Thoughts: How much did you spend to get your HDTV?

Prices, features and sizes are pretty varied in today’s HDTV marketplace, but one thing is for sure: Prices are so much lower than they used to be in the ‘old days’ (read: about 5-7 years ago or so) that it just boggles the mind. Even this writer’s current LG HDTV 42″ is about half of what it was just 2+ years ago (the source of many annoyed conversations in our home).

So we’re curious: what route economy wise did you take with your HDTV? A moderately priced Vizio or Samsung? A larger priced Sony or Pioneer model?  What kind of budget did you start out with, and what did you end up getting? These answers will vary widely, we understand, but hey, that’s the point of polls, after all.

So feel free to leave your comments in our Comments area. What kind of dough did you lay out to get in on the HDTV revolution?

Widget Wonders: Google Maps and Facebook coming to Samsung HDTVs

We’ve often pondered the future of interactive widgets built into HDTV units these days, and if they have any sort of chance in the mainstream marketplace. Here is yet another example of something cool (via Engadget blog) coming to Samsung HDTVs that should merit some notice, yet at the same time set some to wondering: will it really matter in the long haul? Here’s more:

We still don’t know if Samsung will put Google’s Android into its TVs, but it has recently launched Google Maps and Facebook as a part of its existing Samsung Apps platform. There aren’t a lot of details in the press release (included after the break) but buyers of most of the 2010 line HDTVs, Blu-ray players and HTIB systems should have access to them. We’ve seen demos of how Samsung Apps can tie phones and TVs together easily, but can a mere Google Maps app match the Google TVs ability to push info back and forth from device to device? The Facebook app on Xbox 360 is moderately useful if only as a way to browse photo albums on the HDTV, so we’ll also be waiting to find out if it will at least match that functionality.

We like the ‘cool’ factor, but still have yet to decide if the widgets will ever really catch on long term.

Sunday: Art of the HDTV Deal

Once again we offer some of the best deals on the web on fine HDTV models. Feel free to take a look:

Crutchfield.com – Here’s a nice deal on a well-reviewed model: The Sony Bravia 32” KDL32BX300 720p 60Hz LCD HDTV for $409.99 – $20.00 off coupon code we’ve kindly given you “3A825″ = $389.99 with free shipping as well. Once one of the priciest models on the market, Sony HDTVs have really come down in recent months.

BuyDig.com has a sweet Samsung LN46C630 46” 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV for $989.00 – $140 off coupon code we give you to use at your leisure: “LN46C630″ = $849.00 with free shipping. Tough to beat that, folks!

Thanks for joining us and feel free to check out these great deals, and join us tomorrow for more HDTV centric joy.

3D All Over: Samsung 3D HDTVs showing up across the web and your TV

Samsung is doing its best with TV ads and more to get the word out about their 3D HDTV units, and the promotion is paying off, it seems. And now the fruits of their labor have been released, officially. More from the web:

If you’ve been waiting for a plasma 3DTV and Panasonic’s VT25 isn’t your speed (we don’t know how you feel about deep, deep black levels, but c’mon, who can turn down Coraline?) then take a look at Samsung’s C7000 line, now in stock (on schedule) pretty much everywhere. The 50-inch PN50C7000 is available for a cool $1,650 at Amazon, $1,797 at Vanns and $1,799 at Best Buy. The 63-inch will cost $3,000 from Amazon, while the 58-inch model is $2,350. Upgrading to the C8000 series and their high end home theater tweaks like Real Black Filter and Motion Judder Canceller (we’ll see how well they actually work) raises the price to $3,417, $2,483 & $2,067 for the 63-inch, 58-inch and 50-inch models, respectively. They all have Samsung Apps and grabbing a 3D Blu-ray before you hit the check out nets a couple of pairs of glasses and a copy of Monsters vs. Aliens just to get you started.

We’ll keep you updated as this line develops, but we’d say Sammy is the front runner in getting their product in front of many 3D-awaiting eyes these days.

The Future is Soon: Samsung readying 42″ OLED trials in 2011?

