Vizio, the American LCD HD set maker that wasn't even around a few years ago, overtook frontrunner Samsung to lead in LCD TV shipments in the first quarter of 2009. The low-cost manufacturer that pushes product mostly in big-box outlets like Walmart and Costco, no doubt was greatly helped by the ailing economy in North America.
Vizio's LCD shipments' share rose to 21.6 percent in the first quarter. That's a jump of nearly 8 percent over the fourth quarter of 2008, according to industry research analyst iSuppli. Vizio's HD models consistently have sold for at least a few hundred dollars less than higher-priced models from Sony and others.
Some of Vizio's lowest-priced sets (in the 42-inch range and smaller) often carry MSRP in the $800-$900 range, and some of its 120 Hz models (in the $1,000 range) can be as much as $400 less than the 120 Hz offerings from more established brand names.
