When to pull the trigger on a new flat screen??

[MTL Guy199]

I'm moving into a condo at the end of January and need to get a flatscreen. I've been observing for a while now, and just don't know when to pull the trigger! I've had my eye on a 42" or 46" Panasonic Viera Plasma.

Prices seem to be steadily dropping. Are people expecting even deeper discounts after xmas?

I think the 42" 1080P Viera is down to $1144 at Centre Hi-Fi, the 720P one is $998.

What are people generally doing? Waiting until after xmas? Or jumping on some of these deals now?

[rviebrock]

I would wait till the new year early spring. LCD and plasmas are going to drop in price considerably as soon as the organic LCDs start hitting the mainstream market.

As for a plasma in a condo, a good choice as long as there is not sun reflection of the glass screen.

[antibact]

Wow super hot deal. Thanks for letting us know.

[ZIgot]

When you need one because these things are always going down in price.
I'm not sure about the prices you posted but they don't seem to be a good deal if anyone can verify.

[Moosehead13]

I am not sure how much more the prices can go down considering the current CDN dollar situation. Unless you are Samsung or LG I don't know how much more they can drop prices. OLED is still sometime away until its mainstream. So unless you can wait another couple of years then you should get your TV this boxing week.

[samab]

Consumer electronics companies traditionally announce their new tv's at the CES (which is in January) --- sometimes they "pre-announced" at the CES and actually launched those tv's in March/April.

Superbowl Sunday tv specials (not as much nowadays).

[jcon]

Every year they say that LCD prices are going to drop significantly, but they only drop marginally. If you can wait, do it. Most manufacturers launch their new models in February and March, and they clear out the old ones.

The prices won't go up.

[halo five]

Wait until they hit around $150 on Craigslist. Your current TV works, right?

[mrtvgame]

I'm moving into a condo at the end of January and need to get a flatscreen. I've been observing for a while now, and just don't know when to pull the trigger! I've had my eye on a 42" or 46" Panasonic Viera Plasma.

Prices seem to be steadily dropping. Are people expecting even deeper discounts after xmas?

I think the 42" 1080P Viera is down to $1144 at Centre Hi-Fi, the 720P one is $998.

What are people generally doing? Waiting until after xmas? Or jumping on some of these deals now?

Whenever you can afford it. Stay away from the Plasmas for your intended space.

[jcon]

Whenever you can afford it. Stay away from the Plasmas for your intended space.

What about his intended space tells you he should stay away from plasma?

[rfdrfd]

Whenever you can afford it. Stay away from the Plasmas for your intended space.

What about his intended space tells you he should stay away from plasma?

Exactly. Plasmas contrast ratio far out performs any LCDs. If his condo is too bright, he can easily pull the curtains.

My eye is set on the Pana Plasma as well.


OP: wait till you CANNOT wait no more. That's when you buy it. Same answer to "when should I buy my new laptop/desktop?"

Prices always come down, performance always goes up. So just wait till you can't wait no more, then buy it.

[asot24]

LCD 46' Samsung LN46A550.

1099$ at futureshop.

[blainehamilton]

June. 2011.


No, seriously, anytime is the time for a new tv, it's all about your circumstances.

End of January is when you move? Start shopping after you get settled in. Maybe mid February.

If this is a condo, and it's going on a main floor or upstairs room with lots of light, plasma is the wrong way to go, unless you get some seriously well blocking window coverings. Plasmas look great in dark environments, but suck in bright light.

If this is in the living room, with nice big bay windows nearby, LCD is what you want. The 47" LG on BD for $999 is a decent buy. The 46" Sony is a decent upgrade with 120Hz, worth considering if you watch a ton of Sports and Nature Channel and not much for movies.

I wouldn't bother with 720p screens now. Maybe 2 or 3 years ago, when the price difference was double to triple the cost between them, but now you should spring the extra few hundred for it. 1080p broadcast material is likely not far off now, and 1080p blu ray content is breaking into the mainstream, and will overtake DVD in sales in a few years.

