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Television manufacturers give themselves a failing grade

12 October 2007 9:17 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 11 comments

At the DisplaySearch HDTV conference in Los Angeles Randy Waynick of Sony's home products told an audience that manufacturers have failed in their responsibility to educate consumers about new technology. He said "In the past year, if we were to grade ourselves, we were barely passing as an industry."

This certainly isn't a revelation to consumers who have attempted to navigate the maze of confusing and often conflicting information available from discount, or even specialty electronics retailers.

Waynick's call for education isn't necessarily as consumer oriented as it may seem. He also pointed to the emergence of upstart display manufacturer Vizio as a sign of consumer ignorance, saying "We play differently, and we take a lot of hits for it sometimes because we want to provide a better value."

The problem with this kind of thinking is that it assumes consumers are buying with advanced features in mind instead of a low price on a reasonably high quality, reasonably large HD display. Although low profit margins for discount displays have put retailers are clearly in Sony's corner on this one, consumers don't appear to be nearly as impressed. In fact, it begs the question whether it's consumers or manufacturers that are really in the dark.

Source: CNet News

Permalink to this article

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US broadcasters announce plans to prepare for DTV (15 October 2007)

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nobrainer (Inactive) 12 October 2007 9:08
Maybe they should tell ppl about hdcp drm that new hardware may not be compatible with your screen and if your display is out of its warentee you are liable for the repair to make it hdcp compliant again! i have had to fight for 4 months to get my 6 month old phillips lcd back to the shop for a firmware update that i had to pay shipping for! Track What Companies Have Edited Wiki http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/ (very heavy load atm) [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12 October 2007 9:10
windsong (Junior Member) 12 October 2007 9:36
Title is misleading. They gave themselves a "barely passing grade". Not a failing grade. There is a difference between a "D" and an "F". [ + quote]
chaos_zzz (Junior Member) 12 October 2007 9:37
yeah at the end ppl get fooled by the seller who just wan'ts to sell what the store manger told him to. my dad bought a 32 philips, it has hdmi everything , the one year warranty is over and a green line just popped in the middle , it is tought really tiny but when watching movies it becomes really anooying, if i would have waited 6 months i could have bought two of those cuz that lcd is now half price plus the fact tha a nice bravia is now the same price as i paid for that philips plus it's bigger. i'm so mad really i trusted the store guy , that;s why is just better to pay more sometimes u get better stuff and no mather what it will be cool for a long time for example i got a w810 2 years ago and is still a great phone still kicking ass, soemtimes it's not good to save money [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12 October 2007 9:40
nobrainer (Inactive) 12 October 2007 10:43
@ chaos_zzz in the latest what hi_fi (uk audiophile mag) the panasonic whoped the bravia's ass by a long shot, i will dig it out and post the review and comparison. the sony was rated the same as the samsung that got a so-so review and the samsung was �400 cheaper. from this edition but will have to dig the mag out for the review as its not online! quote >>> what hifi"But before all that, the November issue is on sale from Thursday, November 20 ? and it's packed with exclusive reviews and must-read tests, including: * The world's best flatscreen TVs in the form of our long-awaited Supertest of 40-42in TVs. With prices ranging from �800-�2000, and brands including Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba, there's going to be something there to suite every pocket." Track What Companies Have Edited Wiki http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/ (very heavy load atm) [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12 October 2007 10:44
morguex (Inactive) 12 October 2007 11:23
Magazine reviews, hmmmmm. I sure they can be helpful, but I would'nt trust them 100%, afterall they do make money from advertising by these same companies. It's what looks the best to you thats important. [ + quote]
nobrainer (Inactive) 12 October 2007 13:13
*Originally posted by morguex:* Magazine reviews, hmmmmm. I sure they can be helpful, but I would'nt trust them 100%, afterall they do make money from advertising by these same companies. It's what looks the best to you thats important. there are very few adverts in what hi-fi by "brands", the adverts in the mag are mainly from hi-fi stores like sevenoaks, audio-t, richer sounds ect showing their monthly deals. the mag has a huge following and favour only the equipment that's reached a level of quality not just sent a bung, but they do do many audio and visual shows throughout the uk so ppl are able to see the comparisons in the equipment for themselves! Track What Companies Have Edited Wiki http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/ (very heavy load atm) [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12 October 2007 13:28
Spartan28 (Member) 12 October 2007 21:38
I'm planning to get a lcd/plasma hdtv in december. I dont know anything about them and was wondering which is a good product less than $1000. I want a big screen with full hd or idk something good. [ + quote]
ispy (Member) 13 October 2007 8:44
A bit off topic,but I would not trust too much what reviews say,18 months ago 1 well known UK mag reviewed a "NEW" Panasonic DVD recorder.I could find no one stocking it only to find after a phone call to Panasonic that it had been discontinued 6 months ago! [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 13 October 2007 12:45
Its all well and good to give consumer lower prices and advanced features however its nothing to do with that it is more along the lines of keeping it simple the KISS method Keep It Simple Stoopid. :) [ + quote]
nobrainer (Inactive) 14 October 2007 2:45
the you have the sell off of the radio spectrum that just hampers the hd push, as you are not going to get HD broadcast via freeview in the uk, so what's the point in purchasing a HD set! http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquirer/n...-threatens-hdtv *Originally posted by link:* Government greed 'threatens HDTV' UK free-to-air users may lose out By Andrew Thomas: Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 9:16 AM ITV BOSS MICHAEL GRADE has warned that, under current plans, the majority of UK viewers will be unable to receive high-definition TV when the switch to digital broadcasting is complete in 2012. Consumers buying 'HD-ready' TVs could find themselves disappointed that limited bandwidth on digital terrestrial frequencies will mean that HD broadcasts will be limited to cable and satellite platforms rather than Freeview, which is in use in 11 million homes and has now overtaken satellite as the most popular digital medium. When analogue TV broadcasts are switched off at the end of 2012, Ofcom, the government department responsible for the RF spectrum in the UK, is likely to sell off most of the available bandwidth to the highest bidders ? likely to be telecoms companies rather than free-to-air broadcasters. Ofcom claims that up to six HD channels could be accommodated in the existing six DTT multiplexes which occupy six UHF frequencies out of an available 48 channels. The number of TV stations accommodated on each multiplex depends on the encoding and compression used. For example the main BBC multiplex contains six standard-resolution TV channels, while others have up to 27 lower bandwidth TV and radio stations. Grade warns of a consumer backlash if users discover that the HD-capable TVs they have bought are unable to receive free-to-air HDTV and has demanded Government action to avoid a new digital divide. "We?ve seen off the digital divide, only to see a high-definition divide open," says Grade. "HD will only be open to those willing to pay. What an own goal." � Why purchase a hdtv when the signal will never be in hd because of the limited bandwidth, i love seeing them 640 x 480 pictures on my 40" lcd and the blocking that goes along with it, and they call this advancement! Track What Companies Have Edited Wiki http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/ (very heavy load atm) [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 October 2007 7:05
intelleq (Newbie) 16 October 2007 17:05
Sony's saying that the reason Vizio is successful is because consumers are ignorant? Sounds like sour grapes to me. Sony has clearly "jumped the shark". Maybe Mr. Waynick needs to find a new line of work. [ + quote]