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A $2.25 million HDTV still doesn't guarantee anything good is on

By | March 15, 2010, 5:02pm PDT

Summary: Can’t we find out who buys crystal-encrusted netbooks, diamond-clad iPods, and other ridiculously gaudy electronics, because there has to be a reason people keep making them? But this might be the most ludicrous device yet: a 55-inch HDTV from blingmeister Stuart Hughes that costs—wait for it—$2.25 million dollars. You can probably figure out you’re not [...]

Can’t we find out who buys crystal-encrusted netbooks, diamond-clad iPods, and other ridiculously gaudy electronics, because there has to be a reason people keep making them? But this might be the most ludicrous device yet: a 55-inch HDTV from blingmeister Stuart Hughes that costs—wait for it—$2.25 million dollars.

You can probably figure out you’re not paying for the TV’s specs (though these are built using Metz technology). Instead, that price tag for the PrestigeHD Rose Supreme Edition is the result of 28 kilos of 18-carat gold that form the outer bezel, along with an inner bezel of alligator skin (PETA will be thrilled) and a frame that includes 72 1-carat diamonds.

If you’re on a budget—and who isn’t these days?—then you may have to settle for just the plain ol’ Supreme version. While you’ll still get an outer frame of (22-carat) gold, as well as the alligator skin, you get “only” 48 diamonds. It hurts to slum like that, since the price is a mere $1.5 million, but somehow I think any buyer could learn to live with it.

[Via Tom's Guide]

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Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist.

Disclosure

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist; currently, all work that Sean does is on a contractural basis. Sean has also written corporate communications documents for CA.

Sean does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.

Biography

Sean Portnoy

Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNet nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.

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RE: A $2.25 million HDTV still doesn't guarantee anything good is on
laurasweet 20th Mar 2010
I think you didn't show the other one. See BOTH of the world's most expensive HDTV's here and buy one if you are so inclined.

http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2010/03/worlds-most-expensive-hd-televisions.html
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feel sorry for these people
patibulo 16th Mar 2010
I mean, if you buy something outrageously expensive because you don't know what to do with your money, and you manage to keep that for decades, then I understand. But to buy something that expensive, which will be anyway obsolete within 5 years, it's not a sign of richness but of stupidity. Honestly.
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Diamonds are forever, except when they're on a TV
Garrett Williams 18th Mar 2010
I wonder what someone would do with a diamond-
encrusted VCR today.
I'm sure our bailed-out ceo's with their billion dollar compensation packages can well afford these. Wouldn't it be great to see our tax dollars being put to good use?
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HDTV has got to be the most pointless and irritating technology ever invented. It does not make sense to have HD TV when most people's eyesight is so poor they are used to -- and content with -- a vague picture to go with the soundtrack.
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Umm...what?
cgarrett 16th Mar 2010
First of all, you picked an ironic article to debate the value of HD. It sure beats the silliness of gilding and jeweling it.

Second, I can see from 20 feet away (on a 40" screen) whether content is SD or HD. Sure, part of that might be because of the obvious compression artifacts of DVD at 720x480 and not the ability to see every last pixel of 1080p. Still good enough reason to move technology onward.

Third, is manufacturing efficiency. We are hitting on a point in time where LCD computer monitors, televisions, and theater projection equipment are all converging on the same technology and detail level. There's price savings all around if you're making the same thing for multiple industries.
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Hardened display?
kidtree 16th Mar 2010
Sean, you failed to mention whether the display is tough enough to take flying cheetos and beer cans when my rowdy friends are watching football on it.
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Rampant decadence
naibeeru 16th Mar 2010
It's ok for people to have money. It's ok for people to spend money. It's not ok for people with money to waste it on baubles like this. As God is famous for saying "To whom much is given, much is expected". I wouldn't want to be the one explaining to God why I blew 2.2 million dollars on a pointless bling like this...
And if life wasn't easy enough already to afford a $2.25 million TV, it gets even better because Stuart Hughes has a really convenient e-commerce website. Buy it online, there's only 3 left...
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Let's see, $250,000.00 to build a really nice home theater system. $1 millon to retire on and $1 millon to invest & fund local charities to house & feed the needy in the area. Sounds alot better than buying this thing that will be out dated in a couple of years or worse, someone breaks in and steals!
Yes, some of these people have MORE than one in that price class.

Now, explain THAT to me. That money will probably give a good home/care to the majority of ALL the RESCUE animals in the USA.

These people are a Fu*king disgrace.

No, I don't envy their money, I hate their selfishness!

George
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money
merc2dogs` 20th Mar 2010
I feel that if it's your money, you shouldn't have to explain why you purchased something.

I wouldn't dream of spending that much on a TV.
personally I watch TV (or movies) so rarely that spending anything at all on a TV is a complete waste.

If you earn the money, you should be able to spend it on the things you enjoy.

Ken.
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On the outside obviously, where there's room.
I guess if an Muslim oil sheik can't wait for those 72 virgins, at least he'll have the diamonds...
I think you didn't show the other one. See BOTH of the world's most expensive HDTV's here and buy one if you are so inclined.

http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2010/03/worlds-most-expensive-hd-televisions.html

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