Sony Closing Its Rear-Projection Television Line
LCD (liquid crystal display) high-definition televisions have taken the HDTV market by storm. When they started to go mainstream nearly a decade ago they were expensive and couldn't match the picture quality of the rear-projection or plasma sets of the day. These days, though, they're inexpensive, efficient, look great, and are super-lightweight. All that has combined to give them huge popularity among consumers. LCD's popularity is so clear that Sony is getting out of the rear-projection television (RPTV) market, focusing entirely on LCD televisions.Sony already ditched their plasma production line this time three years ago to focus on LCD and rear-projection. That the company is focusing solely on LCD is an indicator of just how dominant the technology has become. The problems that plagued early sets, such as poor contrast ratios and dull colors when viewed from an angle, have been all but eliminated. Meanwhile, other TV manufacturers like Toshiba and Philips have also ditched rear-projection televisions. RPTV's rely on an internal bulb to beam an image onto the back of a plastic screen. Rear-projection televisions are even cheaper than LCDs inch-for-inch, but they can't match the form of the one- or two-inch-thin flat-panel displays, a feature many shoppers find appealing.
If you were in the market for one of Sony's SXRD rear-projection sets, better hurry up and pull the trigger while you still can. Or, you could just save your pennies for a few more years until OLED televisions get cheap enough to kill off LCDs.
From Engadget.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
tnipnad @ Dec 20th 2007 4:26PM
Great! I just bought a Sony 42-in rear projection HD. I feel like I've just been screwed.
techknow @ Dec 20th 2007 5:21PM
I have two RPT's and what am I to do when they need repair...? Screwed twice..thanks a lot.., says a lot about Sony's equipment, guess who will not buy another Sony...
LCDiehard @ Dec 20th 2007 5:43PM
you should have done more research - at the the very least talked to the geeks at places like Best Buy or Circuit City to determine market trends. I just purchaed a Sony 46" LCD Aquos and could not be happier - Next time learn from your mistakes and remember buyer beware... Its not Sony Fault You Made a bad consumer decision!!!!
Dave @ Dec 20th 2007 6:03PM
Would you have liked them to stop with the 8 track too? electronics become obsolete almost as soon as they come out. Something new right around the corner.
Lhurlant @ Dec 20th 2007 10:08PM
Electronics gadgets are never obsolete for me. I still use 8-track, cassettes, reel-to-reels, record players, tube radios, black and white tv's, word processors, typewriters, small transitor radios, atari game console. Whatever happenned to picture-in-picture tv sets. Anyway, we are not born between plactic gadgets, computers, push buttons, led lights, Ipods, MP3's, camera phones, digital picture frames,LCD's, HDMI's, HDTV's, DVD's, CD's, CDR's, JPEG's, PHOTO CD's, Picture CD's,DDDD's and the other d's.
David @ Dec 24th 2007 4:48PM
Too bad most of the shows stink.
Art @ Dec 24th 2007 4:49PM
We all knew this change was coming, so it should be no surprise. Maybe the salesperson should have advised you of the pending change, but then they probably wanted to unload some older models.
Have no fear, when things change over completely there will be adapters available for older sets.
BigLR @ Dec 24th 2007 5:22PM
LCDiehard.....fyi Sony does not make a 46'' lcd aquos... That is an lcd line from Sharp. I wonder what other things you are incorrect about.
State of the Art @ Dec 24th 2007 5:29PM
I can understand how upsetting this might be to RPTV owners. I'm having a helluva time finding today's hot music artists on 45rpm singles and blockbuster movie releases on Super-8mm film.
blablabla @ Dec 24th 2007 5:35PM
I've always preferred Panasonic...great new 1080p
plasmas...Pioneer makes a great TV, but $$$$....
Lisa @ Dec 24th 2007 5:39PM
LCDiehard says:
you should have done more research - at the the very least talked to the geeks at places like Best Buy or Circuit City to determine market trends. I just purchaed a Sony 46" LCD Aquos and could not be happier - Next time learn from your mistakes and remember buyer beware... Its not Sony Fault You Made a bad consumer decision!!!!
*********Sharp makes Aquos, Not Sony************
Vivi @ Dec 24th 2007 6:03PM
I haven't looked into any of this stuff as yet. I may wait until the year 2050.
LeeAnn @ Dec 24th 2007 6:27PM
You should not be blaming SONY. I am sure they will still service the item despite no longer making them. If anything the store you purchased it at surely knew they were being phased out and just wanted to dump the inventory they had. They are the ones you should be looking at. The big electronics show for buyers haapens once a year and this past year it was in Las Vegas and they usually always tell their buying clients what is being phased out and of course what new is coming to the market. So if anything, I would confront the store manager where you purchased your item and see if you can work out some sort of deal.
evan @ Dec 24th 2007 6:38PM
hate sony bad customer service. have thrown out anything i had that was sony. stick to jvc
JBJG @ Dec 24th 2007 6:41PM
NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT IT, I 'LL PROBLABLY BE DEAD FROM BOREDOM FROM ALL THESE STUPID REALITY SHOWS!!!
PaCorvetteLover @ Dec 24th 2007 6:52PM
Anything electronic comes and goes within 10 - 15 years ..... Those who bought Turn tables & 8 track players & Cassette Players - VCR Players and recorders,,,,We all know they came and gone with in 10-15 years .... This is why I wait until at least 5 years after something new comes out.... Its really cheaper and you get a model that has all the kinks worked out of it already ..... I learned back in the 70's & 80's ..... Never be the First Kid on the block with the NEW TOY ....
web @ Dec 24th 2007 7:07PM
I am happy with my 6 year old tv. I do not like the distortions on new sets.
laiconna @ Dec 24th 2007 7:20PM
With new gadgets coming out all the time, it's ineveitable that we will have something that is not the latest unless we change every time something new comes out. I still have my rear projection TV and I'm happy with it. Would I like to have the newest? Of course, but i can't blame the manufacturer because they came out with something new and i don't have it. When this one goes belly up, I'll buy the newer version.
http://www.freewebs.com/galleryshops/
Diana @ Dec 25th 2007 4:31AM
I just bought a rear projection set for Christmas, and couldnt be happier. I wanted a larger set and anything larger than a 50" is still cost prohibitive in anything but RP. I love my 65" set, and plan to purchase a 73" set after Christmas and as this news brings RPTV set prices down.
Kimberly @ Dec 26th 2007 4:55AM
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