Black day for Pioneer as it pulls the plug on plasma

[The News Bot]

Pioneer is to pull out of plasma panel production. That’s the news from Tokyo today, as the company has put its PDP business on ‘review’. The likely upshot is that the brand’s highly regarded Kuro screens will be junked and the super-black screen prototype shown at the last CES will never come to market. The [...]
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[Matt306]

It's not the 1st of April is it?

A big shame indeed if true. The new screens looked very promising. I can't help but think that if Pioneer's weren't so expensive they might not be in this position. If they'd have been as competitive as Panasonic on pricing, my choice of screen would have been much harder.

[Manxstar]

Oh Dear.........
With Fujitsu pulling out recently, thus leaving Pioneer as the only higher end option, I'm starting to wonder what's going on with the plasma tech...
All we need now is Panasonic to pull the plug LOL...God help us plasma lovers.

[Dav1dF]

AV Zombie scaremongering once again........

Reading between the lines, which most people won't do, it states PDP is on 'review. And as for the 'likely upshot', why not report facts rather than guessing and worsening an already confused market?

Is AV Zombie anti-plasma?

[luca_37inchlcd]

Originally Posted by Dav1dF

AV Zombie scaremongering once again........

Reading between the lines, which most people won't do, it states PDP is on 'review. And as for the 'likely upshot', why not report facts rather than guessing and worsening an already confused market?

Is AV Zombie anti-plasma?

Yes on review but probs gonna be out..

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/04/p...asma-business/

[Dav1dF]

They can guess all they like, but nothing's set in concrete until 7th March.....

[punkymunky]

Am I the only one who was expecting this, Pioneer's PDP manoeuvres in the last couple of years have always smacked of a business gambling it's final hand.

I mourned the loss of Fujitsu but they failed to shift in a changing market, I am less bothered about Pioneer as I've never been convinced by the hype. On the plus side for Pioneer fanboys, perhaps Panasonic will snap up their coveted technicians.

[Manxstar]

Originally Posted by punkymunky

Am I the only one who was expecting this, Pioneer's PDP manoeuvres in the last couple of years have always smacked of a business gambling it's final hand.

I mourned the loss of Fujitsu but they failed to shift in a changing market, I am less bothered about Pioneer as I've never been convinced by the hype. On the plus side for Pioneer fanboys, perhaps Panasonic will snap up their coveted technicians.

I'm glad someone has got the balls to say what I've been thinking of saying....

[Helicon]

Originally Posted by punkymunky

I mourned the loss of Fujitsu but they failed to shift in a changing market

Fujitsu were at the top of the plasma tree because they refused to shift - it was the price driven public's refusal to buy quality screens that finished them off.

[Simba]

maybe they will venture into oled lcd and last it out making premium lcds....until they are forced to stop that too lol

[Helicon]

It's possibly the only chance of a half decent looking LCD tv.

[Manxstar]

Originally Posted by Helicon

It's possibly the only chance of a half decent looking LCD tv.

By the time they get LCD to look half decent they're be another tech on the horizon.

[Helicon]

There's a thought........

Maybe it's a secret global conspiracy to wipe out plasmas on the old 'power consumption' argument.....who's that banging on my door?

[senu]

Originally Posted by Helicon

Fujitsu were at the top of the plasma tree because they refused to shift - it was the price driven public's refusal to buy quality screens that finished them off.

Nothing to do with prices then? Pioneer Plasmas are fab but I find thier Prices very hard to justify
For all its "imperfections" the latest 1080p 24p 100Hz 46" Samsung LCDs actually displaying SD quite well and HD very well indeed, the ( er.. superior) Plasmas need to make a serious case for them selves to justify costing 2-4X as much

Marketing apart ( not JP refusing to buy quality), I assure you that the public is often more discerning if the price is right.

[willharris10]

If Pioneer stop that'll be the best plasma screen by far out of production.

There is no-one out there making screens as good. No-one.

But, they're over priced. So I doubt they're selling well. Samsung is the value choice and Panasonic the upmarket choice. Pioneer as the posh choice and the Rolls Royce of screens is probably fighting over too small a niche at their prices. Shame as they are by far and away the best panels.