trying to decide if I should wait to buy. HD tv prices have been dropping consistently BUT can I expect an even bigger drop when everybody rushes to get an HD set in 2009?
2007-08-30 05:33:43 · 4 answers · asked by CLK 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
>BUT can I expect an even bigger drop when everybody rushes to get an HD set in 2009?
If everybody did rush out to buy one in 2009, you would expect a temporary increase in prices. This is simple economics, a sudden surge in demand would cause a temporary shortage of HDTVs available in stores until manufacturers could increase production.
However, there is no reason to expect a sudden surge in demand. While all OTA TV in the US will go digital in 2009, every ATSC converter box/tuner I've heard of will down convert HDTV signals to match whatever TV you are using.
I expect that the main driving force in HDTV sales will be changes in programing to wide screen only. When viewed with an old 4:3 ratio screen, the big empty bars on the top and bottom of the screen make the screen seem a lot smaller than you are used to.
2007-08-30 11:22:51 · answer #1 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean all signals are going to be digital; not all programming will be in HD.
As for prices going down; yes that is an eventuality. They will be cheaper by the end of 2008.
2007-08-30 07:22:00 · answer #2 · answered by mrhan1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Decrease.
A new technology is always sold at high prices because there's uncertainty as to whether it will take hold, and the company behind it want to recoup as much of their research and setup costs as they can.
Once there's evidence that the new product is going mass market (i.e. lots of money to be made) then competitive pricing between manufacturers starts to drive prices down. The prices are able to go down in the first place because the setup and research costs can be spread over more sales.
The other advantage to waiting (not being an 'early adopter') is that problems in the new technology will be solved, and extra features added.
2007-08-30 05:43:31 · answer #3 · answered by Nice Guy Dave 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
At the first the prices might spike up, but they will eventually go back down as demand decreases. I'd buy now if I was thinking of going Hi-Def.
2007-08-30 06:18:42 · answer #4 · answered by The Count 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