Panasonic and Hitachi in rumored multi-billion dollar LCD panel deals

Here's a rumor which no doubt has Sony, Samsung, and Sharp in a tizzy: Matsushita (Panasonic) and Hitachi are said to be talking specifics about multi-billion dollar panel deals. If things work out, plasma-happy Panny would get a quick foothold in the burgeoning large-panel (greater than 40-inches) LCD market while Hitachi makes a quick get away from its loss making business. Canon is also looking to invest in Hitachi to get their hands on Hitachi's smaller LCD and OLED panels. Matsushita, Hitachi and Canon all issued statements saying that nothing has yet been decided -- a far cry from denial.

[Alex Knutson @ Dec 19th 2007 7:42AM]

how about a free one....free is in my price range.

Its also my favorite price.


plz?

[David Smith @ Dec 19th 2007 8:48AM]

Sony did not get their panels from Samsung. They both get their panels from S-LCD which they hold a 50% +-1 share in each. But yes they missed out LG/Phillips as the third large format LCD panel manufacturer after S-LCD and Sharp.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-LCD

[Kamokazi @ Dec 19th 2007 10:41AM]

Ah, I see...question then...the panels that are resold as Samsung panels to other OEMs, are they a product of S-LCD or does Samsung actually make panels themselves as well? For example, TFT Central (http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/) lists my Dell 2707WFP as a '27"WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM270M1)'...did Samsung make that one in house or did they use S-LCD? Not that it matter, just kinda curious.

[Kamokazi @ Dec 19th 2007 10:41AM]

Wouldn't it be LG/Philips and not Sony? Last I knew, Sony got most of their LCD panelss from Samsung.

[bharatk12 @ Dec 19th 2007 11:41AM]

S-LCD is mainly for SONY as they have their engineers in house plus all panels for SONY are shipped to JAPAN for quality checks before being assembled all over the world.


Samsung mainly outsources less than 52 inch panels to the 2 smallest comapnies in china for panels.

SOny does it with AOU ...the best in taiwan

[azark @ Dec 19th 2007 2:21PM]

Sony approached Samsung in this deal and asked for some cooperation because Sony was so behind in its LCD investments at the time while Samsung on the other hand, was already the #1 supplier to the world.

[bharatk12 @ Dec 25th 2007 8:30AM]

Panels only result in contrast ratio and response time..which can be mentioned in the order to any panel manufacturer... what matters is the backlight and the chips with control color and all other aspects.