Has the Plasma Market Flattened?

[admin]

Consumer electronics revenue took a hit in February. affecting the once skyrocketing category of plasma TVs. Industry watchdog NPD Group reported that it's retail tracking service found that plasma TV dollar volume dropped 16 percent in February compared to February 2006, the first ever year-over-year decline.


Discuss "Has the Plasma Market Flattened?" here. Read the article.

[mouettus]

That's because LCD took over!

[obscbyclouds]

Couldn't dollar volume loss also be attributed to the lowering cost of Plasma TV's. I mean, look at the difference in price between a mid-level plasma display today and one 2 years ago.

[markw]

LCD's are becoming cheaper and better every day and this may have some bearing on this matter.

For another, savvy consumers are aware that prices are dropping faster than a parachutist w/o a parachute and, like me, may be waiting for them to drop some more.

There are some people that won't buy a new TV until the old one dies.

Not everyone sees the benefits in wide screen TV's or HD movies. IT's still "out there" for many peoplewho were born and raised on 4:3 SD.

[highfihoney]

The way i see it is that its just like any other new technology,when it first hits the market everybody & their brother has to have one but once it becomes more of a standard item people begin to realize that being the first to jump on the bandwagon only empties their pockets faster.

Like Markw said there are alot of people (including myself) who can go out & buy a new set but are waiting for more realistic prices,after all tv's are disposable.

[westcott]

Most consumers do not know the difference between LCD and Plasma, other that the cost per inch difference.

Based on this general lack of knowledge, cost becomes the overriding factor, as usual.

It's big and it's flat, thats all that matters to the average consumer. Many of them don't even know they are not getting an HD signal on their HD displays!!!!!!

[mouettus]

It's big and it's flat, thats all that matters to the average consumer. Many of them don't even know they are not getting an HD signal on their HD displays!!!!!!

So true... but they should! Even my gf knows the difference...DJIAH!

[stratman]

Most consumers do not know the difference between LCD and Plasma, other that the cost per inch difference.

Based on this general lack of knowledge, cost becomes the overriding factor, as usual.

It's big and it's flat, thats all that matters to the average consumer. Many of them don't even know they are not getting an HD signal on their HD displays!!!!!!

After the novelty of a TV hanging on your wall wears off, it's just that a TV. Mass-consumers are like sheep, they like catch phrases, what the Joneses have, etc. They couldn't care about hdmi, HDCP or a/v in general. They like shiny gizmos untill the shine is gone, by that time the marketing machine has programmed them to like something else.

[mouettus]

After the novelty of a TV hanging on your wall wears off, it's just that a TV. Mass-consumers are like sheep, they like catch phrases, what the Joneses have, etc. They couldn't care about hdmi, HDCP or a/v in general. They like shiny gizmos untill the shine is gone, by that time the marketing machine has programmed them to like something else.

So you're saying that in a couple of years, LCDs and even OLED will be dead and we will even be able to taste what's on tv?!?! Guess I'll be renting some porn movies!!!

[BBigJ]

There was an article on Digitimes today that predicted that the average selling price of a 50" pdp would drop almost 30% between now and December. They claim this is because the plasma crowd is trying to turn 50" into a mainstream size as they lose the 42" market to LCD. I was planning to buy is Aug/Sept, but I might have to hold off until Black Friday even if it means going without a TV for a couple of months.