Hitachi delays decision on new plasma plant

Written by James Delahunty @ 05 Feb 2007 7:50 User comments (16)

Hitachi, the world's 5th largest producer of plasma display technology, has announced it has postponed a decision on building its next plasma display factory. The company has now given itself until year's end to reach a decision on the next plant, as it struggles to keep up with rivals, including plasma TV leader Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.

The delay has been caused by price declines in the flat TV industry. Hitachi spokesman, Masayuki Takeuchi, said the company can meet the demands by doubling capacity through its two existing plants in Japan, to an annual 4 million panels by December.

The prices of Plasma TVs have been put under pressure from dropping prices in the LCD marker from manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd and LG.Philips LCD Co. Ltd. Only last week, Pioneer Corp. announced delays in the production of a new plasma display factory also.

Source:
Reuters

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16 user comments

15.2.2007 08:54

Mr-Movies

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Smart move on Hitachi's part with Laser and 3-D TV's comming soon it would be a waste to have a dedicated factory for possibly a short market time. When more MFG's get on board and produce LCD's like Sony's quality, Plasma's will go away not to mention that laser TV's will donimate the market when they come out in the next couple years. With exception to Sony LCD's, it's not worth messing with anything 40" or bigger due to pixellation issues.

25.2.2007 11:24

solarf

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I agree good move on their behalf.

35.2.2007 11:24

solarf

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I agree good move on their behalf.

45.2.2007 12:08

hughjars

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If there's any justice LCD will die a quick death.

Nobody makes one worth buying.

The contrast ratios are a joke.

SED, OLED and laser have genuine potential but LCD is a passing fad for idiots spell-bound by them being flat and thinner than the old CRT TVs.

They're really not that good at all. None of them.

55.2.2007 12:32

BobbyBlu

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Quote:
If there's any justice LCD will die a quick death. Nobody makes one worth buying. The contrast ratios are a joke. SED, OLED and laser have genuine potential but LCD is a passing fad for idiots spell-bound by them being flat and thinner than the old CRT TVs. They're really not that good at all. None of them.

LOL...i guess you & me was born not to agree on anything.Show me any Plasma that can standup to any Sony,Samsung, or Sharp LCD.Plasma has a short life span alot of heat & burn-in issue still not fixed to this day.

65.2.2007 13:26

hughjars

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Stop trying to bring everything down to an 'either or' comparison to some over-priced bl**dy Sony cr@p.

The fact is that LCDs (no matter who makes them) all have really low crappy contrast ratios, they usually have serious colour issues and invariably problems with back-light ghosting and handling fast moving objects.

(and they also have backlight life-time issues too....which for some reason you neglected to mention whilst doing your Sony shill routine, again)

Seriously I could care less whether the Sony is slightly better than a plasma from *whoever* or someone else's LCD
(plasmas don't impress me much either).

My point was that I look forward to LCDs (as they now are) vanishing asap.

If they're capable of being markedly improved then fair enough.....but they're (all) a hell of a long way off of being what I'd call 'good'.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 05 Feb 2007 @ 1:26

75.2.2007 14:21

domie

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moving back on topic which is a new plasma plant and not a plasma vs LCD bun fight, it's not surprising they are delaying it. whateevr technology you have it seems that plasma is on the way out to be replaced by new laser technology. by the way, i have a plasma hitachi and a toshiba lcd and i'm quite happy with them both :)

85.2.2007 14:27

UHALL

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For once I agree with Bobbyblu, LCD is a much better TV I have Owned all of the above Plasma and LCD. I no longer own the plasma it died after the warranty stoped. My LCD had a clearer and sharper picture side by side. My Sony LCD rear projection and my Samsung DLP have a superior picture to The Plasma.I am not a sony fan either, but they make The best TV.

95.2.2007 17:23

daxx03

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With all due respect guys I believe the plasma might be going out but....It still gets better quality than the LCD's,Belive me I have Both 50"mitsubishi plasma and 2 37" Sharp LCD's and for this Sundays BIG SuperBowl nothing was better than the Plasma.

105.2.2007 17:30

UHALL

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You won't change my mind I also owned both and the Plasma 50" could not touch my 60" HD rear projection thru DVI 1080i max resoloution or my samsung DLP 50" 1080p native resoloution the color on my Samsung is Incredible when seen in HD. Everyone has their own opinion .

115.2.2007 17:33

UHALL

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Sony is the 60"Lcd sony makes the best tv,but I can't stand the company.

125.2.2007 20:52

Dela

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All I have to say about the dispute between LDC and Plasma.... especially where contrast ratio is concerned... is this.... LG.Philips last week showed off an LED-backlit LCD panels. The 42" panel offers Full 1080p HD video and.... wait for it..... 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/02/05/lg-philips-demos-47-inch-led-backlit-lcd-with-1-000-000/

136.2.2007 03:03

hughjars

Inactive

Originally posted by Dela:
LG.Philips last week showed off an LED-backlit LCD panels. The 42" panel offers Full 1080p HD video and.... wait for it..... 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/02/05/lg-...with-1-000-000/

- Well exactly.

That's more like it
(even 1/10th of that outstanding performance would be very very nice).

But as for what is out right now, they're nowhere near that?

No thanks.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 06 Feb 2007 @ 3:25

146.2.2007 07:36

BobbyBlu

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Quote:
All I have to say about the dispute between LDC and Plasma.... especially where contrast ratio is concerned... is this....

LG.Philips last week showed off an LED-backlit LCD panels. The 42" panel offers Full 1080p HD video and.... wait for it..... 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio

OMG great post DELA that set got me forming at the mouth i wonder how much it cost.I looking for a LCD panel for my front room this would be good.That set is a beast

157.2.2007 15:07

UHALL

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nice tv probably in the 4000$ to 5000$ range.

1611.2.2007 02:35

mitch999

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This is what will kill off both Plasma and LCD - http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-6148330.html I myself have a 42
" plasma tv that is still going strong and as for burn out? newer plasma tvs don't suffer so much from this anymore.

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Hitachi delays decision on new plasma plant

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