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CES Scorecard 2007 - What Came True; What Didn't

Posted by Zonk on from the just-a-few-weeks-away dept.

narramissic writes "In the race for Consumer Electronics Show (CES) headlines, companies parade new, hot, and not-quite-ready-for-primetime products while keynote speakers rev things up with predictions for the year ahead. An ITworld article runs down the list of who stuck their necks out too far in 2007, starting with Sharp's monster 108-inch LCD. 'The set represented the biggest flat-panel TV developed -- a title it still holds today -- and came without a price but with the promise of availability during 2007. But wealthy consumers are still waiting. Sharp said recently that it is still working on plans for a commercial launch for the TV set.'"

4 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. What's the point here? by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1, Informative

    I don't understand the appeal.

    I've seen a lot of LCD TVs on sale and display at various stores. The one thing they all have in common is they all look like crap. These aren't just the cheap TVs. I'm talking about multi-thousand-dollar models that just look horrible.

    Perhaps "crap" isn't an objective term. They look grainy, have flicker, pixelation, and cost a fortune.

    I saw an ad for one recently that was very proud of its "10-bit engine" capable of 1080 lines! Wow! Correct me if I'm wrong (like I have to ask) but that's basically the same picture you'll get on your 1024 x 768 monitor, but blown up to be 108 inches. Right now, on my ols 17" CRT, I'm running at 1152 x 864. If this picture was blown up to 108 inches, it would look like garbage. And yeah, an 1152 source is equivalent to HD already.

    Why do people buy these? Is it for the graininess, the cool factor, the marketing hype, or what?

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    ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
    1. Re:What's the point here? by Jeremy+Erwin · · Score: 2, Informative

      108 inches diagonally is 94 inches wide. If you don't have a large home, it might be difficult to find 8 ft of solid uninterrupted wall (more if you want to complement it with speakers) and in some geek homes, three or four floor to ceiling bookcases may win out. And if you do have a large home, it may be more sensible to install a projector.

      .

  2. Re:At that size... by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Informative

    You got it. THAT is the reason there really is no market for the 108" monster plasma.

    I can ship a high end projector and screen for peanuts. a 108" monster plasma or LCD will cost me nearly $500.00 in truck freight and another $500.00 in insurance. I get so many 58" or 64" set's delivered broken it's not funny, the larger they get the more they arrive broken (glass broken from shipping)

    Also the rich people are not interested in the 108. Most want the 50" a few will buy the 58" when we spec it in the package deal at only $100.00 more and very few want the 64 as it's too damned big. Even mounted at 6 feet high over the fireplace in a gigantic parlor room it's too big. a 50" looks better and fits most decor better.

    the 108 will not be common as it's too damned big to ship, too damned big to deliver, and will require a team of 4 or more to hang it on the wall. and dont even think of putting it on a tilt bracket!

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    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. Re:At that size... by bahwi · · Score: 2, Informative

    Try a grey screen, or if you prefer screen paint(what I have). http://www.goosystems.com/

    Works great in my well lit house with the windows. I haven't seen many TVs that compare to my HDTV projector at 120" + :D

    But to each their own. Anything over 50" is great for splitscreen on video games. Keeps me very happy.