It appears dreams of large OLED panels in the marketplace may be coming true quite soon…sooner than we even expected, if certain news sources are to be believed. Where once an 11″ panel was the biggest anyone could get, and they cost a fortune, read this story and try not to get drool on your keyboard:

Now OLEDNet claims that Samsung Mobile Display — you know, the cellphone AMOLED guys — is purchasing equipment in preparation for bringing its 5.5 generation facility on-line in the first half of 2011. That should give Samsung the ability make 42-inch AMOLED TVs on a trial basis by the end of the twenty-eleven. But with relatively cheap LCDs steadily closing the gap on OLEDs size, contrast, and power savings advantages, well, we’ll believe it when we see the first big screen OLED TVs in our living rooms.

Good point, now that technology has evolved to a point where contrast features with Plasma and LCD aren’t too far away from OLED, it isn’t the huge news many had expected it would be. We’ll see how it shakes out… if it actually happens.

Cool News: Samsung’s new tech to keep HDTVs cooler

It seems Samsung has been hard at work with some interesting new tech, and recently announced some new developments to keep HDTV units, thereby making them more efficient, not to mention cooler running. Here’s the scoop:

Enter Samsung’s ultra Low Temperature Chip On Film (u-LTCOF) that spreads out the heat from the system-on-chip over a larger area and is designed specifically for its new 3DTVs using LCD/LED and plasma display technology. The tech goes back to ’07, but Samsung plans to produce the new version around Q4 and replace the old metal film with “viscoelastic silicone” that should be about 20 percent more efficient.

Following this story with the story from yesterday, efficiency and conservation seem to be the watchwords of the week. We like our screens large, our energy bills small, and our TV useful lives long, and that indeed is what this technology will help accomplish, while taking care of this big blue and green ball we call Earth.

Cheap (sort of) 3D: LG released lower cost 3D HDTV models

LG has been one those companies that always surprises us with some interesting decisions, and now a “lower cost” 3D option for HDTV? Yes indeed, and they’ll coming soon for the Japanese market. Engadget has us covered with all the details:

Say hello to LG’s new “low cost” option for a 3D LCD TV, the LX6500 series. The term entry level is being tossed around, but at 5.9 million won ($4,390) for a 55-inch, it’s more of a slightly less expensive alternative to the high end 9500 series that started shipping in March. Altogether that means you’ll see a different LED backlighting system with fewer zones, lower 240Hz refresh rate and 8,000,000:1 claimed contrast ratio compared to the more expensive HDTV models, but it still maintains a slim bezel and NetCast internet features. Along with its 42- and 47-inch cousins, these TVs have already popped up for preorder stateside on Vanns.com for significantly less ($3,299 for the 55LX6500) but we’d probably wait and see how they compare to Samsung’s LED or CCFL lit options, as well as the similar Bravias on the way from Sony before committing any cash to the cause.

Good advice, that last sentence. Odds are the other competing companies will have something to say with this move being made.

Reconsideration: Samsung still pondering Android powered HDTVs?

New reports are indicating that Panasonic and Samsung were going to pass on Sony / Google / Intel’s Google TV initiative as being too expensive to make, but a report today released by the Korea Herald indicates that may not be the case, and that they’re seriously reconsidering powered by Android HDTV as a very real option.

While LG has stated it “has not considered” producing a Google TV, the newspaper states an executive from Samsung says they are looking into making Android-powered HDTVs at some point in the future. It could signal a new wave of Android powered TVs and a new movement in the industry at large.

We estimate three or four more rumors with varying degrees of reliability before we hear anything official from Samsung or Panasonic themselves.

Reality Check: Samsung 3D set drops $600 already?

Now we’re not ones to brag (openly anyway), but it seems like home 3D HDTV sets aren’t exactly lighting up the sales charts, and price drops on some channels are already happening: Amazon.com is now selling the new Samsung 46″ 3D HDTV for just $1,999, a $600 drop over just last month, not a good sign typically this soon.

The set had been originally priced at $2,599, but sales of the 3D unit have been pretty slow, being ranked #1,400 in Amazon’s electronics category, and Samsung apparently wants to give it a kick start by offering a lower price. We don’t know for how long, but it looks like it isn’t lighting a fire under many consumers…or early adopters. (Note: The lower Amazon price will appear when you click to place the set in your Amazon shopping cart.)

We’ll keep an eye on this trend as it develops, but we’re not holding our breath it’ll get better in the short term.

