Hitachi to bring out cheap 1080p LCDs before the holidays [Update]
By Matt Burns 
posted May 31st 2006 9:56AM
posted May 31st 2006 9:56AM
1080p is all the rage these days. People want the high resolution in everything they can and just don't care if you really cannot tell the difference between 1080p and 720p at a small size. Well you know what. Hitachi is willing to oblige. They have plans to produce low cost 1080p "Ultravision" LCDs. Low cost and 1080p usually do not go well together but when a 1080p display is only $2200, they go together like peanut butter and jelly. Hitachi has plans to have four models available starting at $2200 and going to the low $3000. The HLT79 series will see a 32-inch for $2200 and a 37-inch for $2700 while the higher end HLX99 Director's series will offer a 32-inch for $2500 and a 37-inch for $3000. The Director's series have the ability to be calibrated to a higher quality image by way of custom color temps. and an adjustable color decoder. These sets have a release date of November.Update: Unfortunately these LCDs are not 1080p, but are in fact 720p, check here more information.
Haha, I bet I'm coming off like a Westy mark but I spent this past weekend playing around with the 42" Westinghouse and I was pretty much blown away with how it handled HD content. And don't even get me started on what Windows looks like on it (not to mention CoD2, Doom, etc.). Anyway, the reason I bring up the Westinghouse is that you can get the 42" version for about $2250 and the 37" for $1500 now (imagine what it'll be by the holidays). Heck, you can get a Samsung 40" 720 LCD w/ tuner (the new versions) for just about $2k now. How're they going to get away with charging $200 more for something 8" smaller on the diagonal?
I can better that deal, costco.com has the 1080p Sceptre 37" for $1500 and the 42" for 1999. Plus you can get a full refund including shipping for up to 6 months if you don't like it. I got the 37" and I'm keeping the hell out of it. The xbox 360 looks insane just using the component cables, so I can't imagine how the PS3 will look via hdmi.
Why does everyone keep bashing 1080p? Yes it is possible to see the extra definition provided by TWICE as many pixels! You just need good vision and to view it from a distance of less than three or four times the diagonal size. Others whine about no content so why buy it. Hopefully that will stop once Blu-Ray has 1080p content available, but it never should have been an issue since 1080i has been available and provides more pixels than a 720 set can display.
I don't think they're bashing 1080p so much as 'small 1080p sets'.
Anything 1080p should be 37" or larger, IMHO.
Well one reason for having a smaller 1080p set is that you may want to use it as a computer monitor. Having a 32" 1080p might be feasible for computer use if you work out the correct distance to sit.