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US plasma TV sales hurt Hitachi

$560.5 million loses
Wed May 14 2008, 07:22

THE JAPANESE electronics outfit with a name like a bloke sneezing, Hitachi, said that it is suffering because US punters do not want to buy plasma televisions these days.

Hitachi said it lost $560.5 million in the financial year which ended in March versus a loss of 32.8 billion yen the previous year.

Although the outfit claims it will make a profit this year, worldwide sales have dropped down the loo thanks to sales in the US being so slow.

In Japan, sales of Plasma tellies were fine, Hitachi spokesman Masayuki Takeuchi told Associated Press.

However he didn't give any more details on US sales of plasma TVs and quite why they were so pants. µ

L'Inq
AP

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Comments
Hitachi Plasmas

Maybe the American consumer is much more savvy and after doing his research finds that he prefers Panasonic plasma sets over all other manufacturers.

posted by : Wally Johnn, 15 May 2008 Complain about this comment
hitachi = meh

in the us, no one wants a hitachi tv regardless. 

here its all about the pioneers and pannys for plasma.

posted by : 900o, 14 May 2008 Complain about this comment
Plasma Sucks A Lot of Energy

plasma power consumption tends to be much higher than LCDs or even CRTs

posted by : Vijay, 14 May 2008 Complain about this comment
We must be stupid...

Gee... Americans picking the more power conserving option, LCD flat panels over the plasmas. who would of thought it?

We didn't even have a benevolent government force us.

posted by : NoRespect, 14 May 2008 Complain about this comment
No shocka

Hitachi et al should not be so perplexed. LCD panels now look just as good as plasma panels unless you're running them in direct sunlight and they offer competitive viewing angles, plus the LCD panels are thinner, far lighter, suffer less burn-in, run cooler and consume less energy. And after the early years of plasma panels having been far more costly to the consumer, the relatively recent price corrections just cannot overcome the lost momentum.

The real question I think should be why plasma remains popular in Japan. Are they size queens seeking out larger panels? Are they playing video games on them? Not a clue.

posted by : Brad, 14 May 2008 Complain about this comment
Wheres' D' GLASS?

After So Many Articles on LCD Vs. Plasma & Sony Up & Quiting ALL Plasma, Now additional Plasma Losses, Its LCD World. However....

Wheres GLASS theINQ has told US about, Generation after Generation. Theres NO Glass in my LCD Screen, Its ALL PLASTIC. Ya-

Screen Plastic 100% Scratchable. Everything else is Plastic too, So wheres this Generation 8.5 Glass? Did someone forget Glass? In same Node, WHY Have Glass When Plastic Will Do?
Dosn't that mean this lcd stuff is bit overpriced due to some NOT Needed GLASS? Eva without Glass if picture bright,(& cheap) its winner.
drashek

posted by : Glassless, 14 May 2008 Complain about this comment
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