[opendtv] Wal-Mart Visit

From: John Willkie <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 22:39:20 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Yesterday, I visited two local Wal-Mart stores looking for chips and salsa.  
Didn't find a good choice or price (I guess these aren't big items in Arkansas.)

I did find a few TV sets.

Last year, when I visited the Wal-Mart in Elko, NV, I found 27" analog tv sets 
for about $220.

This year, I didn't find any analog TV sets larger than 13".  Those color units 
sold for $60.

What I did find was a large selection of SDTV and HDTV sets, each (despite 
confusing POS materials) with 8-VSB and QAM tuners.  The cheapest was a 27" 
SDTV unit for $276.  That one (confusing labeling) seemed to suggest that 480I 
was available as an add-on, and suggested a TV stand purchase.

I didn't see ANY monitors for sale, but the confusing POS materials didn't 
help.  Several indicated a set could receive "over the air QAM" and some such 
rot.

The POS materials for the HDTV units specifically said "includes integrated 
ATSC/QAM tuner."  Some of the HDTV unit screens were the same size or smaller 
than the largest SDTV units, but with a price delta of $400 or more.

Brands?  ILO, Philips, Akai, Magnavox (13" analog) and others. I'd never heard 
of ILO, maybe it's like Fry's "General (Generic) Computer" or GC.  However, had 
very clear labeling on the box.

There were no over the air broadcasts available, and I doubt that they have a 
cable connection (this being Wal-Mart), but the (seemingly NTSC) media loop 
contained a promo for Good Morning America's only HDTV morning show broadcasts.)

Other point of sale materials mentioned SDTV was a good value point.

The boxes had better information.  One had a logo like the old recycling logo, 
indicating "receives digital signals/receives current signals."

I looked carefully,and didn't see any digital STBs on sale.  I did notice a 
"near HDTV" DVD recorder.

I thought about the $50 price differential over last year's analog sets.  The 
$40 DTV STB vouchers seem like a bad idea in this context, if they can't be 
used to offset the price of buying an SDTV set.

Indeed, why would the average Joe or Jane want to buy a $169 STB when for $100 
more they could have a 27" inch TV set that could be upgraded to "480i?"  For 
$20 more, they could have an ILO 32" set, with ATSC, NTSC and QAM tuner.

Because 5th generation tuners are that much better?  Seems to matter only in 
non-cable, non-satellite households.

John Willkie

 
 
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[opendtv] Wal-Mart Visit

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