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Vizio is proud that its low prices helped it grab the top spot

Along with computer companies, one of the other products facing hard times in the current economy is large-screen TVs. When consumers have less money to spend, they don’t go shopping for luxury items like HDTVs.

Engadget reports that budget LCD TV maker Vizio has announced that it was the top LCD TV firm in American for Q1 2009. Vizio isn’t ashamed to tout the fact that put it in the top spot is that its sets are cheap. The company was able to grow its portion of the LCD TV segment in the U.S. to 21.6%, up from the 13.8% that it held in Q4 2008 reports iSuppli. Samsung lost the top spot to Vizio due to the aggressive price points Vizio offered.

ISuppli analyst Riddhi Patel said, "Due to its aggressive pricing, Vizio for some time has maintained its position as North America's top-selling LCD-TV value brand. However, since the onset of the economic downturn, Vizio's share has risen dramatically. With budgets becoming increasingly tight, consumers are finding the company's inexpensive sets more alluring."

During Q1 2009, the average selling price for a Vizio 60Hz 42-inch 1080p LCD HDTV was $850. By comparison, a similar Samsung or Sony 40-inch LCD HDTV was around $1,000 to $1,090. Stepping up the 120Hz variety of HDTVs, Vizio products in the 40 to 42-inch range were selling for an average of $400 less than similar offerings from Sony and Samsung.

Vizio was able to gain ground back that it lost in Q4 2008 to Samsung and Sony by adding in new features to its products like 120Hz refresh rates while still keeping the low price points. Overall shipments of LCD TVs in America for Q1 2009 were 6.3 million units. That number was down from the 8.1 million units shipped in Q4 2008. Vizio posted the largest market share increase among the top five LCD TV brands in America.

In February Vizio sought assistance from the FCC against what it called excessive licensing fee demands from Funai.

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Vizio makes a good tv.
By Marlin1975 on 5/8/2009 10:05:22 AM , Rating: 5
Vizio makes a good TV. Not to say Samsung is bad but for the majority of people out there they will not see much of any differance from most LCDs. The only differance they will see is in their wallet.

Of course the fanboys will probable rate me down saying that as they know their sorny is much better just like their monster cables make sound much more clear and bright. :-)




RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By spwrozek on 5/8/2009 10:29:05 AM , Rating: 4
You really don't think people can see the difference between a Samsung and a Vizio? They buy the vizio because it is $200 bucks cheaper but they know they are getting a much crappier TV. Like you said though they end up only worrying about the bottom line.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Spivonious on 5/8/2009 10:39:35 AM , Rating: 2
Honestly, once you take the TV home and set up the picture, I would highly doubt that anyone can see the difference. Especially with the HD source being highly compressed content from cable/satellite.

I've had a Vizio for almost 3 years now, and once I turned down the reds (why does everyone boost those so much?) I cannot imagine a better TV picture on an LCD. Plus the Vizio came with 2 HDMIs, a VGA, 2 components, and 2 composites, with optical audio out at a time when the higher-end TVs had 1 or 2 HDMIs, no VGA, 1 component and 1 composite with no optical out. All that for 60% of the Samsung next to it in the store.

Sure, Americans like to get stuff cheap, but Vizio is miles above the other budget brands.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Kaldor on 5/8/2009 11:28:10 AM , Rating: 2
Definately. Ive owned my 47" LCD Visio now for 3 years. When I bought it it was $600 cheaper than a comparable Sony or Samsung with more inputs. And honestly, other than the blacks not quite as black, from 15' I dont see much of a difference.

Visio's may not have quite the quality of the high end brands, but it falls into the good enough category.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By omnicronx on 5/8/2009 11:34:06 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
I've had a Vizio for almost 3 years now, and once I turned down the reds (why does everyone boost those so much?) I cannot imagine a better TV picture on an LCD.
Then quite frankly you have not seen a good TV! Vizio does have some higher end products now, they are not limited to the budget market, but they surely do still sell budget LCD's, most of which lack in quality compared to other panels. Put a Sony XBR side by side any Vizio and it will blow it out of the water. Not saying I would ever pay that much for a Sony, but please do not make it out as though they are equal, because they are not. In order to keep prices low, budget monitors usually have cheaper video processors, lower contrast ratios (sometimes), and even higher response times. This is more than noticeable, especially with a good source such as BD or a scene with a lot of motion.


