of uninformed dolts. 720 is both HD and digital. You people are on the internet, get accurate information. 1080p is not going to mean squat for years, it is just a way of dragging the uninformed to buy more than they need. I bought a Pioneer Elite which is 720p and the picture blows us away. Look at the picture and if you like what you see go for the best price.

  • 84 Posted by jimbob71121 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    We love our new Sony 60" HDTV rear projection. We purchased about a month ago. The size jump from our 27" took a little getting used to. Now my husband can imagine having a 70". The HD broadcasts are truly tremendous. Highly recommend setting on a cabinet about 17" high so it's at eye level.

  • 85 Posted by wrhely on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am doing my research on the various (F.A.B.'s) features,advantages, benifits. But I plan to go 42" in '08 and I am confident I will be able to stick to a $1,200.00 budget.

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