HDTV: when to buy?

[DarkAmeba]

Ok, I apologize if this is an ignorant question, but I have found information supporting both views, and I personally have no clue how this market works. I have heard that the big TV sales only occur around the Superbowl, so I am concerned. Basically, I am in the market for an LCD TV for an apartment I will be moving into in September of this year. I know that the tv I want is the Samsung LN46A650. I also am aware that Samsung traditionally updates their models in July. I have no use for the TV until September. There have been some very tempting sales on this model lately. My question is: if I wait until August/September to make my purchase, are the odds good that I will be able to buy this model or its updated version for a price similar to the current sale prices. (~1300) Even if it costs a few hundred dollars more, it would probably be worth it to have the new version, I just don't want to get stuck paying $2000 for a TV. Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Bill Brasky]

The only reason I would wait is if there's a specific feature you want in the "upgrade." I don't see any point in waiting in the hopes that the upgrade might be better.

If you bought now, you would still plug it in and enjoy the new tv, right?

Excellent choice, btw. I bought mine during the holidays from amazon, and the picture is stunning.

 

[driftwood07]

if you can stand to wait the 8 months i dont think you will have anything but the same television at even cheaper, or a better version for about the same price. if you were talking about pulling the trigger during a sale now, versus waiting 1 month id say just get it now. but from now all the way until september you can only do better by waiting. if you dont have that 'i want it now' bug (especially if you cant even use it) i'd just worry about it later. i say this because ive bought electronics before on what i thought was a great sale, even thought i couldnt use them for about 2 months down the line. during that time i saw the price go down nearly every week and beat myself up over it while staring at my expensive paperweight. if you can use the tv now its a different story though.

 

[sivart]

most TV manufacturers release new models in the early spring / late spring time frame. So closeout deals are to be had in the next couple of months.

 

[DarkAmeba]

Thanks for the replies so far. Exactly the information I've been looking for. I could technically use the TV now, and there is of course the "want it now' temptation, but I really don't have the space for the TV in my current apartment. I'm getting married in September and getting a much bigger apartment as a result, so the new TV will fit then. Right now it would be an overkill. Provided I can get a reasonable price on closeout or in September, there's really no reason not to wait. My only concern is those who say January is the only month to buy TVs due to the super bowl sales, but based on the replies so far, it doesn't seem like I should be concerned about waiting.

 

[krotchy]

Every year for the last couple of years the new models end up costing less or the same as the model they replace, only the have better PQ and more features to boot. If you can wait until the 2009 model refresh you will definitely be able to pick up a better TV for the same price.

Also pre-superbowl the prices of TV's actually tend to go up instead of down compared to Christmas at least.

Last year I followed the price of the Samsung 5271 (Replaced by the 52A650)
November/December: $2150 (Christmas sales)
Janaury-May: $2300 to $2600 (Super bowl prices were the highest)
April: 52A650 released at $3000, can be found for $2500 within a week and the 5271 was up around 2600 still
May: down to $2250 on the A650

 

[IGBT]

..I'm waiting for the next gen sets that don't have an analog tuner(dual tuner). Existing HDTV's with dual tuners are transitional sets. The next gen will only have digital tuners because the analog spectrum will be reassigned.

 

[sivart]

Originally posted by: IGBT
..I'm waiting for the next gen sets that don't have an analog tuner(dual tuner). Existing HDTV's with dual tuners are transitional sets. The next gen will only have digital tuners because the analog spectrum will be reassigned.

Don't hold your breath. There are still low power TV stations that will operate on the analog band for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't bet on seeing any ATSC/QAM tuner only TV's until about 2015 if not later.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: sivart

Originally posted by: IGBT
..I'm waiting for the next gen sets that don't have an analog tuner(dual tuner). Existing HDTV's with dual tuners are transitional sets. The next gen will only have digital tuners because the analog spectrum will be reassigned.

Don't hold your breath. There are still low power TV stations that will operate on the analog band for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't bet on seeing any ATSC/QAM tuner only TV's until about 2015 if not later.

..that long. once the x-ition has started (this year) the analog spectrum gets auctioned and new users will be hot to get revenue producing services established. The US is the last to x-ition to digital. it's been ongoing and in prog.nearly every where else in the world that matters.

 

[DarkAmeba]

Is there any disadvantage to having both analog and digital tuners in the TV? That was not a factor I considered at all. (not that it will likely matter to me, as I will be buying this fall no matter what)

A side note: thanks for all of the helpful comments. I've picked up a wealth of information which has made my decision pretty easy 🙂

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: DarkAmeba
Is there any disadvantage to having both analog and digital tuners in the TV? That was not a factor I considered at all. (not that it will likely matter to me, as I will be buying this fall no matter what)

A side note: thanks for all of the helpful comments. I've picked up a wealth of information which has made my decision pretty easy 🙂

..no but I don't want to pay for circuitry that won't be used in a short while. I suspect the next gen sets will have other usefull features in place of the dead end analog tuner.