By therealnickdanger on 5/8/2009 11:36:20 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I would highly doubt that anyone can see the difference

Out of sight, out of mind. You're really expecting too much of the masses on this one, I don't think most people calibrate anything. While I whole-heartedly agree that proper calibration makes a WORLD of difference, if you were to calibrate a Vizio and Sammy to the best of your ability and then compare side-by-side, the difference might even be more pronounced. This is hard to qualify, however, since you would have to find two models that are similar enough to make a comparison in the first place. But I imagine that the price differential would still make the Vizio the better buy. Until someone does such a comparison, it's pointless to debate, I suppose.

As a proud owner of a $599 Dynex DX-LCD42HD-09 (and two 32" Dynexes), I can say that I'm a HUGE fan of budget televisions and know full well the hidden quality within. After I accessed the service menu and took more time to calibrate it, it looks incredible! Not that it matters a whole lot because I only bought it for the bedroom.

All that being said, none of my Dynexes can hold a candle to the PRO-151FD. I never thought it possible to be sexually attracted to an inanimate object before this TV. For lack of a better word... it's perfect. Of course, perfection has a price and tweren't cheap.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By invidious on 5/8/2009 3:28:09 PM , Rating: 2
If you think every TV sony makes is better than every TV that Vizeo makes then you are seriously misinformed. I was amazed at the quality of my 47" Vizeo and I am definately an electronics enthusiast/snob.

I went into it planning to buy a value TV and after research I decided on a $1300 vizeo. It looks just as good as any "quality" brand TV I have seen. There are plenty of other value brands with low prices that are not doing well, Vizeo's quality product at a value price is what sets them apart.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By marvdmartian on 5/8/2009 10:33:21 AM , Rating: 3
More likely, this proves the "Walmart Effect".

In other words, most Americans don't care if it's better, they only want what's cheaper.

Speaking of WallyWorld, every time I walk past their electronics department, I notice that they're more likely to put Vizio lcd tv's out on aisle display (where you walk past them even without going back into the electronics area) than the more expensive Samsung models.

Vizio should thank Walmart for that, imho.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By TomZ on 5/8/2009 10:35:11 AM , Rating: 5
I agree - Walmart is probably responsible for the majority of Vizio's sales.

I think Americans are interested in value - quality compared to price - but with the recession, more and more Americans are trying to keep costs down.

Comparing it to cars, not everyone drives a Lexus (or BMW or Ferrari...).

But on the other hand, this does show Samsung and Sony that they are missing the opportunity to - in addition to selling high-quality sets - to also concentrate more on lower-cost "value" sets. A company like Vizio shouldn't be able to eat their lunch so easily.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Spivonious on 5/8/2009 10:45:56 AM , Rating: 2
On the contrary, I think companies like Vizio are causing Sony, Samsung, et al to lower the prices on their comparable TVs. The free market at work.

Pretty soon we'll see the Samsung CEO in front of Congress asking for a bailout.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Iaiken on 5/8/2009 11:24:34 AM , Rating: 5
Fat chance! For starters, they are South Korean…

Samsung Group is the world’s largest conglomerate and is composed of:
- Samsung Electronics
- Samsung Engineering & Construction
- Samsung Heavy Industries
- Hundreds of other subsidiaries.

The company manufactures just about everything under the sun, from the world’s tallest building (Berj Dubai) to smaller/faster memory chips. If Samsung were a country, they would be 34th on the GDP rating list. Next time have a clue about the company you are talking about.

