This ones for the techy guys that troll the consumer electronics category?

Question

The CRT is dead, marking the end of Sony's domination of the television field, at least warranted domination. I still commend Akio Morita for his guts. In a time when we looked to Japan (circa 1968) for cheap price inferior TVs, and Zenith was the undisputed champ amongst video enthusiasts, he broght a TV to market that actually cost more to build and sell than the American brands. The "Trinitron." Apperture grille instead of a shadow mask, inline color guns, etc... We bought them by the droves, even at their higher price, making Sony a global power house, and a household name.

Today, several years after the end of picture tubes, including the Trinitron of course, I still hear people incorrectly say things like "Sony is the best." and some people buy only Sony products as if Trinitron cuties have magically transfered to Sony's other products.

I've been in this arena since 1975 and I've seen and used a lot of Sony products which (with the exception of the Trinitron) are average at best.

Sorry this is so long, here's my question:
How long do you think it will take for Sony will loose it's no longer deserved "best" status amongst consumers in the US?

I'll rephrase: The Bravia and SXRD are nice TVs, but not undisputed best like Trinitron was. How many years after the end of a dynasty will it take for Sony-headed American Consumers to realize this and begin to shop and compare again?

Answer 1

I Get It!

I know what you talking about!

Sony does make an OK television... But thats it... It's only OK.
Not Great, or even Very Good... just good.

So why are they selling for more than a better television. They are simply riding the fame built up from the Trinitron name.

Before HD you chould look at two TV's setting be side each other and not see much differance. But when you put a Sony Trinitron beside one of these set and looked. Wow what a differance!

People bought them like hot cakes. And they were right in doing so.

Now they walk into the store and see the Sony name and look at the picture and they don't see that differance. What they do see is that great HD pictuce. And sold.
" I'll take the Sony Please"

I give them a nother ten years till the next gen will start looking at the pictuce of a TV and start to see the differances between a good and a great TV.
" I'll take the Sharp LCD or that Pioneer Elite Plasma." this should be what a customer ask for.

So now you have it. My answer... 10 years.

Answer 2

I think you sell Sony short. It wasn't just the Trinitron. They also developed the walkman. Plus their other electronics are nothing to sneeze at. I can't say I've ever gotten a bad Sony product.

I used to have a headphone radio that I bought in the mid-80s, that finally broke last year after much abuse.

That's not to say other manufacturers don't make great products, they do. Specifically, I like Panasonic stuff a lot. Samsung is really good too.

Answer 3

Ah, so that's why. My husband is an expert with this stuff. We used to have nothing but Sony TVs, but now, none of our new flat panels are Sony. I've often wondered, but never when it was convenient to ask him. I think we have all Sharps now.

We still have a working Sony Beta VCR. My hubby says it might be the last one in existence. lol