Vizio's CinemaWide 58-inch 3D HDTV priced at $3,499, but who's buying?
Vizio is taking a chance that there's a set of TV buyers who is looking to recreate the ultra-widescreen experience of the movie theater in its living rooms. The company introduced its new CinemaWide set, which uses a 21:9 aspect ratio instead of the 16:9 aspect ratio of conventional HDTVs, at CES last month, and has just put a (big) price tag on it.
The 58-inch set is now listed at a cinematic price of $3,499, though availability is still unknown. In addition to the usual glut of features that accompany high-end HDTVs -- passive 3D support, edge-lit LED light source with smart dimming (for 2D sources only), built-in Wi-Fi for Vizio Internet Apps -- the CinemaWide offers 2,560x1,080 resolution for those who planning on watching many more movies than TV shows.
And therein lies the rub for Vizio. Is there a big enough audience that is so enamored enough by the panoramic dimensions that it won't mind that the set can't be filled up with everyday HD content? At a time when a new generation is learning to watch movies on tablets and smartphones, how many even care about an ultra-widescreen view, especially at a price that's twice as high as similar sets?
Do you have an interest in the CinemaWide set? Do you think it will be a success for Vizio? Let us know in the Talkback section.