The guys over at Vizio SHOULD be proud of hedging the share of such a major player in the American market. They make a good enough product at a good enough price that LOTS of people buy it and they still make money. Kudos.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Lakku on 5/8/2009 9:32:12 PM , Rating: 1
Don't call him out on anything when you yourself can be considered incorrect. Largest conglomerate? Did wikipedia tell you that? How are they the largest conglomerate? They don't have more total employees than GE nor other companies. They also don't have more assets than GE. They don't have more revenue than GE either. Maybe Samsung Group has more overall divisions, and maybe that makes them the largest conglomerate? Perhaps you should have a clue about what company you are talking about before calling someone else out, as Samsung Group is far from the largest conglomerate in anything other than how many divisions they have, maybe.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By tjr508 on 5/9/2009 5:53:25 PM , Rating: 2
Wal-Mart has 6X the number of employees as GE.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Lakku on 5/9/2009 9:00:51 PM , Rating: 2
Yes I am aware, but Walmart is not a conglomerate and it has the most employees in the world for a single company. Always nice to get voted down for telling the truth, as anyone can actually pick up an annual report and read it to prove Samsung Group is not the biggest conglomerate at all. I'll go ahead and provide a link to rankings which in turn leads to financial details, where you can read on your own.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/18/global-09_The-...


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By comc49 on 5/8/2009 4:24:37 PM , Rating: 2
rofl you have no idea how big samsung is...


By StevoLincolnite on 5/8/2009 11:29:06 AM , Rating: 1
Not another car analogy! They are a dime a dozen these days...


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By JackBurton on 5/8/2009 11:05:20 AM , Rating: 2
The people that say they can't see a difference between a Vizio and a Samsung are just lying to themselves. Put ANY Vizio beside a Samsung UNxxB7000 and tell me you can't see a HUGE difference. If you can't see a difference, you are either blind or lying to make yourself better.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By B3an on 5/8/2009 11:25:46 AM , Rating: 2
He's probably just trying to convince himself his Vizio compares to a decent TV. But like most people who buy cheap cr*p he probably dont know the meaning of the word quality.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Marlin1975 on 5/8/2009 11:56:34 AM , Rating: 1
Yea like people say my BMW is crap compared to a GM car.

http://www.sniffpetrol.com/AdBMWshit.jpg

Oh and I do not own a Vizio. I have seen them in stores beside other more costly TVs and adjusted them out.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By JackBurton on 5/8/2009 1:10:11 PM , Rating: 1
Oh wow, it took longer than I thought before someone threw in a moronic car analogy.

Let's stay on topic, we're talking about TVs, not cars. And what, you adjusted the Vizio to looks its best and the Samsung to look as bad as the Vizio? Wow, that's amazing. And I have no doubt a Vizio's "high end" model may be on par or MAYBE every better than a low end Samsung. But again, people looking for a quality picture aren't looking at low end Samsung TVs either (which by the way are all Wal-mart sells). If you want a quality set, Samsung's new B650, B750 are much better than any Vizio and their B7000/7100 is in a league of its own. And this is only Samsung's line. Panasonic and Sony also both slap around Vizios.

Again, you get what you pay for. If you want to lie to yourself and say that a Vizio is just as good as a Samsung, Sony, or Panasonic, I can't stop you. However the more critical and informed people know better.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By GodisanAtheist on 5/8/2009 1:15:31 PM , Rating: 5
Its a door that swings both ways. People will tell themselves that their budget sets look as good as high end stuff (they don't) just to make themselves feel better, while the guys that bought the high end stuff will tell themselves the extra $500 was totally worth the improvement in picture quality (it isn't) so they can justify the extra money spent.

Like almost everything you can pay for, the more you pay the better it gets... with diminishing returns (insert hooker joke).


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Noya on 5/9/2009 4:44:10 AM , Rating: 1
This is the best post here.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By eggman on 5/8/2009 4:23:01 PM , Rating: 1
I read a review of the UNxxB7000 LED edge lit series. It might have been the 6000 series but I believe they use the same panel. The reviewer was not so impressed. Poor color accuracy and some uniformity issues. I am very sensitive to color accuracy and that plus cost led me to the 47in Vizio SV470XVT. It was under a thousand bucks at Sams with a 3 year warranty and the reviewers were very impressed. The black level is not as good as Samsung but the color and uniformity are excellent. The no bright pixel policy is nice to.

