[opendtv] Re: Barriers eroding to LCD TV adoption
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 10:08:28 -0400
Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> >I said *at least*. There's a big premium in making boxes stand-alone,
> >which includes power supply, connectors, switches, the case,
> >inventory and shipping costs, separate safety tests, and so forth.
>
> Sorry, but I don't buy your argument. Yes a stand alone box may have
> a few components that are already in place in a TV, but volume does
> make a huge difference, even for connectors et al.
Is this the argument that says you lose some on each item, but volume
makes up for it?
> For example, they had a 20" flat CTR Receiver for $129. This was not
> your usual discount special. It had front panel jacks for audio and
> composite video in, rear panel loop through jacks for audio/composite
> video, a third composite video input, an S-video input, and component
> video inputs.
I don't understand your point. If that cheap TV you're talking about
were built as two separate boxes, one tuner with audio and video
jacks, and one monitor with video inputs and perhaps a built-in audio
system, how much would it cost? Never mind if the audio system has
to be another set of separate enclosures.
Do you really believe the two or more boxes would total $129? That's
what I'm getting at. In the real world of manufacturing electronic
components, cutting down on the number of separate boxes is the
first step you have to take if you're interested in price reductions.
This is true for all electronics, not just CE products.
If you're saying that the $129 could not possibly have incorporated
an ATSC front end today, I'd say sure. But it does incorporate an
NTSC tuner, right? Who in his right mind would have insisted on
keeping the NTSC front end as a separate box, if he were interested
in producing a low-cost product?
The only hope of ever getting back to $129 TV sets with digital will
be to package it in a similar way, *NOT* to create a product
category that must only come as a high-end separates. We've been over
this many many times. Hifi stereo separates are great, but that
doesn't preclude the existence of cheaper all-in-one radios.
And, I won't repeat myself, don't forget that the digital front
end has to exist *somewhere*.
Bert
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts: