November 16, 2007

The Gadget Guru

TV or not TV – is now the time to buy? 

By James Stout
Special to the Times
                                 
Flat Panel TVs are all the rage. Some consumers are updating their current LCDs and Plasmas with sleeker, less expensive models. More commonly, first timers are stymied when deciding which set to buy, how much to pay, and where to purchase. A brief article can’t guide you to your perfect set at the lowest price, but it can help you minimize the confusion.

Is now the time to buy? 
There’s no compelling reason to wait.  Prices have fallen 30 percent annually for three years, and future reductions will be more modest.  Also, the better sets have all the technical innovations which you’ll be able to see when viewing. Future enhancements will be refinements. Pricing? Many stores are already losing money on TVs. Retailers can’t afford to ignore profitability the day after Thanksgiving (stay home!), but excellent values will be offered throughout the holidays. The most important pricing advice I can give you is to buy from a retailer offering 60-day price protection. You may get back 10-20 percent of your purchase price thanks to intense competition.

The next consideration is the brand.  This gets tricky but you can narrow your list by eliminating brands you’ve never heard of. Recognize that major manufacturers, Panasonic (Plasma) Sharp (LCD) and Sony (LCD), specialize in a single TV technology. Just to make things interesting, you need to know that each of these and other brands make 3-5 models for a given screen size (good, better, best) and few retailers carry the entire line. The Sony LCD you find at Magnolia, Costco, and Best Buy could all be different models which vary widely in price and features. This makes research, whether you do it online or with a consultant, critical.  In addition to price protection, determine if you want to purchase your set, cables, installation, and audio products from a single source or you want to put together a system based on your own choices. Don’t expect a big box store to offer much more than the set and a stand, and don’t ask Magnolia to wall mount a cheap TV they didn’t sell.

Plasma or LCD?
Size will simplify the selection process.  Below 40 inches, LCD is your only choice.  Want a quality affordable set 55+ inches?  Plasma is the way to go. The major battle ground is in the 42 – 50” range.  Plasmas will decline in market share to 10 percent by 2011. Still, the finest pictures available come from Panasonic and Pioneer plasmas. LCDs are improving faster than plasmas, and their best offerings provide a great TV and movie experience while being more adept at gaming and use as a PC display.  Whichever category you select, avoid models from little known brands as they often provide a poor viewing experience and also do not provide replacement parts. When broken these sets become paperweights.

Hopefully, these guidelines will help you make an informed decision about a product you will use almost every day for the next 5 to 10 years.  For more information, check out CNET’s comprehensive HDTV World or contact me by phone or email.

James Stout, owner of Bay Area Gadgets, creates home entertainment and home office solutions for valley residents. Your questions and comments are welcome at 408-393-4779 or by email at james@bayareagadgets.com.