Screen Sizes

[SoundFreak]

Why are screen sizes on Plasmas/LCD so limited on the larger sizes? For example, you go from a somewhat affordable 50" Plasma and then the next size is 58" at a non-affordable to many people. If the economy wasn't so shot right now (I work in the construction industry) I would bite the bullet and go for it but that is not a wise option right now. Timing suxs I guess. I wish my tv broke in a couple months from now instead.

As you may have seen my other posts, I'm very hung up on screen sizes. I'm having a hard time swallowing moving down from a 56"DLP to a 50" Plasma. 6" of screen estate is gone. i understand I'll get a better pic but I'm very petty. lol. I guess this is an industry standard so I'll have to get use to it.



Anyway, why do they not make a middle size 54/55/56" screen?

[Rob J in WNY]

It's more easy to control and optimize production (fewer parts to manufacture) and marketing/demand with staggered sizing on the screens. For the most part, an increase of, say, 1 inch, would equate to practically no visual advantage if you went from, say, 52" to 53" (or 26" to 27") You are talking about ½" of a difference at the corners in any such case. Going from 40" to 46", however, does make a visual difference to most people (as you personally attested).

Can you imagine the price wars as well? There would be scores of people in angst over having wound up with a worse deal on their TV which was 1" smaller in size than the same model, just 1" larger. It actually already happens now with the current size standards within the different manufacturers.

- Rob J

[SoundFreak]

Screw the price wars, I want a 55" plasma! LOL

[crackinhedz]

Hitachi 55" plasma TV

[Big Daddy]

Making large flawless glass is very difficult and expensive. This goes for other components in a TV as well as labor. We had the same problem with camera lenses in the past. I remember Zeiss had a 1,000mm lens for the old Contax SLR camera that cost $20,000. I once asked a Zeiss representative the same question you are asking. He said that in order to make a large flawless glass, they end up destroying many samples. Of course, Zeiss had very high standards and would not use less-than-perfect glass.

You think 55" Plasma is expensive. About 15 years ago, Sony used to sell a tube CRT TV for around $30,000. I don't remember the exact number, but it was very high. You can also check the prices of 100" LCD TVs.

A few months ago, there was a story on Yahoo about the Dallas Cowboys' owner spending several million dollars to build the largest LCD monitor in the world for their stadium.

[SoundFreak]

Screw that, I'm buying the 58"! LOL

The scarey part is, I'm actually kinda serious. I had a scarey thought. If i get my typical bonus in march, I will be TICKED that I didn't get the 58". If i don't and I get laid off, I'm going to lose my house so I mine as well go out with a bang? oh man..I definitely need professional help!

I gotta put this to bed for today. I'll be back first thing in the AM

[liquidice]

I've been waiting for someone to mention something about the economy vs all the money we are putting into our AV systems. Sometimes it seems kind of silly, then again worth it....you know? I guess were all in different fields when it comes to job security.

[FIDDYPOP]

Originally Posted by SoundFreak

Why are screen sizes on Plasmas/LCD so limited on the larger sizes? For example, you go from a somewhat affordable 50" Plasma and then the next size is 58" at a non-affordable to many people. If the economy wasn't so shot right now (I work in the construction industry) I would bite the bullet and go for it but that is not a wise option right now. Timing suxs I guess. I wish my tv broke in a couple months from now instead.

As you may have seen my other posts, I'm very hung up on screen sizes. I'm having a hard time swallowing moving down from a 56"DLP to a 50" Plasma. 6" of screen estate is gone. i understand I'll get a better pic but I'm very petty. lol. I guess this is an industry standard so I'll have to get use to it.



Anyway, why do they not make a middle size 54/55/56" screen?

I had a 62'' Hitachi ultravision rear projection LCD and I was having some problems with it. So I returned it and purchased the tv I have now. I dont regret downsizing my tv at all. That is a difference of 13'' but what I gave up in size I made up in picture quality! Dude you wont regret it. I got the 52'' xbr 4 and the next size was 70'' ad was more then $30,000 at the time.

[SoundFreak]

Originally Posted by liquidice

I've been waiting for someone to mention something about the economy vs all the money we are putting into our AV systems. Sometimes it seems kind of silly, then again worth it....you know? I guess were all in different fields when it comes to job security.

It is absolutely worth it in my opinion. However, if your job is not secure, that money might be at minimum, one extra mortgage payment. Like I said, I'm in the construction industry, have already survived two lay-offs and if there is another one, I'm not sure I'll be as lucky. Scarey sh*t that's for sure!

But yeah, I absolutely LOVE movies, it's a passion of mine so sinking money into something that I enjoy so much is well worth it to me. Maybe not my wife, but who cares what she says...

*soundfreak shuts laptop quick so wife doesn't see this*