Cheers


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Lakku on 5/8/2009 9:44:39 PM , Rating: 3
If you're sensitive to color accuracy you wouldn't buy a Vizio, let alone call out a Samsung TV that's rated highly but too deemed too expensice for the price. No Vizio has great color accuracy, and they certainly won't beat a good Samsung or Sony with a 10-bit panel and processing, which none of the Vizios have. Vizio TV's are fine for most, but don't sit there and try to say your 1300 Vizio has better color accuracy than a 2k to 3k dollar Samsung, because it doesn't. And FYI, most reviewers consider price heavily in their reviews. Meaning, yes, the Vizio is good for the price, but HEAD to HEAD, that Vizio won't win if you aren't regarding prices.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Woochifer on 5/8/2009 4:24:48 PM , Rating: 4
Vizio doesn't even make their own TVs. Their function is solely marketing and rebadging off-brand TVs that they buy in bulk from whichever outsourcing manufacturer offers a low bid (often by using inferior previous generation panels that companies like Samsung and LG are trying to get rid of). This makes them no different from any of the other past and present third tier brands like Apex Digital or Westinghouse.

Vizio is a multibillion dollar company, yet they employ less than 100 people. Vizio's manufacturing is outsourced, their customer service is outsourced, their warranty support is outsourced, and yet they still claim to be "America's HDTV Company"?! These cost-cutting measures (along with allegations that they infringe on other companies' patents without paying royalties) are among the reasons why Vizios sell for so cheap.

This is a radically different business model from first tier companies like Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic who make their own TVs, do their own R&D, participate in HDTV patent pools, operate their own customer service centers, maintain a network of authorized repair centers, stock their own spare parts distribution centers, and in general maintain much more control over the post-purchase support for customers.

If you own a two-year old Panasonic HDTV, Panasonic will have every part in that TV available for servicing if it ever breaks, and service manuals for all their TVs are available for any repair shop or technician. Same thing can be said for all of the other first tier companies.

Same thing cannot be said for Vizio, which only began to stock spare parts (via an outsourcer) for their newer TVs last year. This practice of producing disposable TVs is longstanding with off-brands, and Vizio is no different in this regard.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By manager2 on 5/8/2009 5:06:23 PM , Rating: 2
I agree Competitive advantage rules goto the link type Vizio in the Walmart search box the facts are the facts.
http://dlservicesincservices.com


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By Ratinator on 5/8/2009 5:38:32 PM , Rating: 2
You got it wrong....the same people that know their Samsung is far better than a Vizio are the same people that know Monster is overpriced garbage.


RE: Vizio makes a good tv.
By tenchymuyo2 on 5/10/2009 11:04:28 AM , Rating: 2
I agree. Vizio does have great quality for a low price. I remember when I first saw them at BJ's and I figured, ah they're just some no-name product, but they took off because of the price and the picture is sharp. I'm glad you posted that bit about the monster cables. TOO TRUE. I think it was this website that reported on how monster is no better than any other type.

I own a hand-me-down 50" Sony (720p) which has a great picture with a Comcast box and the HDMI setup, but as usual with Sony, you're buying a name so the price is jacked up unnecessarily about 10% over the competition.

This is not to say I would cast Samsung into the fire. I'd still do a thorough check of a Vizio vs. a Samsung to get what's best for me.


All I know is...
By Motoman on 5/8/2009 12:33:33 PM , Rating: 2
...I'm damn glad I just recently snagged a 67" Samsung LED DLP unit. $1,800 for 67" of mind-blowing picture. And I don't give a rat's ass that it's not 3" thick. It boggles my mind that people were buying so few of these things that Samsung (and everyone else) gave up on them, granted that the price difference between this and a comparable LCD unit would be like $6,000 or more.




