I know less about HDTV tech than I do console tech. From a gamers perspective, prices should go down because the PS3 and Xbox 360 are built for HD resolutions. As of today, there are probably around ~110 million Xbox's and PS2's, so I would conservatively guess a similar number in a few year for the successors. I don't think Sony and Microsoft were planning on having only 2% of their userbase using HDTV's, so they're pushing HDTV. Also factor in the Blu-ray/HD-DVD formats, which won't succeed unless there is a decent number of customers with HDTV. So those guys are all hoping to get HDTV's in as many homes as possible, and some of them may have a direct impact on this (Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, etc.). The new technology that I was hearing about was something called CNT (carbon nanotubes, IIRC) from Motorola that is kind of like Toshiba's SED tech, I believe. . Supposedly, these TV's would flat out destroy any TV's today in picture quality (even OLED), can scale from small sized (laptop screens) to large sizes (huge 60' TV's). And the screens would be thin as well. To make this all even better, it is supposed to be extremely cheap to manufacture, something like $400 for a basic HDTV (forgot the exact specs), and like $1400 for a 1080p set. The downside is that Motorola has been talking about this for years and the only thing they've produced is a small 4' screen based on the tech. Even if all these things are true, it may take a few years to come to the market, and the prices could still be high (HDTV companies won't want to hurt sales of other HDTV formats.) So who knows what will happen. I got this information mostly from some articles a few months ago. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I just had the basic information on this. If I can find some of the articles I read, I'll edit my post with links to the articles. edit: Here are some links to info on the TVs, as well as info on carbon nanotubes in general: http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/05/wo/wo_052405brandon.1.asp http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05052316.htm http://optics.org/articles/news/11/5/17/1 http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail/0,,5484_5474_23,00.html http://www.tekrati.com/T2/Analyst_Research/ResearchAnnouncementsDetails.asp?Newsid=5053
carbon nanotubes ?!?!?! in TV technology ??!?!? How? Sounds like CNT is going to be used for anything you can think of.
Thanks for the info RC...I bow down to your superior tech. knowledge...I haven't heard of CNT before (I've been out of the loop for awhile) ...man, I really have to catch up with all this new stuff.
When I first started reading about it, someone said that it could be like the new plastic, which may explain why it seems too good to be true. There seemed to be so many different things you can do with them that would drive down costs and dramatically increase performance. I hope that's all true. Just to make it clear, but the only real knowledge I have on HDTV is the CNT stuff and how HDTV's relate to games (impact of a game in 1080p versus 720p or 1080i, for example). Ask me questions about other things, such as the exact differences in the HD sets out now, and I probably won't do too well. I know some things, but probably no more than the average guy interested in tech. The only HDTV's I've ever watched were the ones I saw in stores. BTW, I edited my earlier post with the links to articles on CNT TV's and CNT.
Wrong on several points. Plasmas these days are built to last roughly 60k hours until half brightness, which translates to a good 15-20 years, depending on your daily usage. So if you want a longer lasting set, then good luck because you'll have a hard time finding one that lasts SIGNIFICANTLY longer. LCD's are in no way much more reliable than plasmas, as each technology has its pros and cons. Plasmas are, though its unlikely with proper care, susceptible to "burn-in", while LCD's have the possibility of dead pixels. The size of your desired set really determines the direction you might want to be heading. There are a few advatages to having a plasma over a typical project set, which include a 180 deg viewing angle, no lighting/surroundings requirements, and not to mention a much greater aesthetic and ergonomic appeal (for most) aside from the sharper image quality produced. If you want to learn the truth behind all these display techs, then I'd suggest checking out avsforum. They really know their stuff, and I was able to make my decision on purchasing a 43" HD plasma based on all the research I did there. Good luck with your tv hunt, Drewdog, hopefully you find exactly what you're looking for.
I paid a grand for my LCD HDTV.... here's what you do, get married, buy a house, get divorced, sell the house, take half the profits, sock some of it away and take some mad money and go buy a TV!! That's what I did!
Then I stand corrected. Last year, I recall manufactures of Plasma's were only talking about 20k hours. They must be getting better. I'm still waiting for my rear projection to die before considering LCD or Plasma. I'm really happy with my 47" Panny and I've got the space for it. At double the cost, Plasma or LCD ain't worth it to me. I'll wait for the technologies to shake out a little more such as OLED or something else. Also with the 2007 mandate, I'm sure prices will dramatically change at that time.
