The Vizio brand of big flat-screen TVs might be most associated with big-box membership chain Costco rather than high-falutin’ home theater installation professionals, but you’ve ot to give them points for successfully generating buzz for low price points for big-budget home entertainment gear. For “Black Friday” the company dropped 32- and 37-inch displays under $1,000, and now its rolling out its GV47LF 47-inch LCD display for $1,899.99—with support for 1080p resolution.
“Vizio is becoming known for combining industry-leading features, visually striking exteriors, unbeatable value and industry-leading costumer support—our latest television is a great example,” states Jeff Schindler, V, Inc. VP of Marketing and Business Operations. “This 47-inch LCD features the latest in Vizio’s Gallevia “picture-frame” industrial design and comes with our unique “zero bright-pixel” defect guarantee and free 1-year onsite service.”
The GV47LF features a 1,920 by 1,080 resolution, 500 cd/m2 brightness, an 800:1 contrast ratio, 178° viewing angle, and an 8 ms response time—all tucked inside a translucent silver and black cabinet with touch-sensitive control keys. Also on board: an ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner, and a decent selection of inputs: two each for HDMI, component, and composite inputs, and coax RF and S-Video inputs. The unit also sports 5.1 audio output via S/PDIF, standard analog audio output, along with removable speakers and stand. Vizio also offers flush, tilting, and swing-out wall mounts and swing-out wall mounts.
Vizio says it’s jumped from the 18th slot in flat panel TV sales in the third quarter of 2005 to the #10 brand in the third quarter of 2006; offering big 1080p displays under $2,000 may help make 2007 a banner year for the company.
