[opendtv] Re: News: DIRECTV Sued Over HDTV Picture Quality



Craig Birkmaier wrote:
> Maybe it's time for Mark to start tracking the sales of computers with
> displays that are 20" or larger...
>

I do most of my home computing, web browsing, etc. from an arm chair watching a screen projected 4' high on the wall in front of me in my living room. It's also my only (HD)TV I use now.

But I suspect that may still be the exception.

Most computer use is still designed for the user to sit at a typing distance from the screen and keyboard. This means close enough that you are easily less than 3 screen heights from the display even with a 20" monitor. Until computer users start sitting further back from the display there is little reason to think they will be using large displays in the offices & bedrooms.

- Tom


At 6:59 PM -0700 9/24/06, Frank Eory wrote:

I understand Mark's math that says it will take 10+ years to replace all the analog sets, but I contend that all the analog sets don't need to be replaced! Consumers won't necessarily run out and buy a new DTV set to replace every bedroom or kitchen TV set they own, but that doesn't mean they're going to buy ATSC STBs either. If you are a real optimist, the TAM for those STBs might be in the 10's of millions of units. But it might be much much lower than that. The fact that all new TV sets have (or will by then have) DTT tuners is a factor. The fact that most consumers will never use those DTT tuners is an even bigger factor.

-- Frank


Here's another possibility that has not been factored into the equation. Many of these old NTSC receivers are in bedrooms, dens, etc., where they are now sharing the space with a computer.

There are two possible scenarios for replacement of these old NTSC sets:

1. Consumers will buy flat screen TVs (typically 25" - 32" LCD panels) to replace the old TV.

2. Consumers will buy a dual use appliance (TV and Computer) to replace the old TV and old computer.

If downloading content from the Internet becomes a viable alternative to cable and DBS, I would expect the second option to be the one that most consumers will favor.

Maybe it's time for Mark to start tracking the sales of computers with displays that are 20" or larger...

Note that Apple is now selling iMacs with 17, 20 and 24" displays. Actually this is a slight misnomer, as the computer and DVD drive are integrated with the display.

This brings up another interesting point.

What is the relative cost of adding a computer and DVD drive to a display versus an ATSC/cable ready tuner?

What is the perceived value of that computer to the consumer versus the TV tuners?

Regards
Craig


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--
Tom Barry                       trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx     
Find my resume and video filters at www.trbarry.com


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