Is the question when will prices in general go down? Or when will prices of a tv someone bought a year ago go down? Because of course older models will be cheaper today than they were when new a year ago. But will the newest, coolest models ever not costs a crapload of money? Probably not. Which means, wait as long as you want, you're still going to end up thinking you're either (1) paying a ENORMOUS amount of money for a tv, which may not be justifiable, or (2) paying a fair amount of money for a tv which certainly isn't leading edge (year-old+ technology).
Here is a comparison chart (2004, so a bit dated): http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/displays_LCD_DLP_plasma8.html
I just bought the Pioneer PDP-4350HD, and it is absolutely gorgeous. The colors and PQ are stunning, and the overall look of the set is damn sexy, as you can see for yourself at any local Best Buy or such. I'll tell you now, it's not the most price friendly set available, but the look, functions, seperate media receiver, and PQ all in one package won me over. Higher end brands such as Hitachi and Fujitsu are available, while Panasonics are roughly in the same league as Pioneer and extremely popular amongst their owners, due largely to the PQ for price. Yeah, plasmas have improved a lot in the longevity department, and that's part of the reason I decided on one. I can't really wait several years down the road, as I was stuck with a 27" DAEWOO for the past several years, so I was somewhat in the same boat as Drewdog. But if you're happy with your current set and don't mind waiting out the storm, then there's not doubt that even better technology is a few years down the road, along with price drops on today's rising techs. You have space for your set, and I honestly dont, so to each his own.
mj10501 - How long have you had your Pioneer PDP4350? I am in the final stages of purchasing a new tv and the Pioneer PDP4350 (43 inch) and PDP5050 (50 inch) are my top plasma choices. I am leaning towards the 50 inch Pioneer. They are both top notch and I like the separate media box that has a ton of component inputs (including 2 HDMI inputs). Have you played any X-Box/PS2 games on your new Pioneer? If so have you noticed any issues with burn-in? Also if you don't mind me asking where did you purchase your Pioneer from and how much did you pay? Was it a local dealer or did you purchase it online via a Web retailer. From what I have researched the lowest online price I found for the Pioneer 4350 from an authorized Pioneer retailer is $3464 - $500 (Pioneer Rebate) = $2964 (Includes Free Shipping and No Tax). The lowest online price for the 5050 from an authorized Pioneer retailer is $4395 - $500 (Pioneer Rebate) = $3895. Also did you purchase any kind of extended warranty? Did you purchase an upconversion DVD player using HDMI? If so did it make a big difference watching movies? I only have 8 feet of viewing space between the TV and my sofa so I know the 43 inch will probably get the job done. I just think bigger is better when it comes to TV's (and hence why I am leaning towards the 50 inch model)!! The one HD LCD Rear projection that seems somewhat decent is the 50 inch Hitachi Ultravision (50VS810). The prices are in the $2500 dollar range and it got very good reviews on CNET. Curious if any of you guys may have this model. It is about 16 inchs wide but looking at it from the front it looks like a flat screen plasma. It also has 2 HDMI inputs which is something that I looking for.
Dream34 - I bought my set from tvauthority.com, and the final price on mine was 3350. I really felt comfortable buying from this online retailer after all the extremely positive reviews and their five star satisfaction program. Honestly I could've probably found a better price, but with this kind of purchase I really didn't want to take any risks. I'm still in the process of breaking in my plasma, so no unfortunately I can't tell you anything about gaming on it, which I do intend to do. Once again, I'm taking all the recommended precautions, as I really can't afford to treat it carelessly. Since I take pretty good care of my electronics, I passed on any extended warranties as I felt that the one that came with my purchase from tvauthority would suffice. My viewing distance from sofa to tv is about...6-7 feet, so the 43" suits my needs easily. HOWEVER, if I had the funds to invest in a 50", I would love to take the dive. Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to get a hold of a 50" and move this 43" set to the bedroom. I haven't had time to pick up an upconversion dvd player, but from everything I've read, having one inputting through the HDMI makes a world of difference. So based on research alone I would recommend it, but I can't offer any personal experience. Good luck with your tv search, lemme know how your set works out for you
