Monday, February 18, 2008

Why I'm waiting to buy a high-def TV

According to reports, the price of widescreen, high-definition TVs is dropping by 15% per year. By my careful calculations, that means the TV that retails for $1,000 now will be $850 by the end of the year--that's $150 less. So, at that rate--get ready!--in seven years, retailers will actually pay you $50 to take one off their hands!

Really, you'd have to be crazy, or a mathematical dolt, to buy now.

11 comments:

MsYvone said...

I guess I can get by with my 19" Mitsubishi TV until then. I'll need my mag-light to read the menu though.

Anonymous said...

my 1982 RCA has served me quite well, thank you...

guess I'll have to get cable though when they go digital since my bunny ears won't work anymore..

Qaro said...

I love that math! : )

Jay Jordan - I thought I'd need cable too but we got our kids a TV recently and it picks up the digital signal. (Philips 20" $159) It comes in beautifully!!They even have 4 extra channels. We are now budgeting the $500 to replace our living room TV. I'm glad I found out. I hate spending money for things that are free.

Jim Donahue said...

Jay: Anyone who depends on an antenna rather than cable, and doesn't have one of the new digital sets, can get a converter. From what I've read, it costs $50, but the government is going to somehow subsidize $40 of that amount. I'm sure you can find out more online.

Jim Donahue said...

Qaro: Of course, the real reason I posted this is that one of my TVs is dying and I'm so freaking overwhelemed by the new ones that I've been putting off making a decision.

Anonymous said...

Jim... join the dark side... plasma... plaaaaaasmaaaaaaa..

MsYvone said...

Dang. I freaking work in TV, (as an artist, not a techie) but going to buy a new Set is becoming like buying a damn car. I'm overwhelmed. I had no idea that there were digital converters to pick up digital signals, Does that mean that we will not need the evil entities of DISH, CABLE or DIRECT TV in the future? or not? argh. My mind is bleeding. WHich is better? Plasma or the Mirrors?

Jim Donahue said...

Debbie--The digital antennas will work for your local stations, not for any cable outlet. (And it's not high-definition, as far as I know.) If you want cable stations, you'll still have to shell out for them.

Posol'stvo the Medved said...

You don't need a digital antenna -- you need a digital tuner. Kind of like in the old days, when TVs only had VHF channels, and then UHF hit the scene, you could get an external UHF tuner that would allow you to pick up UHF signals.

And when picking out a new TV, the only question you really need to answer is "How much do you want to spend?" If you can afford HD, you're a fool if you don't go for it. In my opinion.

Jim Donahue said...

Tuner! That's what I meant!

Anonymous said...

you people pushed me over the edge...

today i put the 19" RCA to the street and went and bought a 42" LCD....people on that tv are much bigger than the ones on the RCA...

they must be from Texas or something