Would you buy an LCD HDTV now or wait?

Question

There are 2 considerations I am concerned about:
1. Will there be a new generation of LCD TVs in the near future?
2. Will the prices go down even further?

If you have any feedback, I would appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I'm waiting. Prices will continue to drop and the sets will continue to get better.

There isn't any new generation coming up. In a few years I expect a transition from fluorescent back light to LED. LEDs will increase the expected life span of LCD TVs but this is too far in the future to be an overriding factor.

The first answer you received talked about the transition to digital TV as a reason to to buy one. This is not a good reason. The government will soon (2/08) be handing out coupons that will let each household buy a couple of over-the-air converters for about $20 each.

It comes down to this, is the added enjoyment of the larger screen or more detailed picture worth the money? Is the smaller depth of the LCD TV worth the money? If you are using satellite or cable, include the ongoing cost of "HD" service. (Over the air HDTV is free.)

Once I put a cheap $20 converter box on the old CRT TV, I expect DVD quality from the converted digital signals. That's a lot better than what I've watched for most of my life.

By the time the old TV dies, the price of flat panel TVs will have probably dropped to something that I think is reasonable. Or I could buy a like new used CRT TV real cheap.

Answer 2

Well like with any product, prices will drop sooner or later. As you already know, the transmission of analog television signals will cease in February 2009. That means all televisions sets need to be converted to HDTV or if you have a standard television you need to purchase a HDTV converter box that will cost around $100.00. For this reason a lot of consumers are buying brand new televisions HDTV during the holidays with the price drops as times goes on. As the deadline date approaches, HDTV LCD televisions will continue to drop even more and will be affordable to everyone.

Answer 3

Still waiting. Holding my breath.

Prices will probably temporarily spike in the US when the analog signal shuts down, but after that I would expect the market to get very competitive and have an extremely good product available.

Of course, by then, as technology goes, LCDs and plasma may be obsolete!

Answer 4

Go for fullHD tv. For the prices I don't know.I am in Europa!
one example:
http://www.sony.com.au/homecinema/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=22400