Mitsubishi demonstrated what they present as the world’s first laser-based, high-definition television (HDTV) at its 2006 National Dealer Line Show today. LED backlights and projector light engines have already promised great things, and this represents a further refinement of the concept.
Like an LED-driven display, the Laser HDTV uses less power and delivers a greater color gamut (in this case, up to 1.8 times greater than an LCD TV). In addition, although it may not be flat, it’s not nearly as deep as a CRT and uses far less power than a plasma.
The Mitsubishi laser HDTV utilizes separate red, green and blue semiconductor lasers in an exclusive implementation together with Texas Instrument’s 1080p DLP® HDTV chip. Mitsubishi’s laser technology enables a completely new look in large screen television, both in high performance picture reproduction and sleek, lightweight, and compact design.
for stand-mounted applications, laser-based televisions will provide a more compact footprint than today’s flat panel plasma and LCD televisions, which require stand depths of up to 15 inches at 50-inch screen sizes to stabilize such relatively top-heavy glass-based displays. In contrast, laser technology will enable a lighter display product with a significantly lower center of gravity, providing improved stability in a thinner base dimension. Laser technology, in comparison to plasma and LCD flat panel, is also economically scaleable to larger screen sizes, enabling mass adoption of very thin, very large high-definition displays.
According to Mitsubishi’s PR Manager, Mark Scott, the first commercial sets using this technology will be available at the end of 2007.
Links:
NE Asia Online
Press Release
Ok, this all sounds nice, but how do they compare pricewise? To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between LCD and a 1.8 X better laser display. I can’t tell the difference between 16 bit color and 32 bit color.
I’ll buy what my pocketbook can afford.
I like it, especially the resolution. No 780 crap. But I know I can’t afford it unless I win the lottery this week.
Mits says they will be competitively priced with other technologies in the 52″ and up market. My wife and I ain’t growing bigger than our current 46″ HDTV; so, it’s a moot point for me. I don’t doubt Mits will hit the same economies of scale diminishing prices of the other technologies.
The most interesting aspect of this technology is that they can hit truely black blacks — because when completely black is required for a “pixel” — or laser equivalent — the laser turns off the “pixel”. No other technologies are doing that!
Look for 1st-person accounts from folks who went to the Mitsubishi Trade Show in Huntington Beach.
Alex,
Yes, I agree and understand the basics of Light, wavelengths, Lab, and the rest. My point has to do with discrimination. A normal eye is unable to tell the difference between a display using 16 bit color and 24 or 32 bit color. Only with extreme comparison could there be any discrimination by the viewer. The same phenomena occurs in music, where it reaches the point that the attuned listener can’t tell the difference, let alone the average work deafened person, yet manufacturers will still push that next 3% improvement.
The average person could not tell the difference between a 90% reproduction and 100% without a side by side comparison. To most people, even a 75% reproduction is very acceptable, unless compared to something better. I think contrast and hue are far more important then the number of colors. Even though we have millions of light receptors in our eyes, if there are more pixels or the focus is poor, then the cones blur that spot into one color. This is easiest to pick up when there are sharp delineations. In multi color scenes it becomes much more difficult to pick out color differences or shifts.
I ran into this problem a few years ago when we were producing a white consumer assembly. Our product had several variables that all influenced the color; heat, aperture pressure, quantity and type of plasticizer, screw wear, light source color, etc. I had to define the standards by which we could produce each component. A thin extrusion has characteristics not found with the larger extrusions. Injections have their own traits. As you are aware, white has the narrowest discrimination level. We ended up setting standards on the Lab with 95% acceptance. These standards were much less stringent then we had originally anticipated.
The origin of the light source is not of concern to me. What will make me happiest for the least number of dollars is. I did enjoy your post and it reminded me of some things I haven’t needed to think of for a while.
Seriously John, you’ve crushed a 1600×1600 image into a almost thumbnail size pic major bad karma for you.
Ultra cool. Not buying right now though. There are too many techologies that are all advancing too fast to spend the money. The longer I wait, the better price/picture I will get.
Other than the NFL, what’s out there to watch on one of these? The crap Hollywood is putting out isn’t worth spending a ton to watch.
It is fun to drool over these types of displays though.
IGN.com did a short article on this last week. Apparently, laser HDTV’s are not going to be competetively priced, but priced at about half of a LCD or plasma.
Here’s the
IGN.com did a short article on this last week. Apparently, laser HDTV’s are not going to be competetively priced, but priced at about half of a LCD or plasma.
Here’s the link, http://gear.ign.com/articles/738/738336p1.html, read for yourself.
The laser hdtv is very competitive with a price of $1000 for a 56″ screen being a new technology.
The Samsung DLP with color wheel would cost $2500 and we will not mention the cost of LCD or Plasma. The newest LED technology from Samsung would run $2500 to $2800 dependent on what LED model you choose.
Well if it costs 1000 fo a 56″ hd tv then i am definetly buying one
For these reasons
1.They are Hd TV’s
2.Cheap compare a $1000 tv with a $2500 except the $1000 one is better
which will you buy
3.Stronger tv quality
4.you can boast to your friends how your 56″ is better and cheaper than their lcd 56″
Amazon has sold a 56″ LED for around $1,200 at it’s lowest, it’s usually around $1,300-$1,800. I’m hoping this Laser HDTV is priced to match, also can’t wait for this tech to hit Projectors!!
I have been reading a lot about this so called Laser HDTV since the beginning of 2006. They said it will be available in the latter Qtr. of 2007, no I reade somewhere it will be latter 2008. I think this is a lot of garbage, why is Mitsubishi waiting so long, do they or do thet not have a firm date. I have been waitning for some time, I have not bought a HDTV of any kind yet, my direct veiw 35′ Mitsubishi after ten years still work fine but I am ready for a large HDTV. No I don’y want a rear projection LCD or plasma… but quite frankly I’am looking into a Samsung 61″ LED HDTV with DLP tech. Finally no lamps.
PLease advise.
THany You.
While Laser TV is not wafer-thin like OLED, it is proving to be the perfect standard for those in the market for large screen, high definition televisions. The use of lasers saves more space than a traditional lamp-based TV, because space for optical filters, lenses and other parts are not needed. The result: thinner cabinets, lower centers of gravity and cheaper production costs. The timing is perfect for Laser TV to set the new standard.
I have been waiting for an hdtv to hit the market that i can buy for less than a used car. If laser hdtv is going to be priced as they say count on me to buy one as soon as they are available. One question, do these hdtv’s have to be isf calibrated? Please report on this soon. Thank everyone for their time.
What’s with the delay on this. I own 2 lcd’s
and I’m satisfied with their performance, but
I really am into the market for 50″ plus screen
without giving thousands of dollars for one.
I hope this delay means Mits is doing it’s homework on reliability on a new technology.