A study from technology analysis firm IDC is predicting that annual
RPTV sales will sink below 30,000 units over the next 48 months. The market for large, direct view sets was ruled by these displays not long ago -- sales peaked at 3.5 million units in 2004. But increasing competition (in both display size and price) from
plasma and especially
LCD isn't showing any signs of slowing. Even though we've seen RPTV's making moves in the
bigger (and even
bigger) and
slimmer directions, it will probably only delay the inevitable. But if you're shopping for a bargain, keep an eye on these displays. In terms of dollar-per-square inch, you should be able to score a sweet deal over the coming months. As the article recommends, though, "Just be sure to get that extended warranty!"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xyzzy @ Sep 1st 2007 8:33PM
Why would you get the extended warranty? Those are cash cows for retailers -- they wouldn't sell them if they weren't. You should always pass on the extended warranty, especially since most credit cards already double the manufacturer's warranty -- they give you a year, it doubles to two, and if something breaks between years two and four, then just get a new one - they'll be bigger/better/cheaper by then anyway.
Warranties and lotteries are a tax for the mathmatically challenged.
TheTruthHurts @ Nov 20th 2007 12:31PM
Wow, did we have a bad day when we posted this? First, you may want to use spell-check before posting such an inflammatory comment ('mathematically' is the correct spelling). Second, I've used the extended warranties from Best Buy no less than six times on several different products, all of which occurred after the original manufacturer's warranty was no longer valid.
BTW, some of us actually pay cash. If you're so concerned about the extra $400 you'd pay for an extended warranty, you should be even more concerned about the 10-20% interest you're paying to finance your TV.
SimbaDogg @ Sep 1st 2007 9:00PM
Xyzzy...you should speak from personal experience, not like your opinion is gospel. Sometimes those extended warranties do work out. The tv i used to have the mitsu wd-73727 (73" dlp) went for something like 5500 when it was new, a service plan @ best buy was something like 350 or 400...when i was looking at the price of replacing the lamp for the tv, 300 straight from the mftr web site ( i think they later dropped it to 250). I for one didn't mind paying 400 for that warranty considering it covered the 1) replacement of a 250-300 lamp within 4 years, and 2) all the other crap that coulda gone wrong w/ it.
Steven Kim @ Sep 2nd 2007 12:09AM
@Xyzzy:
I agree with you in general on the option for extended warranties. But one of the points of the original article is that the RPTV's are different from their LCD and plasma counterparts in that they experience shorter lamp lives and incorporate moving mechanical parts, making the extended warranty more attractive.
JeffDM @ Sep 2nd 2007 12:50AM
There is little point to RPTV now. It requires a significantly deeper cabinet which can be a negative depending on room arrangement, doesn't have a very good viewing angle range, not that bright. Why I mentioned room arrangement is because a lot of home theater equipment is nearly as deep as an RPTV, and that equipment has to go somewhere. If it's beside the TV, then there's not much depth savings, otherwise you have the equipment blocking the view to one side or the other and so on.
MikeR @ Sep 2nd 2007 7:37AM
This is an interesting article, and believable. But I wonder if the professional marketplace, where projection is still needed (large venues, simulators, conference rooms) will then be enough to sustain manufacturers building projectors? How many projector companies are at INFOCOMM, and they all depend to some degree on technology advances being made for the consumer.
Jason @ Sep 2nd 2007 10:27AM
It's so sad that the majority of the population doesn't do any research into buying their electronics.
"Oh, look how thin this one is...I'll take it"
It's this kind of attitude that will kill the RPTV and nothing else IMO.
For right now, the pros of some RPTV's outweigh the cons of it. Anyone even considering a new big screen needs to do themselves a favor and check out Samsung's LED DLP. No chance of burn in and the light source will last the life of the TV (theoretically). LCoS looks damn good as well, but unfortunately still rely on incandescent bulbs.
As soon as Laser RPTV and Laser Projectors come out, nothing else will even compare in picture quality....unless of course SED ever comes out.
Big Sam @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:00AM
@Jason
I just got one of the 61" Samsung LED DLPs. It surprisingly light (73 lbs) and thin for a DLP (15"), but the viewing angles are horrible.
Ken @ Sep 2nd 2007 4:49PM
I think what we will really see is more bigger, cheaper, and better RPTV's.
Imagine a 70" Sony XBR with a 50,000 hour life (for LED's, lasers...whatever) for $3,000.
At the end of the day, RPTV's will offer lower prices and easy in big sizes.
FrankTheCrank @ Sep 2nd 2007 5:55PM
I have a Sony 42" Rear Projection. I love it, it's a great TV....but now 2 years later, the whole rear projection in a bright room is making me wish that I had bought a PLASMA.
Too boot, I bought the extended warranty.
Hopefully, this TV won't shit the bed before the warranty gives.....wink, wink...I might have to replace it with a PLASMA.
Xyzzy @ Sep 3rd 2007 12:41AM
@Simba: "Xyzzy...you should speak from personal experience, not like your opinion is gospel. Sometimes those extended warranties do work out."
My post wasn't an opinion, it was fact. Buying an extended warranty is just like playing the lottery -- sometimes you'll win (as you pointed out), but most of the time you'll lose. If people frequently won, they'd stop selling them (or charge more).
http://www.excal.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1246&Itemid=53
Even using your example proves that it was a waste of money. You spent $400 and assuming you could get a $250 lamp from it, you still lost $150 (not to mention the money you could've earned by saving/investing that $400). You lost the warranty lottery.
The only thing the extended warranty does (aside from drain your bank account) is making people "feel more secure" in their purchase. I guess some people feel that's worth $150-$400, but there are much better things to do with your money than use it as a security blanket.
Miacol @ Sep 4th 2007 10:45AM
It's a shame, I personally prefer the DLP screens over the Plasma's or the LCDs. I think the picture is so much nicer (personal opinion). Plasma can't deal with the burn in issue and now they got a cleaner that if your tv was on for 5 hours it takes 5 hours to correct the screen (lovely), and LCD just seems way to bright.
The angel viewing never bothered me cause I always watch it for the movie experience.