LCD TV Center

Plasma and LCD TVs are the red hot item in the consumer electronics product category. But how long will this last?

Personally I think the hot streak is going to be long and strong, because the prices are falling and the TVs are still improving, especially the picture quality.

Price Movements
I’m sure in the first few months of this year that prices have taken a big step downwards again - I think the prices of some of the major brands could be down by 20% - for both LCD and Plasma TVs.

The value LCD TV brands seem to holding their price point - temporarily at least - at the floor they set late last year, but no doubt those will shift again soon, because the main brands are getting too close to them.

This is all fuelled by the ramp up in panel production of the huge 3rd generation LCD panel factories owned by the likes of Samsung and LG Philips LCD.

Anyway, what is SED?
SED stands for surface-conduction electron-emitter display. The main players so far in SED are Toshiba and Canon.

They have announced that they will start selling their first SED flat panel TVs in the fourth quarter of 2007.

SEDs are claimed to be an improvement because:
(a) they use light-beaming technology similar to that for CRT TVs i.e the pictures wil be more natural and not “digital”.

(b) the SED panels are thinner and consume less energy than Plasma and LCDs displays.

My Prediction
Hard to tell at this range. In another year Plasma and LCD TVs will have taken more steps forward in picture quality. HDTV (High Definition TV) will probably be standard for just about all Plasma and LCD TVs.

And of course, the prices will also have taken another few steps downward.

So, SED will have to be a real breakthrough to displace either Plasma or LCD. And to make it harder, by the end of 2007 a lot of us will already have a 42 inch LCD or Plasma TVs.

Get the latest LCD TV news at www.lcdtvcenter.com.

General Background
Protron sources most of their LCD panels from LG-Phillips.

Pros:
- Most buyers appear to like the picture quality. Some say its up there with the Sony and Panasonic LCDs.
- With an HD source, such as an HD DVD, the picture quality goes up dramatically.
- Good features for the price.

Cons- If it goes wrong and you have to send it back (which is the case for models 32 inches and smaller) their customer service is BAD.
- Doesn’t have coverage of major brands.

Can be found at outlets such as Amazon, Etronics, Shopnbc.com

Protron 32″ LCD TVs
Aspect ratio 16:9,
Resolution 1366×768 pixels,
Contrast 600:1,
HDTV compatible
- Best Street Price: $1,250 ish (Feb 06)

There is alo a non-HDTV model available with a best price just under $1,000.

See customer comments at http://www.bizrate.com/marketplace/product_info/review_detail__cat_id–11520000,prod_id–337630370,review_id–8000255,sort–date.html

Protron 37″ LCD TV
Aspect ratio 16:9,
Resolution 1366×768 pixels,
Contrast 1200:1 (dynamic),
Brightness: 550 cd/M2,
HDTV compatible,
Viewing angle 170 degrees
Picture-in-picture support
- Street Price: $1,850 ish (Feb 06)

More LCD TV reviews and information at www.lcdtvcenter.com