Sony and Samsung may expand LCD partnership

Despite Samsung's solo expansion plans and Sony's alliance with Sharp, the two are not only maintaining their current 8th-generation LCD line, but may build another one, and a new plant after that. A source within Samsung told Reuters of the almost-final plans for a second 8G line from S-LCD, and the possibility that Samsung will cut Sony in on its 10th-generation facility, much like the one its already partnering with Sharp on. Like Sharp, Samsung likely wants to be sure someone will buy all those flat panels once the line is running, and Sony can make sure its got a cheap source to stay competitive on prices when competition will be even higher in 2010. The only thing we can be sure of is it will be nearly impossible to tell who really made that flat panel hanging on your wall, no matter what brand name it says.

[Ayman T @ Feb 27th 2008 8:00AM]

lol "have you seen Pearl Harbor on Blue Ray" (look at the profile pic)

[CT A @ Feb 27th 2008 8:00AM]

Aww Sony is a Taurus.

[jroc @ Feb 27th 2008 2:04PM]

I believe when Sony started it was called the Standard Oil of New York, pretty crazy how it became an electronics company.

[Jake Howe @ Feb 27th 2008 8:03AM]

lmfao, nice pic guys. always bringing the laughs

[Josh @ Feb 27th 2008 3:40PM]

I nearly fell out of my chair when i saw "its complicated" not to mention the rest of the page.

Nice photoshopping there

[Giorgos @ Feb 27th 2008 8:28AM]

Hmm, I always thought of SONY as a female...

[Sam @ Feb 27th 2008 8:44AM]

I could so kick Sony's ass in Scrabulous.

[guerilla779 @ Feb 27th 2008 1:34PM]

a naughty one ?

[Poom @ Feb 27th 2008 8:57AM]

Why doesn't Sony make their own plants? I'm sure it has more than enough money. Or is this not the case?

[Temple @ Feb 27th 2008 9:29AM]

Sony will own 34% of the new $3.4 billion factory along with Sharp and Toshiba.

Also because it more efficient to partner with other companies to get economies of scale so they can buy/sell their panels cheaper. The 10th-generation Sharp factory that is suppose that Sony owns a third of, for instance, also makes panels for Toshiba. Its suppose to be the largest LCD panel factory in the world and should be making the latest panels for companies other then Sharp/Sony/Toshiba. The multiple billions it costs to build and run a factory make it difficult for one company to make up its investment in a factory that will need more billions of dollars when the next-generation of LCD panels come around.

[Poom @ Feb 28th 2008 7:59AM]

Ah, thanks a lot Temple! That's a really good answer!!! =)

[The Aggie CEO @ Feb 27th 2008 9:21AM]

Love the facebook account............ROFLMAO!!!

[teel @ Feb 27th 2008 9:48AM]

Wow. Now that's some awful photoshopping :)

[Organic_Shadow @ Feb 27th 2008 10:00AM]

Let's cut to the chase and move on to my lolcat rebuttal: so i can has cheaper lcd now?

[Mr Deeds @ Feb 27th 2008 10:57AM]

I think this means the LCD you "Has" is already cheaper...

[Jay @ Feb 27th 2008 10:56AM]

facebook references = always funny

[Allen @ Feb 27th 2008 11:11AM]

I highly doubt these plants will be profitable unless they are capable of producing OLED TVs in the future. LCD is the rage right now, but Sony is proving OLED TVs are the next big thing (its 11 incher is selling like hotcakes, as I understand).

[Eric @ Feb 27th 2008 12:22PM]

That reminds me...I need to check my facebook.
Nice pic.

[phanbouy @ Feb 27th 2008 12:33PM]

I always knew Michael Bay made a good mascot

[Tim @ Feb 27th 2008 6:57PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/12/hd-dvd-camp-issues-sad-little-response-to-netflix-best-buy-snub/2#comments

tenth post from the bottom.

I totally started the give-companys-a-facebook-page thing back in the days of "final nail in the coffin" posts.

And yes, before anyone asks, I want a cookie.

[Tim @ Feb 27th 2008 6:59PM]

Wow. That totally wasn't worth the effort. Wish there was a delete comment button somewhere...