Yama hama, here’s a pretty sweet deal on a gigantic plasma TV. Vizio is selling its 50-inch P50 model for $799 with free shipping until April 15th (or until they sell out). → Read More
Vizio, a long time favorite brand of bargain hunters and geeks alike, has stopped slapping their logo on plasma TVs. Plus, there is no plan to order more once the current inventory runs outs. The cut is, of course, due to plamsa’s poor sales in comparison to the companies LCD sales. Which is, of course, due to poor consumer information and as bright as the sun’s surface showrooms. → Read More
After announcing viewers will be able to access Netflix movies directly from new LG HDTVs just two days ago, Netflix has done it again. This time, new owners of special Vizio TVs will be able to watch Netflix movies with no additional hardware necessary. → Read More
Funai has been in the news a lot lately with taking over Philips home theater biz and developing new LCD technology, but the companies recent lawsuit is extremely notable. Apparently the company just won its lawsuit that claims 14 companies are infringing on a Funai patent. The court has yet to decide wether these TVs all going to be banned from entering the U.S. of A. So it’s hard to say what’s going to happen to Vizio, Amtran, Proview, TPV, Top Victory Electronics, Envision, Syntax-Brillian, and Taiwan Kolin. Dare the courts ban the sales of these HDTVs during the important 4th quarter? → Read More
Silver TVs are out, black TVs are everywhere, and so Vizio is breaking the mold with its JAVA-colored Evolution line of LCD TVs. These two sets are based on the VO lineup and adds the different color bezel option along with slightly upgrading some specs. The 37-inch VOF370F ups the brightness to 500 cd/m2 and the contrast ratio to 1300:1 from the previous generations 450 cd/m2 and 1100:1; the 32-inch VOJ320F sports similar upgrades with 480 cd/m2 and 1300:1 tech specs. The 37- and 32-inch models should drop sometime this month in the standard Vizio distribution channel for $849.99 and 649.99, respectively. → Read More
If you’re like me, you’re extremely cheap. And that means you put off buying everything until it’s ridiculously low-priced or used. That means waiting a long time usually, but the payoff is that you get everything those other jokers got, plus more, for a quarter of the price. For instance: this Vizio 32-inch 720p plasma costs $600, exactly a quarter what my parents paid for a much poorer quality one a couple years ago. Plasma is no longer the leading technology, of course, but I’m not as much of a stickler about that. The 42-inch model costs $800, which I think is a better deal. Both have similar stats and a 30,000:1 contrast ratio. If LCD is more your style, they have some reasonably priced ones along that line as well. These have the 120Hz smoothing technology, which I’d want to see first as some companies’ versions are better than others. Still, 1080p with 120Hz for probably a little over a grand is a pretty decent deal. → Read More
Amtran, the Taiwan-based, majority shareholder of Vizio who happens to be the biggest manufacturer for the US-based brand is adamant that royalties for the compression technology had been paid for. In fact, the licensing fees had been paid to MPEG LA between Q4 of 2007 and Q1 of 2008, says Amtran. → Read More
I had no idea this had even happened. Anyone else? Irvine, CA – June 5, 2008 – VIZIO, the fastest growing brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America, announced today that it is aware of a suit filed June 2, 2008 in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan by several electronics company competitors alleging that VIZIO failed to enter into a licensing agreement for MPEG-2 video compression technology. VIZIO’s suppliers have licenses for the MPEG-2 patents, and VIZIO believes that these licenses extend to VIZIO’s products. VIZIO has notified its suppliers of the lawsuit and expects full support and cooperation by them in the defense of the lawsuit. Accordingly, VIZIO does not believe that the suit will have a material adverse impact on VIZIO’s business. VIZIO is working to resolve this matter with the plaintiffs and its suppliers, and it intends to defend its legal rights with vigor. → Read More
The above picture pretty much explains it all. CompUSA is clearing everything out and here’s your chance to cash in. It’s only the 720p player but when you factor in the seven movies it’s not too bad a deal at $90. But you want the 1080p player don’t you? Yeah, I thought so. There’s even a deal on a 1080p Vizio. Check it out after the jump. Thanks for sending this in Alex C. → Read More
