50" price drop anytime soon?

There are already sub-$5K commercial models that are based on brand new panels from Pioneer and Panasonic.


How much cheaper do you want?

What I'd like is for 50" to drop at least another $1000 to around $3.5 (as decent brand panels at 42"s decend below $2k). Thats probably more like $1500 since the total price is really Plasma+Sales Tax or Plasma+Shipping.


I tried froogling a few just now to get a look at the current prices....


I was just seeing if anyone though that type of drop is realistic in the near (6 month) term. I suspect not - but I can hope


Jonathan

A few months ago Costco.com had a 50" 1366x768 at $3999. Not there anymore today. May come back.

Your $3.5k target is within sight.

V. Cool! (although after tax it's still around $4350)


It's encouraging to know tho. I'll keep an eye out for when a favored-AVS type brand (Panny, NEC,...) enters the territory!


Its odd that the differences between the 40-46" DLPs and Plasmas is actually pretty small now (effectively making it a choice based on features rather than price) and yet the differences at 50" and above for DLP vs Plasma is still pretty huge (the new 52" Toshiba at somewhere between the $2.5-$3k area).


Jonathan

Quote:
That Optoma pd-50 is back on costco,s site

The MSRP of the 50" Panasonic Viera plasma was $10,000 last year. Now it is $7,000. Maybe it'll be $5000 MSRP at this time next year.


Online prices are usually about 70% of MSRP.

"Its odd that the differences between the 40-46" DLPs and Plasmas is actually pretty small now (effectively making it a choice based on features rather than price) and yet the differences at 50" and above for DLP vs Plasma is still pretty huge (the new 52" Toshiba at somewhere between the $2.5-$3k area)."


So not really odd, in fact. The cost difference to build a 50-inch DLP vs. a 43-inch is essentially minimal. It's a larger cabinet and screen. Done. Maybe $100.


The cost difference between a 42-inch and a 50-inch plasma is, well, much more. More glass (expensive stuff), more pixels (harder to make), more sophisticated electronics ('cause more pixels). Lots of dollars in cost difference.


Mark