Vizio HDTVs to be Super "Connected"

High-end HDTVs are all gaining some sort of special net-enabled service, but leave it to the mainstream brand of Vizio to really embrace connected media.

Vizio debuted at CES its “Connected HDTV” platform, which adds the stacked roster of support from Accedo Broadband, Adobe, Amazon, Blockbuster, Flickr, Netflix, Pandora, Rhapsody and Yahoo! This translates to movies, music, news, weather, sports, gaming and social networking services once the television is connected to the Internet.

Making its HDTVs even better is built-in 802.11n wireless, helping to reduce cable clutter behind the set. Even some super high-end HDTVs, such as Sony’s gorgeous Bravia XBR9, don’t have built-in Wi-Fi and require a wireless bridge.

“As consumer demand for content and information grows exponentially, we want to address what our customers are increasingly looking for – the ability to enjoy their favorite content and services from the comfort of their living room easy chair,” said Laynie Newsome, co-founder of Vizio.

Unlike many of the other HDTV makers at CES, Vizio did not explicitly announce any specific new products that would make up part of its new “Connected HDTV” lineup. Instead, this announcement serves to inform the customer of upcoming sets that the company hopes would keep the prospective buyers from considering other brands.

One could wonder why out of all major electronics companies did Vizio manage to secure so many partnerships. Well, first of all, content providers want to sell as much of their products as possible. This is in Vizio’s favor, as the company has been one of the consistently top vendors of HDTVs in the U.S., mostly thanks to its value-oriented pricing. Basically, Vizio televisions reach broad audiences, which is exactly what Amazon, Blockbuster, et al. are after.

Look for the new Vizio “Connected HDTV” models this fall.

What are your experiences with the Visio brand? Do you own an HDTV panel from Visio? Do you feel you get a better bang for the buck or were you disappointed and ended up going with a "better" brand?