Plasma TVs May Be the Biggest Bargains This Holiday Season

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If you've had a big-screen flat-panel HDTV in your sights for a while, it looks like this fall will be a great time to pull the trigger.

Prices this holiday season are expected to hit an all-time low, about 40 percent cheaper in general than a year ago and as much as 65 percent lower on certain kinds of TVs. There's growing speculation that the season will start off strong on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, with eye-opening deals, particularly on plasma TVs.

We may see some 42-inch 720p plasmas priced as low as $599 on Black Friday, predicted manufacturers and retailers attending a conference held last week by DisplaySearch, an Austin, Texas-based research firm. According to DisplaySearch forecasts, prices could rebound a bit after the kickoff weekend, averaging closer to $1,000 throughout the holidays. 720p plasmas with 50-inch screens are likely to go for about $1,400 this year, down from $2,300 a year ago. Plasma will finally become competitive in 1080p, with the average price of a full HD 50-inch set dropping sharply, to just under $2,400 by the end of the year, the firm projects.

Discounts will be less dramatic on LCD sets, but prices will be lower. A 40-inch LCD set with 720p resolution will go for about $1,000. Look for bigger price cuts in 1080p, where average selling prices will drop to about $1,500 for a 40-inch set and $2,000 for a 46-incher. Full HD 52-inch LCD TVs will sell for about $2,700. DisplaySearch predicts that 1080p sets will take over the 40-inch and larger category this holiday season, accounting for about 60 percent of all HDTV sales.

Analysts say it's unlikely TV prices will drop much lower in 2008, so there's little point in waiting for better bargains next year. True, predictions for less-severe price drops in 2007 haven't panned out, but this time they could be on the money. According to DisplaySearch presient Ross Young, much of the price cutting we've seen this year resulted from a perfect storm of events late in 2006, "where we had too much panel supply, too many brands and too many retailers."

What does this portend for your holiday shopping? Retailers are likely to steer you to big screens and 1080p sets, which offer them bigger profit margins than smaller screens. Many big-box retailers aren't actively promoting 40- and 42-inch 720p LCD HDTVs, so it may be harder to find them. Young noted that recent advertising circulars by national chains focused almost exclusively on higher-priced 1080p sets 40 inches and larger. And supplies of 32-inch LCD TVs could be tight as manufacturers shift their focus to more lucrative segments, including digital photo frames and notebook PCs.

That means your best bet of finding a 720p LCD set this holiday season may well be in warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's or at mass merchants such as Wal-Mart or Target. These chains, which have a lower margin structure than traditional retail stores, are becoming a more important outlet for TV sales-and they're a big reason that Vizio became the number-one flat-panel TV brand in the second quarter of this year, according to data from NPD Group, DisplaySearch's parent company.

Also, gird yourself for a stronger-than-usual push to load up on extras, such as an extended warranty, cables, wall mounts, and even high-def DVD players and digital receivers. With TV prices and margins falling, stores will need to sell you more of these extras to bolster profits.-James K. Willcox

Best Plasma TV Care 101 (Series of Articles)

Many thousands of people purchase their first plasma screen TV each year. They invest a significant amount of money to obtain a plasma screen which offers top of the line color accuracy, vibrancy, and clarity to enhance their family's viewing experience. Once the television is delivered however, it's important for plasma buyers to take the time to become familiar with the proper care of the screen to assure many years of trouble free viewing enjoyment. Plasma screens aren’t really “high maintenance” but observing a few tips offered here can extend the life of the screen.

