Pew Pew Pew! Here Come The Laser-Based TV's!

[Tim Williamson]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/mitsubishis-laservue-65-inch-and-75-inchers-due-this-fall/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/...-due-this-fall/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"We got a first glimpse of Mitsubishi's brand new rear-projection-ish laser-based TV tech, LaserVue, back at CES, but now the sets are just about primed for action, and should be hitting store shelves, as previously noted, Q3 2008. LaserVue will debut in 65-inch and 73-inch, with the 65-inch version hitting the scene first. Mitsubishi is still pretty coy about what exactly makes the technology tick -- other than the "zomg, lasers" aspect -- but is quick to point out the 200 percent color gamut that LaserVue provides, more than twice that of most traditional HDTVs."<br /><br /></em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1215400403.usr209.jpg" border="1" alt="" /><br /><br />It looks like Mitsubishi will soon be releasing their new "LaserVue" 65 inch and 73 inch laser-based rear-projection TV's.&nbsp; These monsters are a MASSIVE 10-inches thick though, but appear to have great color and take about half the power of comparable LCD's.&nbsp; The price point is comparable to plasma and LCD, so we'll see if that affects the popularity of these things.</p>

[Jason Dunn]

I think the thickness/thinness factor of LCDs and Plasmas are massively overrated - most people end up putting their LCD or Plasma TV on a TV stand, with their components underneath, so it ends up being 12 inches away from the wall anyway. That's one of the reasons I didn't mind getting a DLP - I could get a 72" DLP for much less than a 50" Plasma, and because we have it on a stand, the width doesn't matter.

If someone has in-wall wiring done, and has space for components in the wall, then hanging a Plasma or LCD screen on the wall looks sweet - but most people don't, so thickness matters much less than most people want to admit.

I think Mitsubishi might have a winner here, although I think pricing it at the same level as a Plasma or LCD might be a mistake - unless they feel the power savings are something that will give them an edge (and it might).

[Felix Torres]

I think the thickness/thinness factor of LCDs and Plasmas are massively overrated - most people end up putting their LCD or Plasma TV on a TV stand, with their components underneath, so it ends up being 12 inches away from the wall anyway. That's one of the reasons I didn't mind getting a DLP - I could get a 72" DLP for much less than a 50" Plasma, and because we have it on a stand, the width doesn't matter.

If someone has in-wall wiring done, and has space for components in the wall, then hanging a Plasma or LCD screen on the wall looks sweet - but most people don't, so thickness matters much less than most people want to admit.

I think Mitsubishi might have a winner here, although I think pricing it at the same level as a Plasma or LCD might be a mistake - unless they feel the power savings are something that will give them an edge (and it might).

+1 to the thickness argument; 10 in is not massive but rather about half the thickness of any other affordable 70+ in display. ;-)

Also keep in mind the 200% NTSC color gamut, 120 Hz capability, and 3d potential.
Plus half the power consumption.

There's a lot to like in those displays if the absolute brightness is competitive with LCD.