Mitsubishi develops laser-powered projection TV

Just when you've finally narrowed down the decision about what kind of HDTV to buy, something new comes along and throws you for a loop. And, no, we're not talking about SED. Mitsubishi has announced that it's developed the world's first rear-projection TV powered by a laser instead of the mercury lamps typically used in other projector TVs. According to the company, the laser projector offers higher picture quality and a greater color range than plasma or LCD sets. No word on when these will be out or how much you'll have to shell out to get one.

[ScottE @ Feb 16th 2006 7:07PM]

Now we'll have televisions with fricken laser beams!

[Jacob @ Feb 16th 2006 7:18PM]

Can the MPAA rig the laser to kill when watching pirate DVDs?

[Jimmy @ Feb 16th 2006 7:28PM]

1. I wonder if you'll have to replace da lasers like you have to replace da lamps in rear projection tvs

2. I wonder if those lasers burn crap into the screen if you leave them paused for too long like lamp rear projection tvs do

[Crazyglues @ Feb 16th 2006 8:03PM]

Ok I was having enough trouble trying to decide between HD projection, plasma, and LCD, or SED now we got Laser what's next Infrared beam tv's with higher pixel rate then the human eye can see.

With a refresh rate quicker then the blink of an eye... lol

and let me guess these will only cost a measly 2 million dollars / or otherwise know as your first born.

[Jeff @ Feb 16th 2006 10:25PM]

As a CRT fanatic for quite a few years, I know there's only a few technologies that can produce a true black. CRT's for one are the cheapest available type, but SED is coming along, and Laser also has that capability. All other technologies currently available cannot do a true black. They're getting closer and closer (DLP/LCD/DILA...) - But I haven't seen one truly do it yet. It's nice to know there's some technology coming out that can compete with the quality that's been available over 10 years now in CRT's.

[John @ Feb 16th 2006 10:42PM]

can the lasers on the tv kill the lasers they're putting on the NASA spiders?

[Rob @ Feb 16th 2006 11:59PM]

Hey, cool man... I hope it's like the Pink Floyd Lasereum show!

[rektide @ Feb 17th 2006 12:58PM]

When I was doing the DIy projector thing pretty hardcore, we had a couple interesting people talking about their various projects. One of my favorite was the guy who built a rediculously expensive laser TV as a side project at his company. It got like three megapixels at 60hz, some massive sized screen. As soon as they got it working, the company held a picnic with the unit. It looked great, wonderful, but after about fifteen minutes everyone felt like it was trying to subconsciously rip out their eye balls.

Definition: Lasers are focused beams of electromagnetic radiation.

[rektide @ Feb 17th 2006 1:06PM]

Lasers dont burn screens, they burn eyeballs.

[Perrey Z. @ Feb 17th 2006 6:55PM]

Hmm, interesting but... I wonder what will the health risk of watching one of these things be? Just the thought of this malfunctioning into oblivion and burning my iris makes me worry.

I'll say no thanks my plasmas and LCDs are just fine, i value my eyes VERY much., I don't think i have to sacrifice something {My eyes!} beside my wallet for the latest cuting edge visual technology.

[�COM-4 @ Feb 19th 2006 3:48AM]

To poster #5,

LCDs lit with tricolor LEDs can also provide true blacks.

http://www.brightsidetech.com/

[Hal @ Apr 6th 2006 10:35PM]

I saw a long time ago they had a prototype device that would draw the image with a laser on your retina. It was very slim and cool looking not sure what ever came of it. I think it was either on the DSC or Nova.

[numlok @ Apr 7th 2006 6:23PM]

FYI: http://www.novalux.com/
Less expensive to produce, better image quality, lower power consumption, longer life-span (should not have to change components during lifetime).
'Nuff said.

[Krubach @ Apr 19th 2006 10:39AM]

Laser TV's were invented years ago.
Schneider Electronics has done in 1993.
The difference is this one is a rear projection one:

�1993 - World premiere: Presentation of the first laser TV prototype with impressive features - TV set without tube, in HDTV quality, conventional screen diagonals up to 5m, capable of projection on any surface.�

Check the "History" section in http://www.schneider-electronics.com

[Patty Cross @ Jan 9th 2007 3:06PM]

My Mitsubishi 60 inch projection TV DIED after 6 years!!! A BIG TICKET item that only lasts 6-7 years!!!! In my book, THAT'S stealing other people's hard-earned money! My wed-research tells me I'm not the only one! This seems to be a problem with this TV. The warranty is no good. So, now I'm stuck with a huge repair cost....and still might face the same problem down the road...or no big screen TV. So watch out for the Mitsubishi 60" proj. TV!!!

[Merv T. @ Feb 4th 2007 12:20PM]

We bought a Mitsubushi 60 inch rear projection TV
in Oct. 1988.

We've had excellent viewing for 19 years, with only 2
service problems:

1. The tuner went out about 2 years ago and we were unable to replace it(no parts were then available), so we are using the s-video input and the cable box tuner.

2. We are currently experiencing a sporatic(every now and then) fuzziness and at other times a blue outline of scenes and numbers.

We are now attempting to find a fix for these 2 problems, for if we can fix this set, the picture is in our opinion 99% as good as a new set.

[Justin @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:42PM]

DLP televisions with lamps burn out because they get to about 150-200 degrees. all that heat wears the lamp out and it dies. the nice thing with this television is that the red , blue, and green lasers project onto the same type of DLP chip, which then distributes the color. whats good about that is that there will be no heat, because the type of laser used is not industrial strength, so it will be room temperature. plus, lasers never burn out because it magnifies protons into a beam. it does not have to heat anything up to get light.

[Justin @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:42PM]

DLP televisions with lamps burn out because they get to about 150-200 degrees. all that heat wears the lamp out and it dies. the nice thing with this television is that the red , blue, and green lasers project onto the same type of DLP chip, which then distributes the color. whats good about that is that there will be no heat, because the type of laser used is not industrial strength, so it will be room temperature. plus, lasers never burn out because it magnifies protons into a beam. it does not have to heat anything up to get light.

[NoWay @ May 30th 2007 4:05AM]

"We are now attempting to find a fix for these 2 problems, for if we can fix this set, the picture is in our opinion 99% as good as a new set. "

Not be a downer, but have you been IN a store since 1988?? It isn't possible for your picture quality to be just as good as a set of today. C'mon now.

[Bill White @ Jun 4th 2007 12:12AM]

several months ago I read that laser TV's would be on the market during July of 2007. The quality would be better than anything on the market today and at a much lower cost...We are now closer to July and I am not seeing any advertising..WHY?