LG to trim plasma panel output, ditch 32-inch line altogether
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 19th 2008 8:30PM
posted Dec 19th 2008 8:30PM
Come one, come all to the flat-panel production cutting party. Just look at these spectacles on stage -- AU Optronics, Sharp, LG, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi, et al. We'd say that this is getting downright bizarre, but we suspect that's plainly obvious by now. As the output-cutting bandwagon continues to take on passengers, LG has too decided (purportedly, at least) to downsize its plasma panel output starting in 2009. Potentially more striking is the assertion that it may "completely halt production of its 32-inch panels," which are losing it money hand over fist. The interesting bit is that nearly half of LG's PDP output is at the 32-inch level, so unless it starts digging into another size, it'll have quite a bit of equipment (and employees, we imagine) sitting idle. And to think -- things looked so much brighter just three years back.
Who knew there even were 32" plasmas, I thought 42" was the smallest.
You are right. No manufacturer makes 32" PDP. Panasonic makes a 37" and SONY years ago also made 37" PDP before it went all LCD. This is obviously a mistake withe reporting.
Okay, then how might you two explain these:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8477433
http://www.nextag.com/LG-32PC5DVC-32-Plasma-586700383/prices-html?nxtg=151900a24051b-C6F0B0AC04E6F7C7
http://www.previewgadgets.com/gadget/lg-32-inch-plasma-tv/
Honestly, I find it kind of weird, since LCD had the 32" market cornered LONG ago. They're decent prices, but they're not particularly high quality. For not much more (sometimes less) you can find a Toshiba, LG LCD, even a couple of Sony and Samsung 32" LCD's.
They're not terrible by any means, but eh.. they fought against the conventional wisdom of "if you want big, go plasma." I certainly won't miss them. 55XBR8 FTW.
Guess I should go grab the 32" Vizio now. The panel in my 42" Vizio is an LG, so I assume they used the same manufacturer for their 32" version.
I just can't stand the ghosting of affordable LCD TV's. If you get plasma price + 40% to get an equivalent LCD picture quality when it comes to movement.
Better yet, maybe I can find a Sony 34XBR HDTV (CRT) for the bedroom.
My mistake.
Vizio does make 32" plasma sets using PDPs made by a manufacturer in Taiwan, This line does not outsource PDP from LG, which is Vizio's main PDP supplier. LG only makes PDP 42' and up.
I remember this was a big thing for Vizio when they announced it last year as a campaign to offer cheaper and better quality 32" displays to their line up and they remain the only manufacturer to sell 32" plasma sets...
My over sight. THANKS for reminding my memory.
Interesting, LG must have the typo on their website too...
http://www.lgcommercial.com/product.php?id=120
32" plasma TVs sold well in China in 2008. Do you really think LG will "completely halt production of its 32-inch panels" in 2009?
Do you have update news about it?
THE BIG PICTURE IS THIS: WHORING ON THE INTERNET AND SELLING TRUCKLOADS AT BELOW WHOLESALE TO BIG BOX COMPANIES AND NOT HAVING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN THE MARKET IS HOW THE TV INDUSTRY HAS SCREWED ITSELF! AND THEY DESERVE IT!!
NOW THAT BIG BOX COMPANIES DON'T EXIST [EXCEPT BEST BUY] WHO DO THEY SELL TO???? WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE AND WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY, BUT THE TV MANUFACTURERS IN GENERAL JUST DON'T GET IT.
HAD THEY NOT BEEN CONSUMED BY GREED AND LET US ALL MAKE MONEY, THEN PRICE EROSION WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND PROBABLY SOME OF THESE BIG BOX STORES MIGHT STILL BE HERE ACTUALLY TURNING A PROFIT.
AND THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH 1080P AND LCD WHICH PROVES THAT THEY STILL REALLY DON'T GET IT.
ALL I'M WAITING FOR NEXT IS TO HEAR THAT THEY'VE FINALLY GIVEN UP ON HDMI
AND EVERYTHING WILL HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED AND MAYBE THE NEXT TIME AROUND, TV MANUFACTURERS WILL LISTEN TO WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON OUT THERE AND VALUE THE LITTLE GUYS LIKE US THAT DO ALL THE REAL INSTALLS.
IN THE MEANTIME MY QUESTION TO THESE BIG SHOTS IS: HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?