Dell beats Sony...in TVs
By Matt Burns 
posted Aug 19th 2005 2:56PM
posted Aug 19th 2005 2:56PM
Well it looks like the company that brought us the venerable Trinitron might lose the plasma battle. In a four city survey, consumers preferred Dell’s W4200HD (Dell?!?) over Sony’s KDE-42XS955. You might be asking “Why would Sony lose this battle of the PDPs?”
Those that were surveyed only had the picture quality and price to choose for the one they would purchase. The administrators of the test quoted them a price “around $4,000” for the Sony and “about $2,800” for the Dell. Of course they choose the Dell in overwhelming numbers, which has a great picture but moreover, a great price.
It is interesting to note that as I am linking the models to this article, the Sony online price is not $4,000 but rather $5,499. I can tell you that Sony TVs have always been overpriced and their slim selection of Plasmas is no exception. The XS series never has gained a foothold in the plasma market due to its price. I know that I would not spend the extra cash just to have something that says Sony on it. Would you?
i never touch Sony...i choose Panasonic most of the time...Sony has a price premium that i am not willing to pay
No chance - Over the course of the past few years, I have seen a deterioration of the SONY image of brand quality and until they can prove that this is no longer the case, I, for one, don't see why anyone would pay a premium for their products (though many people still do).
I have been in the TV service and install business for 16 years. This article is a little dated since Sony has discontinued all consumer plasma TV's over a month ago. They are bring only 7 gen LCD panels to market at a great price. I have seen LG and Hitachi both lower prices to match the new Sony XBR LCD TV's. Sony did plasma just so there name was in the market. They had no plans to make a big impact with plasma. Has anyone ever looked at the picture on a Dell (HD res)....the pic looks like a the old 256 color vga days. If people choose their car they way they choose their TV's.... Kia, Dawoo, and Suzuki ould be the US top 3 in sales for cars. I just don't get it.
dell suck and i agree with todd