RE: All I know is...
By Ivan244 on 5/8/2009 1:32:45 PM , Rating: 2
Motoman totally agree with you. I understand the appeal of a small footprint that you can put on the wall. But for 50% of the cost, if not more, a great RPTV like the Samsung gives you a fantastic pic.

Plus you get a much bigger pic along with quality. RPTV has the best bang for buck unless you go front projector. Unless you have to have it on a wall, or have similiar size constraints, never understood why people paid all that extra instead of Dlp RPTV. Rainbow effect notwithstanding.

I picked up a Mit 65815 CRT RPTV from someone moving overseas and have loved it. Sure it's big and bulky but 65in at a fraction of a cost that LCD/Plasma would have been.


RE: All I know is...
By Motoman on 5/8/2009 1:55:36 PM , Rating: 2
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HL67A750-67-Inch-108...

~$1,800 for 67" LED DLP

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_13365PZ750/Panasonic-...

~$4,500 for 65" LCD

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158KD70XB7/Sony-KDL-7...

~$20,000 for 70" LCD

...in the interest of full disclosure, we have a 48" 1080p LCD TV in the bedroom...which we got on black friday for like $600. So by no means am I "against" flat-panel TVs. But seriously...look at the price. I don't get it.


RE: All I know is...
By nplez123 on 5/8/2009 2:27:00 PM , Rating: 1
Look at your TV from a 60 degree angle from any side... then you will see why I sell a lot more LCDs than DLPs. DLPs are great for a theater environment where everyone is looking straight at the set. I own one, so I can say they are definatly awesome. However, it is not a good selection for most living rooms. I will also point out that that 67" Samsung LED DLP is not 120Hz.


RE: All I know is...
By Motoman on 5/8/2009 3:08:10 PM , Rating: 2
1st - yes, it is 120Hz. Although I'm not sure I care, and am pretty certain Joe Consumer doesn't care. The only thing I think that is useful for is 3-D shenanigans, which is a long way off in my book anyway.

2nd - I didn't measure the angle, but the room it's in has a couch at a 90-degree angle to the set, probably ~7 feet to the right and ~4 feet forward of the TV. A strange viewing angle, at any rate - looks great.


RE: All I know is...
By nplez123 on 5/8/2009 5:11:24 PM , Rating: 2
1st - http://www.samsung.com/us/system/consumer/product/...

Notice how it says it goes up to 60Hz. I have sold many of these sets, and Samsung does not make a 120Hz LED DLP. 120Hz and 3D technology are different things.

2nd - I never said you wouldn't be able to see the image from the side. The brightness of the set just drops off quickly as your angle of viewing increases. You also lose color and can get ghosting as the angle gets bigger as well. This is a DLP thing in general, not just this set. The Samsung DLPs are actually top-notch... some of the best available in my opinion.


RE: All I know is...
By Motoman on 5/8/2009 6:36:11 PM , Rating: 2
1st - I copied the below directly from the .pdf you linked:

quote:
CinemaPure™ 120Hz Color Engine Samsung is the worldwide leader in creating light engines that harness DLP HDTV technology from Texas Instruments. Samsung’s CinemaPure™ 120Hz Color Engine brings together the right optics, electronic circuitry and replaceable light source to create a brilliant picture that’s more lifelike and much closer to film. In its second year of evolution, Samsung’s CinemaPure™ 120Hz Color Engine displays 40% more color than traditional HDTVs, delivers crisp 1080p High Definition resolution with high contrast and brightness, defined edges and sharp detail.


You're getting confused over the inputs as opposed to it's own refresh rate. 1080p is a 60Hz signal. The TV itself runs at 120Hz.

To be completely honest, I don't know that it makes a difference - as noted before, the only possible value I think 120Hz has is for future 3D crap.

2nd - Every TV does that (well, other than CRT), and as has been noted before, I can't imagine anyone putting in a 67" TV with wonky angles to view it on anyway.


