TEAC targets travellers with LCD/DVD combos

TEAC Australia found the going tough in the highly competitive LCD TV marketplace, but with the newly acquired backing of Singapore-based consumer electronics distributor TT International, it is reapproaching the industry with some clever niche products at entry level price points.

Acknowledging that there's still a strong demand for sharply priced CRT TVs, TEAC is offering 15-, 21- and 29-inch tube televisions for AU$129, AU$199 and AU$299 respectively. It also has 15- and 21-inch CRT/DVD combos for AU$199 and AU$299.

TEAC's LCD offerings are now also taking the integrated DVD route. The baby of the bunch is the LCDV1000M, a 10-inch widescreen TV with a built-in side slot DVD player. It is battery powered for outdoor use, but it is also 12V DC compatible and comes with an adaptor for use in the car. With USB and MMC, MS and SD memory card slots, the LCDV1000M is also a 10-inch de facto digital photo frame -- and at AU$499, it is pretty close in price to many photo frames on the market that lack its TV and DVD capabilities.

(TEAC does have its own seven-inch digital photo frame, the DPF100 with DivX, jpeg and MP3 playback for AU$249).

There will also be 15- and 19-inch models in the TEAC LCD-DVD TV range. Both are AC/DC compatible and would suit use in caravans and boats or anywhere a 12V power supply is available.

TEAC's LCDV range will be available in Australia in May 2007.