Panasonic's CES 2009 VIERA HDTV lineup priced and dated... for Japan

by Darren Murph posted Feb 3rd 2009 at 4:02AM

Remember those fancy new VIERA HDTVs introduced at CES by Panasonic? Yeah, well every last one just got a price tag and release date for the Japanese market. The Z, V and G Series (13 models in all) have been officially given a sticker and launch window, with the earliest ones heading out in March and the laggards getting boxed up in late April. Needless to say, there are far too many zeros and commas to list here, but you can head past the break along with your trusty currency converter to get a ballpark estimate of what these will run on American soil.

Filed under: Displays, Panasonic, LCD

Tags: panasonic, plasma, price, pricing, viera, WirelessHD

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

tom @ Feb 3rd 2009 7:16AM

The current gen Vieras are on sale at some really great prices these days. The 46PZ85U is now just $1,049 with free delivery, and the 42PZ800U is just $1,299 with free delivery. I've been following the prices ever since I picked up the 42PZ85U prior to Christmas for $865.

http://www.techdealdigger.com/search/viera-deals-sales

Neutral

AndyS @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:44PM

I just ordered a 46PZ85U at that price yesterday. I was planning to get a TH-50PZ800U (also a good deal at Amazon for under $1800 today), but with all the improvements on the 2009 models I decided to get the 46" lower model now and a 50 or 54" new model in the fall for the primary TV. Once I get the 2009 model, I'll move the cheap 46" into the bedroom.

Neutral

tvguy @ Feb 3rd 2009 8:52AM

By far the best value in flat panel TV's right now.

Highly Ranked

Loban @ Feb 3rd 2009 9:48AM

Not only are they the best value, they are the second best TVs money can buy (below the KURO line). It would be as if Porsches were selling at the price of a Chevy.

Neutral

phatounet @ Feb 3rd 2009 10:39AM

Hum... I tried several yen converters... one told me that 30 mil yens, is equivalent ot $350, an the others are telling me it is equivalent to $35,000... That just does not seem right :(

Neutral

Johnny Neat @ Feb 3rd 2009 10:57AM

Which is better the Z800U, Z85U or Z80U? That's what is confusing me. Oh and can these bad boys play games without input lag, response time or burn in issues?

Neutral

ProfWho @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:15PM

the Z800U is the best. For its price you really would be foolish to buy a Z80U or Z85U.

Neutral

ProfWho @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:18PM

definitely get the 800U. For its price it is silly to get a 80U or 85U. The 800U is one of the best TVs you can get.

Neutral

BananaBoat @ Feb 4th 2009 4:39PM

I've got a 50" 800U coming in about a week, and it was easily the best TV at the 1500-1800 price range. I wouldn't say it is the best value right now though. The 720p version of the 2008 50" Panny is like 800 bucks right now. Less than half the price, and the only real difference to most people is the lack of 1080p (which most wouldn't notice anyway). 800 dollars for a 50" Panny is almost absurdly cheap, and it's easily the best value right now (you could get two of them for the price of one 800U. That's a bedroom TV, and a living room/HT TV)

I was going to get a Kuro to replace my old (non-Kuro) Pioneer Plasma, but looking at the 50" model side by side with the 800U, I couldn't really tell the difference. For a savings of 700ish dollars, I wasn't about to take the Kuro over the Panny if it wasn't going to make any difference to my viewing experience.

Now I just have to hope that I don't see the green fringing/phosphor trail problem that everyone seems to complain about with Panny and Samsung Plasmas. I can always take it back if I do though, so it's no problem. The bust of the Plasma market, while unfortunate (Panny is laying off people, Pioneer isn't making their own panels anymore, etc)has dropped the prices to a point where you'd almost be an idiot to choose LCD over Plasma.

Neutral

Johnny Neat @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:18PM

Thanks ProfWho.

Neutral

ProfWho @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:18PM

Figures that my post shows up after I double post.

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