I admit it, I’m an Amazon junkie. I get a lot of what I need off the web, and Amazon is one of the best ecommerce sites out there. I was skeptical when I heard about Amazon Prime and their free trial. Two day shipping free- one day shipping for $3.99. Nope, that’s not a typo, for four bucks you can ship millions of eligible items (items Amazon stocks, as opposed to it’s partners) to your house. Free for a whole month. After that they bill you an ANNUAL fee of $79.
Here’s what Amazon has to say:

Amazon Prime members enjoy the following benefits:
Fast Delivery
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items
• Upgrades to One-Day (Overnight) Shipping for just $3.99 per item

Simple Shopping
• No minimum purchase required
• Members-only 1-Click buttons on product pages
• No need to think about shipping charges

Convenient Sharing
• Members can share benefits with up to four family members living in the same household

Free Trial
• Amazon Prime new subscribers are invited to try Amazon Prime free, for one month.
After the Free Trial period, customers will be automatically charged the $79 annual fee unless they choose not to upgrade to regular annual memberships at or before the end of the trial period.

So I signed up for the free month, figured I’d order a few things and then cancel. Well the membership paid for itself when I ordered a big piece of exercise equipment. I paid an additional $4 for next day service, figuring I’d get an email explaining I couldn’t do that. Nope, next day it showed up on my doorstep. Suddenly I was able to expect 2 day delivery for free. I find myself upgrading to next day service quite a bit, it’s just nice to have what I need exactly when I want it. A month goes by, I did some math and my shipping last year was already over what a prime membership costs- so I took the plunge. I’ve been happily ordering for months- if you regularly order from Amazon it’s worth your time to take a close look at Amazon Prime.

You may not realize it, but you probably use an LCD device every day. If you own a laptop computer, a microwave oven, a modern thermometer, a CD player, or a digital watch, all these are LCD technology. LCD stands for “liquid crystal display.” Look at the numbers displayed on your microwave oven; do you see how crisp and clear they are? How about the dials and numbers on your digital watch? LCD technology beats the traditional cathode ray tube and projection TVs in clarity, resolution and sharpness. Not only is it virtually impossible to mount a clunky cathode ray tube TV on your wall, but tubes wear out quickly and the picture quality of projection TVs is notoriously poor.

For home entertainment purposes, most people are especially interested in LCD televisions. When LCD technology was first introduced, the prices of these TVs were typically very high. But in the past few years, LCD TV prices have dropped as the technology became widespread and affordable. Try this simple experiment: go to a large electronics store and ask the sales staff to show you an LCD TV and then a traditional cathode ray tube TV (if they even have one!). You’ll notice the picture superiority of the LCD immediately. Plus, LCD TVs are thinner, lighter, and use less power than cathode ray TVs. LCD TVs come in high definition (HD) compatible models that create an even sharper image, in thin, flat panel models, and widescreen models. Each type of these LCD TVs have specific advantages. For example, if you want an LCD TV in your bedroom but don’t have a lot of wall space, a flat panel model will serve you well. But in your living room, you’ll most likely want a TV that has high definition and a wide screen to set up your home theater components.

When you decide to buy an LCD TV you have many models, sizes, and pricing options to choose from. Consumer guides and customer reviews rate the “best of 2008” LCD TVs as:

- The Samsung 52-inch 1080p HD TV
- The Sony Bravia 52-inch 1080p HD TV
- The Panasonic 50-inch 1080p HD TV
- The Sharp Aquos 42-inch 1080p HD TV
- The Samsung 32-inch 720p HD TV

You can find the LCD TV that meets all your space requirements, including 19, 37, 46, 61 and 65-inch TVs. You can also find great prices on LCD TVs locally or on-line. One thing is certain: cathode ray tube televisions are rapidly becoming obsolete in comparison to LCD HD TVs. Projection TVs are no longer manufactured. Also, LCD technology tends to be cheaper than plasma technology for televisions and computer monitors. The best buying strategy is to specify what kind of equipment you need, the size of the TV you need, and what type of TV system you can afford.

Samsung spokemodel explains a little bit about what makes LCD TVs tick, and some of the advantages of LCD technology. Good for a high level overview.

Ever wonder what’s going on inside your $3000 LCD television, but were too smart to take it apart and find out? These guys do it for you. Granted the dialog could be better, but you get a little background on LCD flat panel technology, as well as a brief look at the chipsets involved. I wonder if they put it back together?

Invariably in your search for a flat panel TV you will be faced with the decision of LCD or plasma. There’s a lot of good information on the web, however the technology is dynamic. Manufacturers scramble to close disadvantages and win market space. Your final decision on your new TV should be based upon your own eyes- go to the store and look at the LCD widescreen, and then look at the plasma TV next to it and choose what you like best. There are advantages to each type of TV- here are the top ten for LCDs.

