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Pod Catching Software:
The HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
October 28, 2008 - Podcast #323
All the HDTV and Home Theater news and info you need, without all the reading.


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News:
Vizio rolls out four new bargain-priced 1080p LCD HDTVs
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Other:
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Today's Show:
We've compile a few lists of some of the top selling items at Amazon.com.  A few of the lists shocked us a little bit.  Of course, we have an opinion  on what they mean, and what we might see for the Holiday shopping season.

A Few Amazon.com Top Ten lists

Televisions
10. Toshiba 19LV505 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV with Built In DVD Player
    3.5 / 5 stars, $334, Details

9. Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
    4.5 / 5 stars, $2123, Details

8. Samsung LN19A450 19-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
    4 / 5 stars, $320, Details

7. Samsung LN22A450 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, Black
    4 / 5 stars, $385, Details

6. Samsung LN40A650 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
    4.5 / 5 stars, $1298, Details

5. Samsung LN46A550 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
    4.5 / 5 stars, $1289, Details

4. Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
    4.5 / 5 stars, $998, Details

3. Samsung LN32A450 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
    5 / 5 stars, $623, Details

2. Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with RED Touch of Color
    5 / 5 stars, $1570, Details

1. Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color
    5 / 5 stars, $2029, Details

   
Of note:
  • Nine of the top 10 TVs are made by Samsung
  • All of the TVs are High Definition (60/40 split, 1080p to 720p)
  • All of the TVs are LCD
    • The first plasma on the list is
      • #17: Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
    • The first CRT, also the first SDTV on the list is
      • #85: Haier HTR20 20" CRT TV
    • The first rear projection on the list is
      • #86: Samsung HL56A650 56-Inch 1080p Slim DLP HDTV

Our conclusions:
  • Watch for significant price drops in plasma and rear projection this Holiday season as they try to keep a toe hold in the market
  • While the LCD market looks very competitive, prices should remain more or less stable with demand being so high
  • CRT is dead
  • Rear project is just about dead
  • Plasma needs ultra-contrast, fast! (and affordable!)


DVD players
10. Toshiba DVR610 1080p Upconverting Tunerless VHS DVD Recorder
    4 / 5 stars, $158, Details

9. Philips DVP5140 Multiformat DVD Player with DivX, MP3, Windows Media Support
    4 / 5 stars, $48, Details

8. Philips Hard Disk/DVD Recorder 160 GB (DVDR3576H/37)
    4 / 5 starts, $295, Details

7. Sony DVP-NS700H/B 1080p Upscaling DVD Player
    4.5 / 5 stars, $73, Details

6. Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-Ray Player
    Not rated, $289, Details

5. Coby DVD-224 Compact DVD Player
    3 / 5 stars, $28, Details

4. Sony DVP-FX820 8-Inch Portable DVD Player
    4.5 / 5 stars, $154, Details

3. Sony BDP-S550 1080p Blu-Ray Player
    4.5 / 5 stars, $329, Buy now

2. Samsung BD-P1500 1080p Blu-ray Player
    4 / 5 stars, $215, Details

1. Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player
    4.5 / 5 stars, $264, Details

  
Of note:
  • The top 3 DVD players are Blu-ray players, 4 of the top 10 are Blu-ray
  • Sony has 4 players on the list
  • Of the non-Blu-ray players, none is just a "standard DVD" player
    • One is a portable player
    • One is ultra compact, and ultra inexpensive
    • Two are upscaling/upconverting models
    • One is a DVR and recorder
    • One is a VHS and recorder (also an upconverter)
    • One supports digital media playback (DivX, MP3, etc.)

Our conculsions:
  • Blu-ray is gaining momentum.  We still think Blu-ray player prices have some room to drop, so look for them to be aggressive in "unseating" DVD players this Holiday season
  • At around $75, upconverting players still make sense to a lot of people.  When Blu-ray hits $150 it will take off, when it gets below $100 it will be pretty much the the only format available.  DVD will be the next VHS at that point.

 
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