RE: All I know is...
By Motoman on 5/8/2009 3:10:28 PM , Rating: 2
Oh, and not that it necessarily pertains to this discussion, but WoW on this thing is jaw-dropping! <droolz>


RE: All I know is...
By bnutz on 5/8/2009 3:12:56 PM , Rating: 2
I don't many people that sit 60 degrees away from a 60" set, and 120Hz is only a LCD marketing.


RE: All I know is...
By bighairycamel on 5/8/2009 4:45:21 PM , Rating: 2
http://tinyurl.com/oz4nn4
quote:
Samsung’s CinemaPure™ 120Hz Color Engine offers unprecedented image clarity, detail, and smoothness.


RE: All I know is...
By nplez123 on 5/8/2009 5:15:10 PM , Rating: 2
I sent an email to tigerdirect since the 120Hz thing is clearly a mistake. Samsungs specs and all of my spec sheets for this TV list it as a 60Hz model. See the Samsung Spec-Sheet that I posted a link to above.


RE: All I know is...
By Motoman on 5/8/2009 6:36:47 PM , Rating: 2
You might want to send them another note apologizing for your first one...read the whole .pdf.


RE: All I know is...
By nplez123 on 5/8/2009 5:04:58 PM , Rating: 2
Do you know what 120Hz means? IT is the refesh-rate of the panel. It is not marketing. If you watch anything that is fast moving, you will see the difference.


RE: All I know is...
By Chocobollz on 5/10/2009 7:55:54 AM , Rating: 2
I would say, it's just a TV, for God's sake.. I won't waste my money just to see Paris Hilton's acne! lol


Go USA!
By borowki2 on 5/8/2009 10:48:30 AM , Rating: 2
Who said American manufacturing is dead?




RE: Go USA!
By matt0401 on 5/8/2009 2:00:52 PM , Rating: 2
Wow I had to look that up on Wikipedia to verify it. I didn't know Vizio was American. Kudos to them, bringing some electronics expertise to North America. Competition is a good thing!


RE: Go USA!
By bnutz on 5/8/2009 3:10:36 PM , Rating: 3
They are American owned, but all the manufacturing is in China. So it's the same as the other brands, they have an office with 20 people running the books and markets and everything else is done elsewhere.


Market is Good For Budget
By nplez123 on 5/8/2009 2:20:09 PM , Rating: 2
Vizio sells a budget TV. It isn't surprising that when people don't have as much money to spend they cut back in areas like their TV. That being said, it is not argueable whether a Vizio is better than a Samsung or a Sony. I am a Custom Audio Video Installer and I have put a Vizio next to a Sony or Samsung many times and normal people can tell which set is better. The more expesnive TVs have better processing and refresh rates (due to higher quality panels) and a clearer picture. Vizio also has a very relaxed Testing Process where even TVs with noticable visual problems like increased blur, dead pixels and bad coloring will be approved for sale. For many consumers, however, they are willing to take a hit in quality to save the money for more important things.




RE: Market is Good For Budget
By MScrip on 5/8/2009 2:36:09 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
For many consumers, however, they are willing to take a hit in quality to save the money for more important things.

To add to that... you can hardly find a CRT TV anymore... so your only choice is to get an LCD... and Vizio is the cheapest.


RE: Market is Good For Budget
By Nfarce on 5/8/2009 10:30:56 PM , Rating: 1
Excellent point. Especially for those who want a bedroom or guest/bonus room TV in the 27-32" range. Forget about a replacement at $250, the price I paid for a 27" Samsung CRT TV that I bought four years ago for the bedroom (the last CRT I'd ever buy - new).

Now it's double that for a new replacement (LCD) - minimum.


RE: Market is Good For Budget
By jconan on 5/10/2009 11:35:56 PM , Rating: 2
unless SEDs come out to the market and that all depends on Canon...


Couple things
By rudy on 5/8/2009 6:13:53 PM , Rating: 3
If I bought an LCD TV today it would be a vizio or westing house or some cheaper one. Not that I cannot tell the difference but LCDs are crap period, every one of them. They still have alot of development to go. So you have to ask yourself why pay much more to get small increases in picture quality that will be royally blown away by the technology next year. Maybe its better to just grab a Vizio and let well enough be for a few years. And many many consumers who are knowledgeable think this way.

