Don't Buy An HDTV Until After The CES Jan 8th-11th

[QualityIsJobOne]

...IMO at this point it would be very prudent to delay buying an HDTV until we see what is gonna be unveiled at the world's largest trade show...the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show January 8th-11th,2004 In Las Vegas (http://www.cesweb.org)

As an example, here is a statement about Sony's plans for the show...Sony Electronics (http://www.cesweb.org/attendees/exhibit_floor/directory/eims_exhibitor_details.asp?exhibid=5571) will be unveiling an assortment of exciting products, content and services that are Like No Other

BTW...Sony has already booked the following for the show....

Press Event Detail
Sony
January 7, 2004, 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

We pretty much know what the really big news in HDTV is and that is 1920*1080P LCOS RPTV. If they announced that the prices were affordable, instead of US$8000-9000, that would really make my day. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Tup]

Intel is supposed to be developing LCos (liquid crystal on Silicon) TV's and displays at a good price. Great in my mind...the cheaper the HDTV's, the more HDTV's sold, the more HDTV content we will see.

[BellRinger]

You working for Sony now?

[QualityIsJobOne]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
You working for Sony now?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, however I'm interested in seeing what they announce at the CES...last year they announced the KV34XBR910 at the show. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[I_Want_My_HDTV]

Sony is pushing up their presence in the marketplace. They recently paid the cost to refurbish a show room at a local A/V store. The room features Sony products only and has all high end HD equipment on display. The Hitachi and Toshiba HDTVs got pushed into a smaller room where the Sonys were. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[JohnnyG]

I haven't seen a real 'breakthrough' technology announced at CES for a long time. Usually actual products based on previously announced technology. Remember that items introduced at CES are rarely available immediately...it's usually many months afterwards. Sometimes never!

Anybody remember the JVC D-ILA rear-projection set??

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Exactly what John said... CES has become a place where manufacturer's show us their "work in progress" products that will be available "some time in the future". Any of the new products you'll see at CES are usually in prototype format. A manufacturer will not willingly wait until CES to unravel their new products. Competition is so fierce that once a product's ready for market, it GOES to market. Why risk sales opportunities by WAITING to display your new products at a once-a-year show? If they did that, someone else will come out with something better and put it on market before you even have a chance to show it off at CES.

CES is a good way to see what direction a manufacturer may be heading. All the manufacturer's stand up and display the things they've been working on over the last year, but even that is often done sparingly as it tips off competitors. Those with nothing new will simply display their current stuff.

There's no need to wait after CES to buy... if you did that, as John said, you may be waiting a long time to get your hands on something you saw at CES. No matter what you buy today, there'll always be something better tomorrow no matter what.

Kal

[JohnnyG]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
A manufacturer will not willingly wait until CES to unravel their new products.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is not entirely correct. In fact, it's my experience that more and more manufacturers are waiting to make their product announcements at CES. Panasonic, for example, releases their product lineup for the year at CES. Most manufacturer's are still on annual product announcement cycles, but it depends on how the timing of this cycle coordinates with CES. Their product cycle is usually more in-line with their own fiscal year.