[sunnybono]

I'm moving into a condo at the end of January and need to get a flatscreen. I've been observing for a while now, and just don't know when to pull the trigger! I've had my eye on a 42" or 46" Panasonic Viera Plasma.

Prices seem to be steadily dropping. Are people expecting even deeper discounts after xmas?

I think the 42" 1080P Viera is down to $1144 at Centre Hi-Fi, the 720P one is $998.

What are people generally doing? Waiting until after xmas? Or jumping on some of these deals now?

I keep hearing that the best time to buy a TV is just before the Super Bowl in February. Not only do football fans like to throw superbowl parties but Jan and Feb are the slowest times for Electronic Stores.

sk

[yeek]

If you want enjoy TV ASAP, then pull the Trigger ASAP.

If you want the best value for the bucks, ALWAYS wait till NEXT boxing day, and NEXT...

I'm moving into a condo at the end of January and need to get a flatscreen. I've been observing for a while now, and just don't know when to pull the trigger! I've had my eye on a 42" or 46" Panasonic Viera Plasma.

Prices seem to be steadily dropping. Are people expecting even deeper discounts after xmas?

I think the 42" 1080P Viera is down to $1144 at Centre Hi-Fi, the 720P one is $998.

What are people generally doing? Waiting until after xmas? Or jumping on some of these deals now?

[blainehamilton]

I keep hearing that the best time to buy a TV is just before the Super Bowl in February. Not only do football fans like to throw superbowl parties but Jan and Feb are the slowest times for Electronic Stores.


Not really from my experience. They do great deals if you want overpriced packages with a HT system, cable or satellite service, install, cables, remote, etc.

For a deal on just a tv, this week will likely be the best bargains until the current models hit end of life in late feb thru may.


Perhaps a tv buying trip accross the border is just what the doctor ordered. With the current weather here, I'm inclined to agree...

[Eyeman]

I keep hearing that the best time to buy a TV is just before the Super Bowl in February. Not only do football fans like to throw superbowl parties but Jan and Feb are the slowest times for Electronic Stores.

sk

This is simply untrue. I've tracked TV closely prices for 2 years now. I saw no tendency for prices to fall in jan/feb or in relationship to the superbowl or to the alleged introduction of new models. None. The major factor is manufacturing cost. This fall there was a glut of panels. That's why prices took a big dip.

[MTL Guy199]

Thanks for the replies guys.

To answer a few questions: I'm currently at home, I take possession of the condo on January 30th. Ideally I'd like to have a TV already purchased and lined up for delivery the next day.

It will be in the living room of my condo, which is a pretty well lit room. But we have the Panasonic Viera at home in our living room now and I just don't see any problems, in fact all I see is a beautiful picture which looks nicer than the comparable LCDs that I have seen (even in a bright room).

So, I'm pretty set on the Panasonic plasma. I thought about going 720p just because I have heard that the human eye really can't even tell the difference that often, and becuase HD content is not even broadcast in 1080p right now. But I plan on having a PS3 eventually, and also watching blu-rays, so for the extra few hundred bucks maybe it is indeed better to get the 1080P, even if I go only 42".

I can afford the TV anytime, it's really just a matter of waiting for the best price...

[Neil]

I'm moving into a condo at the end of January and need to get a flatscreen. I've been observing for a while now, and just don't know when to pull the trigger! I've had my eye on a 42" or 46" Panasonic Viera Plasma.

Prices seem to be steadily dropping. Are people expecting even deeper discounts after xmas?

I think the 42" 1080P Viera is down to $1144 at Centre Hi-Fi, the 720P one is $998.

What are people generally doing? Waiting until after xmas? Or jumping on some of these deals now?

Prices seem to have bottomed out and perhaps risen in the last couple of months. I believe the exchange rate is the key and we're seeing the end of dirt cheap TV's for awhile. So act now if you agree.

Try to find a seller that will agree to hold your set til Jan 30, or that will let you back out if something better comes along. But I wouldn't count on better deals to come. After manufacturers reset their Canadian pricing, I think the cheap TV's days will be gone for awhile.

