2006 CHANNEL CHAMPIONS

Flat-Panel Displays

Champ: Sony

CRN logo By Elizabeth Dolski, ChannelWeb

3:00 PM EDT Fri. Apr. 14, 2006
From the April 17, 2006 issue of CRN
A consistent channel program and long-standing reputation for product reliability and image quality pushed Sony Electronics into the winner's circle as this year's Channel Champion for flat-panel displays.

As is typical in this category with its broad number of competitors, the overall Channel Champions ratings were tight. Sony Electronics, Park Ridge, N.J., earned a 76.8, followed by Samsung (76.7), NEC (76.2), ViewSonic (74.6), Acer (73.4), LG Electronics (71.2) and BenQ (69).

On technical criteria, solution providers judged Sony best by a 1.4-point margin in the areas of product reliability, image quality and ergonomics. The Champ, however, took a hit on one criterion—price—where it fell 5.7 points behind Samsung, the overall winner in technical satisfaction, and 10 points behind Acer, the runner-up on this criterion.

While Sony may not be the price leader, some solution providers believe the premium price is worth it. "[The] price may be higher, but the quality is higher and it's a much better product," said Nick Bain, district manager at Computize, a Sony reseller in Austin, Texas. "If you compare Sony to competitors, you'll always get more bang for your buck."

Another Sony partner, Tony Schmidt, president of Bay Shore, N.Y.-based The Computery, said if price weren't an issue, Sony would always win. "Sony is an easy sell," he said. "People gravitate toward Sony."

In channel program satisfaction, Sony had a solid 2.8-point lead in the area of vendor support, as well as the best rating for consistency of channel programs. Sony slipped behind Samsung and NEC in the area of channel conflict and behind NEC in service revenue opportunities, putting it just a half-point ahead of NEC in channel program satisfaction.

While solution providers don't detect much difference between the vendors' channel programs, they do notice the premium quality—as well as the premium price—of Sony's display technology.
Flat-Panel Displays
 
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