PriceSCAN Blog: July 2005 Archives

« June 2005 | Main | August 2005 »

Hewlett-Packard: Wal-Mart Killer Or Hitting The Wall?

Digital Cameras & Camcorders | Jul 21, 05

Reeling from its troubled Compaq acquisition and its recently announced massive layoffs, HP could use some good news. So perhaps the release of the firm’s new printer will be just what the doctor (or, in this case, the board of directors) ordered.

The machine in question is the HP Photosmart 8250, to be available for sale within days and which the company claims can print 32 pages per minute or produce a 4x6-inch color photo for $0.24. That still nearly 66% more per image than you’ll pay at Wal-Mart (see “When It Comes To Printing Photos, Should You Drive To Wal-Mart?”), but you get much more editing flexibility and you can skip the drive (which at today’s gas prices is nothing to sneeze at). Red-eye removal, color adjustment image enhancement and borderless printing are facilitated through HP’s “Real Life” technology, and the use of six different inks replaceable separately is said to save on cartridge costs. The 8250 will begin selling for just shy of $200, but look for discounting by vendors on PriceSCAN.com as we move through the summer. It will be interesting to see whether this innovation hits the speed, convenience and price points necessary to keep Wal-Mart and the like from continuing to encroach on HP’s printer business. This issue is all the more critical, as printers increasingly appear to be the storied firm's one remaining crown jewel.

Posted by jeffrey.trester at 3:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Film Camera Prices Drop With Rise of Digital

Digital Cameras & Camcorders | Jul 20, 05

As a new technology emerges, its often interesting to take a look at what happens to the price of that which it supplants. One example may be found in the market for film cameras, where one can see a significant decline in the cost of many models as digital camera resolution improved.

To be sure, the high resolution and sensitivity of film continues to hold the loyalty of some serious photographers. For these diehard artists, photojournalists and serious amateurs, the accent of digital may have a silver halide lining. Readers of this blog know the price of increased digital camera resolution has been plunging (see, for example, “Price Drops On Digital Cameras For Graduation And Summer”), and it appears the film camera market has been forced to respond with its own price drop to remain competitive.
Consider the Canon EOS 3. Back in September of 1999 this 35mm SLR went for north of $1, 200. But as the digital photography revolution moved forward, the EOS 3’s price declined; it may now be purchased for under $820.
Time Period: 9/20/1999 through 7/11/2005
Each tick mark represents one week
Red = High Price, Blue = Average Price, Green = Low Price

Pretty much the same story hold for another 35mm SLR, the Nikon F100. Back in 1999 it would have run you about $1,200 and now costs less than $850.
Time Period: 9/20/1999 through 7/11/2005
Each tick mark represents one week
Red = High Price, Blue = Average Price, Green = Low Price

You can find many more examples of remarkable price drops for both film and digital here. So if you’re still a fan of film, you need not curse the market for megapixels; the rise of digital may have just saved you a bundle on your next camera.

Posted by jeffrey.trester at 4:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

New Brands, Inexpensive LCD Televisions

Electronics | Jul 11, 05

Recently, the LCD television market has been invaded by a group of new manufacturers offering sets at considerable discounts to their more established rivals. Many are Chinese or affiliated with an Asian manufacturer, and can avail themselves of low labor costs. As a result, these firms make many of the least expensive LCD sets on PriceSCAN.com.

Consider that of the ten cheapest flat-screen LCD sets 30 inches or larger, six are made by companies of the type described above, including the two cheapest, the Syntax Olevia LT-30HV and the SVA VR-30, both priced under $950. Sytax is partnered with Taiwan Kolin Company (of, yes, Taiwan) and SVA is one of China’s largest tech concerns. Interestingly, even the venerable Westinghouse name is now attached to a firm manufacturing in China through is partner, Chi Mei Optoelectronics.

For the most part, the buzz on these manufacturers isn’t bad, but we’d be interested in hearing about the experiences of PriceSCAN users in this regard. If the quality of these new makes is up to snuff, one has to wonder what their entry into the market means for the more established players.