• Provide a solid foundation: Be sure the plasma screen is placed (or mounted) in an area where it will not be “knocked around” or will accidentally fall.
• Let it breathe: Plasma screens generate a lot of heat which can speed the demise of the electrical components of the unit. Be sure the television has enough open space around it. The manufacturer will provide venting guidelines.
• Stay dry: Exposure to excessive humidity, spills, or condensation due to rapid changes in temperature can destroy electrical components and cause corrosion.
• Tone it down: Rooms with lower ambient light require less brightness. Brightness levels that are set too high will prematurely age the phosphor lining of the plasma screen.
• Keep it cool: As alluded to above, plasma screens require a cool environment, due primarily to the heat they generate. Outdoor placement of a plasma screen is a no-no due to the exposure to heat, humidity, other moisture, and dirt.
• Use a little "elbow grease"- but not too much: Keep the screen clean with the proper tools. Manufacturers seldom recommend strong cleaners. Most often a micro fiber cloth is recommended which is effective in ridding the screen of dust and finger prints. When more aggressive cleaning is necessary cleaners specifically made for plasma or PC screens (anti-static cleaners) are used but should never be sprayed directly on the screen. The cleaner should be applied to the cloth. Use of paper towels, Kleenex, or any other abrasive type cloths should be avoided as they can damage the anti-glare coating.
• Don't get burnt: Although anti-burn in technology has advanced greatly over the years, it is best to avoid leaving static images on the screen. This means that images should not be paused on the screen for extended periods of time and stations which present a static block/image on the screen should be viewed on a limited basis as well. Hooking your PC up to a plasma screen is also inadvisable as they are often used to display static images.
• Help your plasma TV weather the storm: This is just common sense; use a surge protector.
• Prevent pre-mature aging: The final word of caution; turn plasma screens off when not in use. This can help avoid accidental burn in, reduce heat, and help to avoid decreased brightness/pre-mature aging.
  

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Best Plasma TV: With Maturity Has Come Greater Dependability (Series of Articles)

I found this article about your Best Plasma TV. i thought it might be interesting!

During the holiday season of this year, millions of consumers will be considering the purchase of a new television. Those beautiful plasma screen displays will scream at shoppers from the display floor with their vibrant, life like colors and detail. But undoubtedly, wary shoppers will have heard the rumors or perhaps have known someone who bought a plasma television in 1999 which has already moved on to television heaven just seven short years later. It seems to a prudent shopper that perhaps a new plasma TV isn't the choice for them if a long term relationship is desired.

But are the rumors false? Has plasma undergone a bit of reinvention? Was this lack of longevity a symptom of a fledgling technology that has now perhaps matured? Is a plasma television now more reliable, a screen to be around for the long haul?

In a word…yes.

With lower power usage and changes with the mix of gases in the panels, the longevity of a plasma television has been significantly enhanced. The lifespan of a television display is measured in "half life"; the hours of use before the screen has dimmed to only 50% of its original brightness. In recent years, plasma television manufacturers have been touting a half-life which is equivalent to that of other screens such as the higher priced LCDs; around 60,000 hours. From this, consumers can see that the lifespan of a plasma screen is dependent upon how much it is viewed. For instance, if a plasma television is on for 6 hours a day, 365 days a year (2190 hours per year), it should last just over 27 years.

Knowing this, it becomes clear that the life of the screen on a plasma television can be significantly influenced by how it is used. Turning off the television when no one is viewing it could certainly extend its life. Adjusting the brightness is important as well; maximum levels are seldom required or recommended and can unnecessarily cause pre-mature aging of the phosphors.

Additional changes over the years for plasma televisions include technologies aimed at reducing the risk of "burn in"; another significant concern about the "character" of plasma displays that developed during its youth. Features such as pixel shifting, pixel orbiter, and motion adaptation all describe methods of moving the image on a plasma screen which is imperceptible to the human eye but effective in reducing the risk of burn-in. With these added features, many plasma manufacturers now claim their screens have no greater risk of burn in than the traditional CRT, "tube" televisions.

As with anything, consumers need to compare brands as they aren't all created equally. Reviewing the facts from the manufacturer is important. In general, it is best to stick with the more reputable and well known brands as a bargain "off-brand" in the long term may not save money if the quality and dependability are lacking.

There are many excellent technologies to choose from when buying a new television. Which type of display is best is dependent upon each individuals wishes, but plasma televisions certainly deserve the full attention of buyers as they do not warrant the negative reputation developed during their formative years in regards to longevity.

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