Saturday’s HDTV Sale Mania

We love us some great HDTV deals, and here’s some more for your review:

Newegg – Now here is a well-reviewed TV with 1080p for (almost) a song: The Toshiba Regza 40XV648U 40″ 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV for $750 – and we even provide you with a $100 off with coupon code “EMCYRZT57” (Expires 4/22), so this bad boy will only run you $650. Who loves you, baby?

ButterflyPhoto – Here’s the best offer on this monster unit we’ve seen: the Samsung PN63B550 63” 1080p 600Hz Plasma HDTV, and they even throw in a Free 5pc TV Hook Up Kit for $1969.00 with free shipping too? Yep, the price is not a misprint.

Thanks for reading and feel free to check out the offers on the page.

The Fight Is On: LCD vs. Plasma

Let’s face it: 2009 was a pretty bad year for Plasma in general. Prices went lower (a good thing), but how else could you describe a year where the ‘king of plasmas’ exits the marketplace for good, purposely?

It was hard enough when Kuro lovers learned that Panasonic would be manufacturing them instead of illustrious Plasma makers Pioneer, and its a good thing Panasonic, Samsung and LG continued on and didn’t hang their heads when Vizio joined the Plasma quitters club  — Panasonic even opened the biggest ever Plasma plant in 2009 which should continue the Plasma tradition for quite awhile to come.

We aren’t sure who will win the HDTV format wars for the next few years, but its looking apparent that LCD has huge favor with many large companies, and Plasma will have an uphill battle to regain its lost market share.

Monday’s HDTV Deals Madness

Deals abound once again in our HDTV offers post for the week, check them out below:

Amazon.com – Not cheap, but if you have the budget, this is a fabulous offer: the Samsung PN58B860 58” 1080p Plasma HDTV for $2379.00 with free shipping as well. Amazon loves to spring offers like this once in awhile. Huge TV, and one of the better reviewed ones out there.

BestBuy – We love ourselves some LG, and this LG 42LE5400 42” 1080p LED HDTV for $1256.99 and free shipping is about as good as it gets for huge quality TV viewing.

Thanks for reading, and have a happy HD day!

Sunday’s Easter HDTV Specials

It’s Easter, time for bunny rabbits, marshmallow peeps and great HDTV deals. Check them out:

TigerDirect.com has a great deal on a well-regarded Plasma HDTV: the Samsung PN42C450 42” 720p Plasma HDTV for $539.99 with free shipping too. That’ll even tempt the Easter Bunny to turn in his basket and kick back for some HD joy.

Staples.com has a very nice combo unit: the Sharp LC-26DV27UT 26” LCD HDTV With DVD Player built-in for $349.99, and with free shipping as well. Brighten up anyone’s Easter with this gift!

Thanks for joining us, and may many brightly colored eggs be headed your way.

Andy Not Coming: Android HDTV sets deemed “too expensive”

Sure, $150 3D glasses for HDTVs are just fine with them, but according to Bloomberg in a recently published article, Samsung and Panasonic have drawn the line at the rumored Google TV initiative, stating that adding Android doesn’t fit their needs from an economic standpoint, which is sort of a shame.

Panasonic VP Bob Perry stated the Intel hardware needed to run Android “adds too much to the cost of the set,” and Samsung pretty much said the same thing. So it looks like an Android set from those companies won’t happen for now. It’s sad given the decent but not extraordinary nature of the ‘widgets’ on HDTVs right now, that could be improved in terms of speed and flexibility by a system like Android.

We’ll keep an eye out for this as it develops.

Caveat Emptor: Best Buy’s “bundle” isn’t always a great deal

It’s no shock that Best Buy is wanting customers to grab up Samsung’s 3D HDTV and its Blu-ray player together (they go together like peanut butter and jelly, sorta), but buyers in the know should make sure they’re really saving money before they plunk down their wallet.

Next week’s ad does feature the UN55C7000 at a decent price that happens to be $300 lower than the MSRP, and grabbing the display and player all at once gets a free Starter Pack throw in with two pairs of 3D glasses and the Monsters vs. Aliens Blu-Ray too, so at first glance it appears to be a very nice offer.

