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Saving Green on Flat-Screens, After Black Friday
Electronics | Nov 23, 07
At the risk of contributing to the annual post-Thanksgiving media driven retail sales hype, I thought I'd take note the severe price cuts we've already seen on LCDs and plasmas as we moved into the holidays.
The most popular flat-screen television on PriceSCAN is currently Sony's KDL-52XBR4 52 inch BRAVIA XBR High Definition LCD WEGA, which in early August was going for at least $4,500 and is currently offered for under $3,000.
Time Period: 8/6/2007 through 11/12/2007
Each tick mark represents one week
Red = High Price, Blue = Average Price, Green = Low Price
It's a similar story with the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U, the top plasma and second most popular television on this site. Back in April this set was going for at least $3,400; today you can get one for under $2,500.
Time Period: 4/16/2007 through 11/12/2007
Each tick mark represents one week
Red = High Price, Blue = Average Price, Green = Low Price
Going down the list of televisions on our site, you’ll see the same pattern of 25%-33% price reductions among many of the most sought-after models.
As summer passed into autumn and concern over an end of year slump reached fever pitch, prices on flat screens were slashed repeatedly. These early cuts may limit downside price action as the holiday shopping season progresses, since profit margins may have already been sharply compressed. But come what may, those buying now can be assured they're getting into the flat-screen market at deep discounts to introductory prices.
Posted by jeffrey.trester at 8:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
What Brown Has Done For Zune
Electronics | Nov 11, 07
Right now you can buy a first generation brown Zune – that's brown, not any other color – for less then a hundred bucks.
Ahead of the introduction of Microsoft's new and improved version of its digital player, retailers are slashing prices of the old model, but only the 30 GB Zune in brown is selling for less then a C-note. That's at least 33% cheaper than 30 GB Zunes in other colors. The sepia tone was controversial from the beginning ("The Zune: Microsoft’s Little Brown Lump Of DRM-Enforcing Digital Joy" ) and new Zunes will not be available in the color of well, you know. Thus Redmond will eschew one troublesome early design decision, even if some DRM issues remain (see "Good Morning Mr. Gates – The Functionality Of This Zune Music File Will Self-Destruct After Three Plays. Good Luck, Bill!" ).
Yet one has to wonder if the brown first-gen Zune could end up a buy at these depressed levels. Perhaps it will become a future collectible example of dubious corporate decision making, like a can of New Coke or a Ford Edsel. As for Microsoft, early difficulties penetrating new markets has not stopped Bill's empire from striking back with considerable ultimate success. Should that point be lost on anyone, there are veterans of Netscape, Real, and Sony that could clear up any confusion regarding the matter. Come to think of it, so could a certain Cupertino-based maker of more popular digital media devices.
Posted by jeffrey.trester at 3:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