The LCD market is taking its time improving 1 item at a time so they can keep you buying high priced tvs. And I think many consumers are bored of purchasing an expensive set only to have it out dated in a year.

Second as some said Visio does not make anything they just sell the TVs that are made to order for them so it is great that the high paid execs are paying taxes in the US but other then that all the cash is going to china. On the other hand when you buy a Sony/Samsung you do not even get exec salaries in the US so in the end as terrible as it sounds maybe Visio is better for the US.

Also at one time all these guys were just like Visio I remember when samsung was a bargain brand, but over time through circumstances like these the low priced seller builds cash and eventually they start developing unique products to increase profits and please shareholders. And one day Visio might be making ram.




RE: Couple things
By Nfarce on 5/8/2009 10:39:36 PM , Rating: 2
1) It's in the components that make the difference. Sony, Samsung, and LG use better quality components than lower tier LCD manufacturers. Period. End of story.

2) Any negative comments about "profits" and "execs" to me are worthless and bespeak an agenda.


RE: Couple things
By QueBert on 5/11/2009 2:14:47 AM , Rating: 2
Vizio used LG panels, so unless LG produces a special crappy panel just for Vizio an LG next to a Vizio will be pretty similar. You do know that MOST lower tier lcd manufacturers don't actually manufacture their own panels. They outsource. So would having a Samsung logo printed on a LCD magically make it better than a lower tier who used Samsung panels?


Well....the Walmart domination continues
By SunAngel on 5/8/2009 3:02:48 PM , Rating: 2
Who would ever had thought the day would come when the lowly masses at Walmart would buy enough lcd tvs to make a difference.

Who the hell is Vizio anyways? A cloaked Toshiba?

Well it just goes to show that any statistical information gathered from reading posts here on DT is something that can not be depended on. Most here talk about their Westinghouses or their Sonys or their Samsungs or their ... anything but Vizio.

Can anyone accurately guess if posts here are biased towards anything other than brandname stuff (i.e. XBox360, PS3, Microsoft, Apple - well...i am aware of the Apple resentment here and the PS3)? I'm just saying it seems DT's followers are lightyears away from normal folk.




By Nfarce on 5/8/2009 10:35:14 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
I'm just saying it seems DT's followers are lightyears away from normal folk.


Uhm, yeah. You've got the eye of an eagle dude. This is no Consumer Reports or shopping.MSN.com website for bored housewives.


Deja vu on this topic...
By Nfarce on 5/8/2009 1:02:16 PM , Rating: 2
I believe many months ago similar arguments got started when Vizio announced it was pulling out of the plasma market. That said, to each his/her own.

Let's be honest here: just like we PC enthusiasts/builders are an extreme minority among PC owners when it comes to knowing details and high tech specs and squeaking out every last frame for a shooter, so it is with audio/videophiles. You have your average consumer Dell buyers, and then you have us that frequent AT and other hardware sites and want the best - home built or otherwise.

For LCD TVs, you have your Vizio/Magnavox/Insignia buyers, and then you have your Samsung/Sony enthusiasts. The majority of households will find a lower tier LCD TV perfectly acceptable, especially budget acceptable. However, there are others who would prefer to spend more (and/or can do that) on a better TV and can tell the difference not even in a side by side comparison at the store. That's what separates your enthusiasts from your basic consumer.

That's not to say Vizio LCD owners aren't enthusiasts - maybe they are and they just can't swing the extra several hundred bucks (me, if I were already going to spend $ XXX.xx on a 1080p 40" Vizio LCD (for example), I'd just as well find a way to up another few hundred clams on a damn good one - but, that's just me).

Anyone who is saying that the Vizio or any other lower tier LCD TV is truly comparable to the upper quality LCDs is really just kidding himself.




