Opinion

Plasma heaven

By Scott T. Hards

Japan's economy is in a serious slump. Most analysts agree that the biggest reason behind it is lackluster retail spending. Consumers here have money, and lots of it, but they don't want to spend it. They are either determined to save because of uncertainties about their future, or there are simply no products exciting enough to convince them to loosen their purse strings.

Lately I've watched my own spending habits be affected by this dearth of attractive goods. I'm not much of a saver. I tend to spend much of my free money on the latest electronic gadgets. But since the release of Sony's amazing PlayStation2, I haven't spent much on new toys for my home — until now.

Over the past week, I have been watching the Winter Olympics unfold in my living room on a 43-inch television screen displaying a high-definition image so crisp and clear that it still takes my breath away every time I turn it on. What's more, this amazing TV is not even 15-cm thick. If I wanted to, I could hang it from my living room wall like some piece of art.

Welcome to the amazing world of Plasma display television. There's no way for me to describe sufficiently in words the stunning picture quality I'm enjoying. All I can suggest is that if you haven't already, head to a large electronics shop and witness the beauty of high-definition satellite TV on a big screen firsthand.

After telling a co-worker about my new purchase, he was understandably curious about the price. When I confessed that I had coughed up ¥800,000 for my new TV, he was flabbergasted. "Scott, you can buy a new car for that much!"

Quite true. In fact, I had thought about that very same car vs. TV comparison myself before making the decision to buy. So how did I rationalize the purchase? I figured that not only do I spend more time watching TV than I do driving my car, but the TV will no doubt last longer, too. OK, I admit the logic's not perfect, but while enjoying the excitement of Hiroyasu Shimizu's silver medal performance on that big, beautiful screen, I had no regrets!

When you're thinking about whether to make a purchase like this, don't forget that a big screen and fantastic resolution are not the only merits. With digital satellite broadcasts, you can also receive data and audio (radio) broadcasts. What's more, some programs are interactive, allowing you to provide feedback to the TV station while the show is on the air!

If you like the idea of a big HDTV, but not the big price, one option is to simply wait. Prices are dropping steadily, and are expected to fall at least 20 percent by the time of the World Cup (with all those high-definition NHK broadcasts!). Another option is to step back from plasma and settle for a traditional tube television that can receive HDTV broadcasts. Such models are available for a more modest ¥200,000 to ¥350,000.

OK, so now I've made my contribution to consumer spending. Isn't it about time that you also helped get the Japanese economy out of its slump?

Shukan ST: March 1, 2002

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