1. No burn in - Static images can leave permanent ghost images in a plasma tv. Plasma manufacturers have developed some anti-burn in technology, be sure to check it’s there before you pick a plasma over LCD.

2. Brighter - LCD TVs perform better in bright environments than their plasma cousins. If you have a well lit room, add a point for LCD.

3. Less glare - Hand in hand with a brighter picture, less glare means a better picture in the living room with picture windows.

4. Runs cooler - If you have two televisions of equal size- say a 42 LCD and 42″ plasma TV, the LCD will run cooler. There’s some debate, but generally speaking cooler is better for electronic components.

5. Less power- Watt for watt you will use less electricity with a LCD TV. It will probably only be a couple of dollars per month, but if you’re ecology minded it’s a point to remember.

6. Long display life - 60,000 hours - LCDs will typically at least a decade- possibly quite more depending upon your use. Plasmas have made some strides, but be sure to read the specifications if in doubt.

7. Lighter - LCD televisions are lighter- this may be important depending upon where you are considering mounting the television, and of less importance, shipping.

8. Smaller sizes available under 32” - LCDs are getting bigger, and plasmas are getting smaller, but right now if you’re looking for a good HD TV under 32″, it will be a LCD.

9. Performance at higher altitudes - Due to a pressure differential in the plasma gases inside a plasma display and outside it, plasma TVs have to use a bit more power to display a picture at altitudes above 6,000 feet or so. This differential results in a buzzing sound due to higher power required to render the picture, and sometimes the TV’s fan will kick on. If you live at a higher altitude be sure to consider a LCD television, or make sure that your plasma has been specially built to handle the altitude.

10. Price - Prices are dynamic, but as LCDs get bigger and make inroads on the plasma market, there are some bargains to be had where competition is at its highest (say around 42″); and you can find LCDs that are less expensive than plasma.

You should also consider how your new TV will be used- there are certain disadvantages to LCD when it comes to blurring fast motion (read the specifications — manufacturers are improving), viewing angle (also improving- but if you have a group that regularly watches TV be sure to form a semi circle around the TV in the store and check it). A LCD TV makes a great alternative to plasma.

LG’s has released a new LCD TV in the middle east, coming soon to the rest of the world. The LG60 is just 45 mm thick, currently the thinnest available. It has a full HD 120Hz panel, and can be configured for fast-moving images.The LG60 has an Intelligent Sensor that automatically adjusts brightness according to the room lighting, giving better pictures and saving power. It also has “invisible speakers”- molding smoothing into your decor.

Full Press Release

David Katzmaier from CNET Asia has some advice on how to get the best view possible on your LCD TV. Basically you’re looking for proper viewing distance, as well as the proper lighting. His suggestion for a daylight bulb is a great one, I have several in the house and they produce a more pleasant light than an incandescent or fluorescent bulb. My only problem is my power tends to sag or surge, so I end up replacing them about twice as often as regular bulb. Of course all my TVs and electronics are on surge suppressors/power filters, and yours should be too. It’s cheap insurance for your TV and your peace of mind.

“In a desperate move to inject profitability into their struggling TV operation Philips has moved away from manufacturing their own TV’s to outsouring over 70% of their range to Chinese and Taiwanese TV manufacturers. Last week Philips was also forced to sell down their shareholding in a joint venture with LG Philips in an effort to raise capital for their struggling TV division.” Smarthouse News has the full story here.

Update- Smarthouse pulled the article, as J noted. Maybe Phillips isn’t so desparate. Here’s what’s left of the google cache….

LCD

Desperate Philips Outsource Over 70% LCD TV Production

David Richards - Monday, 28 January 2008

In a desperate move to inject profitability into their struggling TV operation, Philips has moved away from manufacturing their own TVs to outsourcing over 70% of their range to Chinese and Taiwanese TV manufacturers. Last week Philips was also forced to sell down their shareholding in a joint venture with LG Philips in an effort to raise capital for their struggling TV division.

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Philips announced in October last year that it would reduce its shareholding in the LG Philips business from 33 per cent to 19.9 per cent, however it has now been reported that the company is reducing its stake further to a measly 2-3%.

The reduced stake will spare Philips about $3 billion – money that will probably be used toward proceedings to streamline the company’s product offering.

Reuters recently quoted a Japanese business publication as saying Philips president, Gerard Kleisterlee, said it would sell its shares after the stock market recovers,…

For every 1 plasma sold last year, people bought 3 LCD TVs. Why the difference? Flexibility! Plasmas are big- the smallest I’ve seen in 37″. While that’s fine for the living room, it isn’t for the kitchen- or even the car! Also another compelling reason to buy LCD is price, the sizes are getting larger and larger, and the prices are going down. Finally LCDs have made great strides on picture quality, and is giving plasma a run for its money.