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Local Super Bowl party shoppers getting pleasant surprise in lower prices for high-definition TVs Date published: 2/3/2007
By MICHAEL ZITZ Not long ago, if you had to ask how much an LCD or plasma big-screen, high-definition TV cost, you couldn't afford it. Good high-end TVs put as much of a dent in consumer pocketbooks as low-end economy cars. In electronics stores, the term "sticker shock" wasn't hyperbole. That's beginning to change. As shoppers in the Fredericksburg area look for new HDTVs to impress friends at their Super Bowl parties, they're seeing a decline in prices. Brian Pulis, manager of the Tweeter store at Central Park, says that at this time last year, customers could expect to pay $6,000 to $9,000 for a quality big-screen set. Projection-style big screen TVs have been cheaper, but the picture quality is not as good. "Now you can get a good 42-inch LCD or plasma for under $2,000," Pulis said. He said prices have fallen gradually over the past year. The Big Screen Store at Central Park is offering a 62-inch Mitsubishi LCD HDTV for $1,999. That's a special promotional price for the game, Big Screen Store sales associate Doug Manto said, not a reflection of overall price decreases. "But prices have definitely come down" in general," Manto said. Many stores are promising big-screen TV delivery and installation in time for the Super Bowl. Traditionally, the Big Game has been a big driver in national TV sales. Tweeter's Pulis said Sunday's parties seem to motivate buyers, but he doesn't believe the Super Bowl is as big a driver for TV sales in the Fredericksburg area as NASCAR. He believes the exception would be if the Washington Redskins or Baltimore Ravens were in the Super Bowl. Michael Zitz: 540/374-5408 Email: mikez@freelancestar.com
Date published: 2/3/2007
The idea that 1080i is half the resolution of 1080p is a bogus notion. In terms of pixel resolution they are exactly the same. It is the REFRESH RATE that is halved on 1080i, since in 1080i, only every other other line of pixels is refreshed wereas in 1080p, the whole picture is refreshed on each frame. This link (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6361600-1.html) on CNET is a goo overview of the 1080p vs 1080i discussion. But still, if you can swing it, a 1080p set is the way to go these days
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