I’m going to save you the shenenigans and snark by just pasting what Vizio sent us. Essentially, they’ve got 32-inch plasmas for $689 and 50-inchers for $1,399 — 1080p, naturally — and a few new surround sound systems and LCDs. They have a new LCD line called Envy which is a little sexier than the standard line. We’ll hit the booth tomorrow to see what is really up over there. → Read More
I know most of you are doing or at least attempting to do your holiday shopping this week or next so here’s a little something to help you in your cause. Wal*Mart is having a secret in-store sale tomorrow at 8AM. Is there anything special in the secret sale? Of course there is. I’ve got my eye on a 50-inch Plasma from Vizio for $998 though, it’s only 720p. There’s a minimum of 1 per store for this item. A 40GB PS3 with a free $50 gift card is $399 with a minimum of 2 per store. A Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player is $298 with 12 free HD DVDs. Odds are a little better on this one with a minimum of 5 per store. It’s pretty hit or miss on this one, but maybe you’ll get lucky. Wal*Mart [via Slashgear] → Read More
OK, when I first got wind of this rumor a couple days ago, I dismissed it. It’s something that I chalked up to background chatter. The thing is, I got a second email today from another source who’s always been right, so now this thing is looking more like a real deal. Rumormonger One told me that Vizio, you know, the HDTV guys, were getting ready to build hard drives into their TVs. Whatever, wanky wanky. But then Rumormonger Two emails me saying something similar. Not HDs built into the sets, but rather complimentary units that play DVDs, output surround sound, and act as a DVR. I called a source who’s a buyer here in Seattle for a major retailer, and she said she’d heard people talking about something similar, so it’s plausible. If true, it would be the first non-TV product (other than a few accessories) that Vizio would offer. We know that the scrappy Vizio is the unlikely marketshare leader in HDTVs in the USA. It sounds like its planning on parlaying that success to branch out in more directions, which we’re for: Vizio makes great HDTVs we can actually afford. We’ve got our sweaty tentacles all up in Vizio’s grill trying to track down more information. We’ll post it up here when we get it. → Read More
Quick question: As of today, which company is the top-selling flat panel HDTV brand in the US? Sony? Nope — your Bravia may be nice, but it’s not number one. Panasonic? Nah. And nope, it’s not Sharp, LG, Samsung, or Philips either. The answer: Vizio. A company that didn’t exist 4 years ago and, unlike all of the companies above, is actually based in the United States. According to the market research firm DisplaySearch, Vizio was ranked number 15 just 2 years ago. So how did a no-name brand based in California beat out the giants of Seoul and Tokyo? Really, in hindsight, considering all of the factors blowing behind them, it would have been remarkable if they didn’t. → Read More
Four years ago, you might have guessed that VIZIO was some sort of graphic design company or electric scooter manufacturer. It toiled about in relative obscurity until for a couple years and, at the end of the second quarter of 2005, the company sat in 15th place in the North American flat panel TV market. Another two years have gone by since then, and VIZIO’s now the top dog. → Read More
I just finished spending a few months with a Vizio HDTV and for the price, you really can’t complain too much. Those with a thirst for the big screen and a small budget will be excited to know that Vizio will be selling its new 52-inch model online and at Costco stores next month. Word from Taiwan is that the set uses the same exact LCD panels used by LG Philips. Though not cheap by any means, it’s certainly one of the cheaper 52-inch LCD TVs available, coming in at $2200. Also, by year’s end, Vizio will be offering a 40-inch LCD HDTV that uses Sony and Samsung’s S-LCD technology. No word yet on price, but this is sure to keep increasing Vizio’s market presence as a strong competitor in the HDTV world. Sure there are plenty of TVs to choose from, but only so many are priced for those on a budget. Vizio-brand 52-inch LCD TV to arrive next month [DigiTimes] → Read More