720 vs 1080p would depend on how discerning and 'gadget-y' you are and what you plan to hook up to it. A 42" plasma at 720p still gives a very nice picture. 1080p would give a little bit more sharpness close up and only if you are using 1920x1080p sources like Blu-Ray or HTPC.

The issue of glare affecting plasmas is one of the most overstated issues repeated over and over by box-store-salesmen and internet posters galore. This is just one person's opinion, but I don't agree. If anything, I think bright rooms can overpower LCD's as much if not more, and LCD's have other issues with black level, viewing, angle and refresh.

[MTL Guy199]

Prices seem to have bottomed out and perhaps risen in the last couple of months. I believe the exchange rate is the key and we're seeing the end of dirt cheap TV's for awhile. So act now if you agree.

Try to find a seller that will agree to hold your set til Jan 30, or that will let you back out if something better comes along. But I wouldn't count on better deals to come. After manufacturers reset their Canadian pricing, I think the cheap TV's days will be gone for awhile.

720 vs 1080p would depend on how discerning and 'gadget-y' you are and what you plan to hook up to it. A 42" plasma at 720p still gives a very nice picture. 1080p would give a little bit more sharpness close up and only if you are using 1920x1080p sources like Blu-Ray or HTPC.

The issue of glare affecting plasmas is one of the most overstated issues repeated over and over by box-store-salesmen and internet posters galore. This is just one person's opinion, but I don't agree. If anything, I think bright rooms can overpower LCD's as much if not more, and LCD's have other issues with black level, viewing, angle and refresh.

I agree about the glare. See my post right above yours.

I think I'll probably make a purchase during boxing week....

[rfdrfd]

I think you have it 100% correct already. I'm in the same boat as you, Plasmas look so much better than LCDs. I have no idea what people are seeing.

LCDs have so much blur, whenever there is motion. Which is ALWAYS (its TV ppl). Black isn't really black. I was watching Olympics on my friends new Sony Bravia on Rogers HD, and I was not impressed. Then when commercials came on, it was even worse (non-HD i suppose).

I saw SDTV on my friend's Panasonic Plasma, watched it for 4-5 hrs straight, no complaints.



Thanks for the replies guys.

To answer a few questions: I'm currently at home, I take possession of the condo on January 30th. Ideally I'd like to have a TV already purchased and lined up for delivery the next day.

It will be in the living room of my condo, which is a pretty well lit room. But we have the Panasonic Viera at home in our living room now and I just don't see any problems, in fact all I see is a beautiful picture which looks nicer than the comparable LCDs that I have seen (even in a bright room).

So, I'm pretty set on the Panasonic plasma. I thought about going 720p just because I have heard that the human eye really can't even tell the difference that often, and becuase HD content is not even broadcast in 1080p right now. But I plan on having a PS3 eventually, and also watching blu-rays, so for the extra few hundred bucks maybe it is indeed better to get the 1080P, even if I go only 42".

I can afford the TV anytime, it's really just a matter of waiting for the best price...

[MTL Guy199]

Panasonic 46" 1080P, TH46PZ80 is $1388 at Centre Hi-Fi. Anyone know of a better price than this for this TV?

[swell9]

why would you shoot a new flat screen tv?
give it to me, i have an old 17" CRT that is as bulky and crappy as this post i am typing. :cheesygri

[Matrixvibe]

imo set a price for how much your willing to pay for the tv and wat size your looking for, and basically if you need it, and u can afford it then pull the trigger asap

[MTL Guy199]

imo set a price for how much your willing to pay for the tv and wat size your looking for, and basically if you need it, and u can afford it then pull the trigger asap

I won't need it until January 30.

Anyways, the 46" 1080P Viera (TH46PZ80) is $1288 at Dumoulin. May be time to pull the trigger...

[Ghozt]

LCD 46' Samsung LN46A550.

1099$ at futureshop.

Where did you find this samsung for this price? Is this a regular sales price or boxing day price?