Comments on: Millions of Old Japanese TVs Recycled http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/ Nick Ramsay, blogging from Japan. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:43:36 +0900 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: smoother http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/comment-page-1/#comment-2730 smoother Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:28:52 +0000 http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/#comment-2730 I wonder who will be the first retailer to offer taking the old TVs off your hands for free when you upgrade. I wonder who will be the first retailer to offer taking the old TVs off your hands for free when you upgrade.

]]> By: Mike http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/comment-page-1/#comment-2465 Mike Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:46:11 +0000 http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/#comment-2465 Yeah there has to be more electronics recycling in the world! I hope they continue this cause e-waste is toxic! Yeah there has to be more electronics recycling in the world! I hope they continue this cause e-waste is toxic!

]]> By: rob http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/comment-page-1/#comment-2367 rob Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:34:23 +0000 http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/#comment-2367 I have to say that I'm experiencing a bit of culture shock over the price of digital to analogue converters in Japan. Converters tend to be the favoured option in Australia, selling from around $50 (that's $US45 - about 2 hours worth of average Aussie wages) for a standard definition converter, going up to around $200 (a day's basic Aussie wage) for a HD box. Both are very cheap options compared the $1400 or so that we pay for a cheap HD digital TV. Since old TV's tend to be standard definition (640x480 PAL), those of us betting the price of digital sets will tumble in the next couple of years are parting with the equivalent price of a carton of beer to convert our old beasts to receive ultra-clear digital signals until HD digital technology is more affordable. I'm guessing there are some fundamental differences in play driving the disparity in converter affordability - maybe its the type of signal Japan is using, or perhaps it's just that digital TV's are much cheaper in Japan, making the converter a less attractive option. ... the more insidious (but probably completely wrong) alternative would be that Japan's manufacturers are overpricing converters in the hope of upselling people to new tv's. I definitely don't know enough on the regional nuances to draw any conclusions, but I found the difference in the ways we're being led to approach the switch to digital TV quite striking. I have to say that I’m experiencing a bit of culture shock over the price of digital to analogue converters in Japan.
Converters tend to be the favoured option in Australia, selling from around $50 (that’s $US45 – about 2 hours worth of average Aussie wages) for a standard definition converter, going up to around $200 (a day’s basic Aussie wage) for a HD box.

Both are very cheap options compared the $1400 or so that we pay for a cheap HD digital TV.

Since old TV’s tend to be standard definition (640×480 PAL), those of us betting the price of digital sets will tumble in the next couple of years are parting with the equivalent price of a carton of beer to convert our old beasts to receive ultra-clear digital signals until HD digital technology is more affordable.

I’m guessing there are some fundamental differences in play driving the disparity in converter affordability – maybe its the type of signal Japan is using, or perhaps it’s just that digital TV’s are much cheaper in Japan, making the converter a less attractive option.
… the more insidious (but probably completely wrong) alternative would be that Japan’s manufacturers are overpricing converters in the hope of upselling people to new tv’s.
I definitely don’t know enough on the regional nuances to draw any conclusions, but I found the difference in the ways we’re being led to approach the switch to digital TV quite striking.

]]> By: ジェイソン (Jason) http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/comment-page-1/#comment-2364 ジェイソン (Jason) Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:03:04 +0000 http://www.longcountdown.com/2007/10/15/millions-of-old-japanese-tvs-recycled/#comment-2364 Great post, Nick. It would be nice to see some of the digital TVs come down in price, but it'd be even nicer if people could get a digital to analog converter for a very low price. This would let millions of people that can't afford (or want) a new TV to continue using their existing sets. I've seen a few digital boxes being sold, but they're often half as much as a cheap digital television set :???: Great post, Nick. It would be nice to see some of the digital TVs come down in price, but it’d be even nicer if people could get a digital to analog converter for a very low price. This would let millions of people that can’t afford (or want) a new TV to continue using their existing sets. I’ve seen a few digital boxes being sold, but they’re often half as much as a cheap digital television set :???:

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