RE: Deja vu on this topic...
By tjr508 on 5/9/2009 6:03:39 PM , Rating: 2
A lot of your high end audio nuts will never spend more than a hundred or two on an amplifier. The money instead goes towards driver components (ScanSpeak, Eton, Seas, Morel, etc.)

If the quality difference is less than what the human ear/eye/whatever detects, then it's clearly not worth it.


vizio?
By kyuubi82 on 5/9/2009 2:13:37 PM , Rating: 1
the only reason why vizio is able to surpass a company like samsung is because times are rough. most people still want to live an elegant life style with the newest gadget but can't afford the things they really want to they end up buying cheaper make/model items. a low end samsung/sony model compared to a mid/high end vizio are about equal in picture quality. i do understand that dollar for dollar you're probably going to get a larger screen by buying the vizio over a sony or samsung. but in a society that values namebrand over generic names, in the end you're better off buying from a company that's been around for a while. that and if you read enough post/reviews on certain companies, you would know that 60%-85% of most people that purchase a vizio usually complain about it later. why? because most vizio burn out within a year or the screen just stops working. i can say this because i've own a vizio, winning it from a raffle and even though it's about $200 cheaper and larger then my samsung i'd be happy to pay that amount to get a GREAT flatscreen versus a eh! flatscreen...




RE: vizio?
By jconan on 5/10/2009 11:20:33 PM , Rating: 2
"because times are rough. most people still want to live an elegant life style with the newest gadget but can't afford the things they really want to they end up buying cheaper make/model items."

that must explain why there are so many kirfs especially in china


Competitive advantage rules
By manager2 on 5/8/2009 4:34:56 PM , Rating: 2
Goto the link in the Walmart search box then type Vizio the facts are the facts. http://dlservicesincservices.com




Before & After
By btc909 on 5/10/2009 11:16:53 AM , Rating: 2
If you compare what the consumer is using now for a TV & Vizio; the Vizio is probably a major upgrade compared to what they were using. I personally will buy a Samsung.




I'm not suprised.
By JackBurton on 5/8/09, Rating: -1
RE: I'm not suprised.
By cmdrdredd on 5/9/2009 5:15:49 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I'm not surprised Vizo sells more TVs. However, that doesn't say much more than, well, they sells more TVs. With the recession, people still want to be cool and say they have a "flat screen TV" but don't have the money to buy a quality TV, so they settle on a Vizio. If you want a cheap set, Vizios are a good choice for a low end TV. However, if you want a quality set, you'll be looking for a Samsung, Sony or Panasonic. IMO, people that buy Vizios are just people that can't afford a good set but still want to be cool and say they bought a "flat screen." Sorry, the statement still hold true, "you get what you pay for."


That's very true. The thing is, Vizio can post 1080p FULL HD in big bold letters next to a 37" LCD and stick a price of $750 on it and put it next to a Samsung 37" TV that is also 1080p. The Vizio will sell because the Samsung is $900.

Having said that, those who know more about a TV than what the little white sticker with quick specs (ridiculous claims of 70,000:1 contrast and whatnot), know that Samsung electronics are better built. I've seen many Vizio TVs with gaps in the bezel and buzzing from the rear of the TV. The quality isn't there for a well informed buyer.


RE: I'm not suprised.
By xxsk8er101xx on 5/11/2009 6:28:05 PM , Rating: 1
what's amusing is that i know 5 people with a Vizio TV. I do not know a single person that doesn't like their TV. Not one vizio TV has the buzzing problem you mensioned. Samsung on the other hand. I know 1 person that bought a samsung TV and he's pretty pissed off. He bought an LED projection TV from samsung and the green LED burnt out. It was less than a year old TV.

So this bullshit about higher quality from samsung is just that, bullshit.

There's no such thing as "higher quality" it's simply "fanboyism". Normal people on the other hand buys whatever is cheaper. It's a TV they all function the same way.

I hate this richmans bullshit that you need the higher expensive stuff to get the higher quality. It's nonsense!

Fanboyism isn't bad. It's only bad when you insult others about it.


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