Plasma market getting smaller and higher-end, but it's still alive
By Nilay Patel 
posted May 13th 2009 2:07PM
posted May 13th 2009 2:07PM
posted May 13th 2009 2:07PM
The number of televisions estimated that sit unused in closets.
The EPA estimates that nearly 100 million unused televisions are currently taking up precious, beautiful space. (source: EPA, July 2008)
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
i honestly have a hard time recommending lcd over plasma to my customers. my younger, buttheaded customers usually wont even sneeze @ plasmas, but the rest who are mostly 30 yrs and older go for plasma.
So I'm interested, how do most of the casual shopper conversations go as far as flat panels? Do people pretty much come in with their mind made up, or are they truly at the mercy of what salesman pushes them to what type of panel? Also, what do the young customers say as far as LCDs are concerned? I'm surprised, given plasma is cheaper than LCD for the same size. You'd think they're the ones looking for a bargain, unless they're strickly interested in a sub 42" screen.
Engadget should do a secret shop of flap panel TV's at major store with sales people. We will be able to see if people really don't want plasma's from the get go or are they being lead away from plasma's by the sales people.
Going to > 50" is probably the only way to escape from competing with LCD. The arrival of LED LCD and the various energy rating initiatives are going to kill plasma in that market.
Plasma could replace RP-DLP tv's. 60" and up plasma's should start selling for $1200 and up.
@ John, sorry i took so long to respond-
well, after i greet a customer, most of them usually ask either 1) i need a good 46 to 50" LCD for around 1500 or 2) what's the best deals I have this week. they almost always are leaning to towards lcds because of crap they read on the internet and scare tactics from big box retail clerks. but once i dispell all the rumors they hear about and show them how cheap they run, most of them dont look back @ lcds, unless they need a small kitchen or bedroom TV. many of my younger customers are computer nerds, so they think theyll burn a plasma in. i dont try to argue with them, so ill show them a good V series or sammy 650. but i get some younger customers who want a good deal and are curious about different tvs, so they'll test my knowledge about plasmas before they trust me.
Why not just re-invent the plasma industry and drop the name plasma and call it by a new fancy technical name?
After seeing the incredible reviews on the new Panasonic THX certified plasmas, I am curious if LCDs and other types can even get a THX certification? Is this something only plasmas can accomplish reliably?
With LCD's venturing into the 55" range now it seems they are targeting plasma. The Vizio 55" is MSRP'd at only $1999. Maybe not a great display but still an option for the over 50" buyer and much lighter than plasma. The big three think plasma will be around for quite awhile but you see absolutely nothing from them to combat the negative information being spewed by sales people. When is the last time you saw a plasma commercial on TV?
I wonder how many of the LCD buyers don't buy a plasma because they think plasma tv's still have burn in issues. I know several guys who won't even consider a plasma because they think it still has problems with burn in.