Deals on EDTV flat-panels this week
Tags: HDTV, LCD, Plasma
Blackfriars noted previously a force driving some dramatic price movements on flat panel TVs due to new FCC requirements taking effect this Friday, July 1. Some price points this week:
Only the latter is affected by the new FCC rules, but both are indicative of the new sub-$2K price point for 42" EDTVs.
Of course, if you are shopping for a flat-panel EDTV, the gold standards in this category are the Panasonic TH-42PD50U TV and the TH42PWD7UY monitor. Both have been available on-line for less than $2K including shipping from a variety of on-line merchants for a month or two.
With all the price declines in flat-panels lately, here's Blackfriars rule-of-thumb for best-in-class pricing for major brand flat-panel monitors and TVs:
Now the real question is, when will a major brand decide to break with the pack and start the next round of price cuts. Our bet: expect to see another round of cuts in late August, although I wouldn't expect as dramatic cuts as we've seen to date.
Blackfriars noted previously a force driving some dramatic price movements on flat panel TVs due to new FCC requirements taking effect this Friday, July 1. Some price points this week:
- an ESA 42" plasma EDTV monitor (i.e., without any tuner whatsoever) at Circuit City for $1649 with in-store pickup .
- an HP 42" EDTV plasma television (i.e., with NTSC tuner, but not an over the air digital tuner) for $1788 at Tweeter.com with free shipping.
Only the latter is affected by the new FCC rules, but both are indicative of the new sub-$2K price point for 42" EDTVs.
Of course, if you are shopping for a flat-panel EDTV, the gold standards in this category are the Panasonic TH-42PD50U TV and the TH42PWD7UY monitor. Both have been available on-line for less than $2K including shipping from a variety of on-line merchants for a month or two.
With all the price declines in flat-panels lately, here's Blackfriars rule-of-thumb for best-in-class pricing for major brand flat-panel monitors and TVs:
- EDTV 42" monitors: about $1500 without shipping.
- EDTV 42" TVs with tuner and speakers: less than $2000 without shipping.
- HDTV 42" monitors : less than $2500K without shipping.
- HDTV 42" TVs with tuner and speaker : less than $3000 without shipping.
- HDTV 50" monitors : less than $3500K without shipping.
- HDTV 50" TVs with tuner and speaker : less than $4000 without shipping.
Now the real question is, when will a major brand decide to break with the pack and start the next round of price cuts. Our bet: expect to see another round of cuts in late August, although I wouldn't expect as dramatic cuts as we've seen to date.
posted by Carl Howe at
1:15 PM
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