Comments on: TV prices fall 22 percent in September

According to a survey by DisplaySearch, average global Internet pricing across all TV categories fell by 22 percent in September compared with the same month last year.

[gotrsx6]

Got one actually, Samsung LN40A650 - TOC red. $1295 at amazon, no tax and shipped for free, does it get any better? (sorry, i don't remember if mentioning such things as store/price are against your Terms of Use, if so, feel free to edit my post)

I waited 2 years, hoping to see a true 1080p with 50,000:1 in this range, and alas it came. I realize you'll probably write the same story next year about prices dropping further, however at some point you have to pick a good product and jump in, and i personally felt now was the time.

Brief review: product is spectacular. Yes, I realize you could spend $1,500 more and get the 9-series, 2,000,000:1 contrast, LED backlight, but for what I paid, I don't honestly believe there is a better product on the market. 4 HDMI, picture is fantastic, color options and e-mode presets are great and easy if you don't want to set it up yourself, good menu (although the remote is pretty much trash - the biggest downside, but who uses stock remotes anyway?).

[dbglass]

Thanks to gotrsx6 for writing my exact thoughts. I too just purchased the LN40A650 from Amazon for $1295. It was on sale at Best Buy for over $300 more (and is now well over $600 more after their sale). Maybe the prices will continue to drop, but as Steve Jobs said about the price first drop in the iPhone, "That's technology. If they bought it this morning, they should go back to where they bought it and talk to them. If they bought it a month ago, well, that's what happens in technology."

[gotrsx6]

just to add a bit of a follow up. I would warn potential buyers to be very careful when examining the tvs they are looking. Best Buy and other bigbox stores have a habit of selling much older models at much higher prices. for example, bestbuy still offers the LN40A630, i believe its only 30,000:1 contrast, for more than you can get the 40A650 (note 30 v 50). and there are 660 (blue bezel) which are coming out soon too. make sure you know which model they are offering and the exact specs. there are SIGNIFICANT differences in models, even when only one number is different. do your homework, think about how you will use it. measure your living space. don't just throw $2k out the window because they sell you on something at BB/CC, etc. know what you're buy.

[rafiki65]

Good review- but I am puzzled by the remark about stock remotes.
I am not aware that there is an alternative but I welcome enlightenment.

Cheers Bill

[kcm918]

I think the economy is polarizing for consumers right now. If you are unfortunate enough to have been laid off recently or lost big in the stock market, you?ll be looking to watch more content via the web because you cancelled cable, so who needs a TV? On the other hand if you are lucky enough that your employer or company is doing well, falling prices create many opportunities for the fortunate. While those who can might not buy that new car in these uncertain times, a mid level purchase like a new TV with a great price can look too good to pass up.

Thanks

[hawaiiinsomniac]

Well see what Black Friday has to offer. I am in the market for a bigger HDTV with a higher resolution, my Vizio 32" isn't cutting it for me anymore. Then again if the iMacs come out, I'll survive with my Vizio.

[dirty55409]

I got a 40" samsung 2 years ago for $1700 beautiful HDTV.. Check out Second Act Dot Com for cheap TVs too my mom got a 46" Samsung for $900. Little scratches on it but it works perfectly. and don't go small.... 40" is the new 20" :P

[highlander2000]

Good stuff. These prices are tempting...
However, since my current 32" CRT is adequate and still pluggin' away, I will still hold out for a fairly priced 37-40" sized LED backlit LCD set with 1080p and 120 Hz refresh. I'll likely also wait to see how the initial models fare in reliability and energy consumption before making the plunge to flat panel.

[brettak81]

i bought a Samsung 40" LCD 720p from walmart in august for $999. i highly recommend walmart if u know exactly what u want because the employees don't even attempt to haggle u or steer u in other directions and ask questions like "and why is THIS the tv u want? if u want a GOOD tv let me show u something else".

by the way the TV has excellent HD and u don't need to spend an extra $500 for 1080p when shopping for anything 40" and lower.

[TCrimson05]

Doubt It, I have no idea. Depends on how bad things get vs. when they will get better. I definitely won't say it's at the bottom of the list but it's not a necessity. (having said that) That doesn't stop me from wanting and working toward one. I've wanted a Samsung HDTV for years and the T.O.C. series is exactly what I'm dying to have. Need a 360 too. Can you imagine Gears of War 2 in gorgeous 1080p pumping through that T.O.C. series? (I'd probably tear up) Here's hoping.

"T"

[iceman721]

I had been looking long and hard for my first HD set. After tons of research (thanks to Cnet among others) I decided to take the plunge and I identified the Samsung 6 series plasma as my #1 choice and the Panasonic 50 inch PZ85u 1080p as my 2nd choice. I found the equivalent (it has its own model # but is the same TV) to the Panasonic on sale @ Costco for 1499.00 (it has since dropped to 1,399). I bought it at the end of September. I thought I was good but after 3 weeks guess what happened! Circuit CIty ran a sale on my Samsung 6 series plasma for 1665.00 + tax with a coupon they emailed me.

I couldn't resist and took the Panasonic back and picked up the Samsung. I couldn't be happier as their is a noticeable difference between the Panasonic & the Samsung. The Samsung is outstanding especially at the price I bought it at. There are great deals out there if you have the dough right now which many people don't. I later found a deal on a Harmony 1 Remote for 150.00 from Dell.com. I couldn't be happier with my new heavily discounted Home Theater setup.

[CFMunster]

I already have a 40 in Westinghouse LCD TV, I'm sticking with that. What I am interested in is a pair of larger monitors. I have 2 19 in LCDs right now, I would prefer to go to 24-27 in LCDs. I am waiting to see what the holiday price drop on them will be.

[KHWADI]

SONY XBR6 should go down in price now, I wanna get it.

[arve856]

I've just bought a Panasonic PZ50800U for 1999.99+HDMI cable & additional 4 years of extended warranty , I can't resist the deal that I've got so I purchased it right away. I am planning to wait till the black friday but I think my black friday came in early & I don't think I can get a deal better than this. Now I am waiting for a great deal for my next Blu-Ray player Panasonic BD-35.

[ScaryMonkey69]

Just spent $433 on a 22" LCD TV at Sears. My 20" color tv from 1989 (my 1st purchase @ Sears) died finally. I paid LESS for the 20" CRT TV than the LCD TV. I will wait till I'm forced to buy a new PC Monitor. So far my 19" Dell CRT is a Real Champ!! (big & heavy, but a champ nonetheless)

NOW- if I had a bigger place, I'd consider spending extra on a bigger TV.

[1star1heart]

When I see these tv's in a store, I'm very tempted, because the pictures are so great. Then I come home and spend the evening with the remote in hand, trying to find something worth watching, and I'm even more tempted to cancel my cable altogether. I don't need to see blood and gore, or some stupid reality show in high def. Actually, I don't need to see that junk at all.

[richmack06]

David,

Have you heard anything in terms of what we can expect to see in 2009? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on a 50" Panasonic plasma, but would be willing to wait a few months if there's something worth waiting for.

I don't necessarily think the performance from 2007 to 2008 models was all that significant. It just seemed the list of standard features grew (slightly).

[cldmello]

I bought my Toshiba HDTV during Christmas last year from Amazon. Had I bought it during the Black Friday sale, I would have spent atleast $1000 plus taxes for it. But waiting just one more month saved me close to $200 and I was able to get a home theater system with my savings.

So for those who just cant wait, go ahead and hope for the best deals. And for those with no immediate need for a TV, I think just around Christmas is the best time to buy! But dont wait too long, coz come New Year and the prices will be back to the regular levels.