Now look at the $3,419 package at the lower right and its “$780″ claimed savings. Now that deal includes their $150 Geek Squad install to set up the TV and its little goodies. If you’re an experienced HDTV person, and don’t want to pay for Best Buy’s “extras”, feel free to skip this and set up your own TV. More money for more blu-ray discs and glasses, we say.

So make sure to read all the fine print on any HDTV bundle, to make sure you don’t get taken advantage of.

3D Shootout: Panasonic vs. Samsung, via Consumer Reports

Both Samsung and Panasonic started selling 3DTVs (as you may have heard if you have read this blog in the past two weeks or so, as we’ve covered it extensively) this week, and the reliable folks at Consumer Reports bought both and started testing them, comparing and contrasting the two companies offerings.

Initial impressions seem to confirm the overall feeling and tenor of other reviews we’ve covered in that Panasonic’s 3D has the edge in delivering the best HD 3D experience. Their words: “in the 3D mode, its (Panasonic’s 50-inch VT-20 series) lack of crosstalk and great black levels really made three-dimensional images pop.”

It seems plasma tends to deliver better overall experience with 3D related apps, due to its contrast and black levels, and we agree with the overall community in proclaiming (so far anyway) that Panny is the king of the hill with home 3D right now.

Prices: Samsung 3D HDTV MSRP list range from pretty good to crazy

Take a look at this graphic, and you’ll see two things: Samsung’s price list (MSRP anyway) for their new line of HDTVs, mostly 3D compatible. The other thing you’ll at the top is that $7K price tag, which is more than a little crazy.

What does that $7K buy you? Their top of the line, ultrathin 9000 series LED-lit LCD HDTV, with touchscreen, video displaying remote control and full 3D capability. That’s a lot of bang if you have extra in your budget, and you can watch content like this in style.

Also included in this lineup are a few new Plasma HDTV models, so it seems companies aren’t willing to discard the technology quite yet, a good sign for videophiles the world over indeed.

Most of these will be released in April/May of this year, and are in the $2K range or so, which isn’t terrible for a nice LED backlit 3D compatible TV, we’d say.

Promo Shot: The Samsung 3D HDTV gets its 15 minutes at the Oscars

If you’re sick of the coverage we’ve been giving 3D HDTVs of late, then you may want to skip this post.

The iPad ad was in annoyingly heavy rotation during the Academy Awards telecast, but if you looked closely (or even not so closely), you could barely get through a commercial break without seeing the Samsung ad for its new 3D LED HDTV’s. It was shown at least a dozen times, and we’re sure if people didn’t know about HD and 3D before, they sure do now. We reported this one being on sale a bit ago.

To be honest, we’re still in a wait and see stance with HD and 3D and how popular it will really become, but it seems companies are willing to throw some money behind it, which could be a sign of trends to come.

If you somehow missed it, you can see it here: Link

They’re Coming: Latest Blu-Ray players begin invading retail stores

Are you someone that always gets the very latest and greatest of the electronics stuff? Then you’re probably the sort that would want to know that the latest versions of Blu-Ray players from LG, Samsung and Panasonic have begun showing up in stores now, and their features are most speed and internet connectability.

Once again, Best Buy is in the middle of the chaos, with many of the new models showing up on their shelves first. These models include:  the BD590, BD570 and BD550 from LG, the DMP-BD85 and DMP-BD65 from Panasonic, and the BD-C6500 from Samsung (Sammy plans on more down the road, admittedly). The specs, features and play speed are top-notch (they’re finally getting it right after a few generations now), and the prices are as low as they’ve been yet.

See here for more details regarding the models: Link

Sunday’s HDTV Deals

Here they are, it’s a fine Sunday, and we have more great HDTV deals for your consideration:

BestBuy – Samsung has been very much on the ball with HDTV technology of late, and here’s a Samsung 46” 1080p LCD HDTV for $969.99 with free in-store pickup as well for those near one. Fine deal on a monstrous beast of a TV.

OneCall – We don’t feature this company much, but this Hitachi UT47V702 47″ V Series UltraThin 1080p LCD HDTV for $899.77 with free shipping is a heck of a deal, indeed. Prices continue to fall, and you reap the benefits!

Thanks for checking out this installment of HDTV Deals!

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