Laser TVs launching Christmas 2007

Remember that laser-powered projection TV announced by Mitsubishi earlier this year? Well, another prototype was turned out again today in Australia only this time, by Arasor, the Australian company that will manufacture the unique optoelectronic chip central to the laser projection device developed by Silicon Valley-based Novalux. The new sets are touted to be half the price, twice as good, and use a quarter of the electricity of conventional plasma and LCD TVs and be half the weight and depth of modern plasmas. That "twice as good" statement comes from the tech's ability to up the color content from 30-35% of what the eye can see to 90% for a "lifelike image" on the display. Set to launch in time for the 2007 holidays under Samsung and Mitsubishi brands (among others), Novalux's top-dog, Jean-Michel Pelaprat, went so far as to predict that laser television would come to dominate the market above 40-inches, displacing plasmas altogether. Hmm, well, possibly on a long enough timeline. However, with mass produced SED TVs coming in 2008 and big-azz "Full-HD" LCDs and high-contrast plasma panels on the horizon, don't count on manufactures turning their backs on those massive investments in LCD and plasma technology just yet kid.

[Thanks, David W. and everyone who sent this in]

[YankInOz @ Oct 10th 2006 9:14AM]

You need to re-read the article. Jean-Michel predited that they would be dominate in the market UNDER 40-inches.

My question is, "Can you move it once you set it up or do you sell it with the house like you have to with plasma?" :)

cheers.

[Deluxe @ Oct 10th 2006 9:36AM]

Not if you installed it properly with foresight in the first place :).

[bored guy @ Oct 10th 2006 10:21AM]

"You need to re-read the article. Jean-Michel predited that they would be dominate in the market UNDER 40-inches."

um... reading comprehension

"Mr Pelaprat predicted LCD TVs would come to dominate the market below 40 inches, and laser television the market above that screen size, displacing plasma."

[Stingner @ Oct 10th 2006 5:23PM]

There is another technology that will dominate the under 40 inch display and the company is called iFire.

http://www.ifire.com/

Have a look it's quite awsome.

[RyanTV @ Oct 10th 2006 9:35AM]

"don't count on manufactures turning their backs on those massive investments in LCD and plasma technology just yet kid."

that all depends on the manufacturing cost which would dictate the end cost to consumers. If they can get them low enough so Joe Average could get one of these guys on the wall, a domination could happen. LCD, SED, current gen Plasma and the like are still very expensive technologies for the average consumer.

[Chris @ Oct 10th 2006 9:52AM]

maybe I'm understanding this laser thing, but the way i understand it, it uses high speed mirrors and so doesn't actualy have hard pixels like an lcd or plasma. so, the better the mirror tech gets, the higher the resolution, with no "per pixel" manufacturing cost.

unless it's still based on this 6 year old tech http://www.photonicsonline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={EA2E56F4-057C-11D4-8C30-009027DE0829}&Bucket=&Featured=&VNETCOOKIE=NO
, which is still better resolution than current HDTV.

[Robert Preseau @ Oct 10th 2006 10:13AM]

I'm still trying to figure out when buying a TV became so complicated. Lasers?? Really??? Next thing you know, you'll be telling me sharks have laser beams on their heads too.

[Rick Lyon @ Oct 10th 2006 11:12AM]

bored guy- Your comprehension is fine, but limited as you failed to read both articles. The OP is stating the article misquoted the original article. Engadget says 'above 40 inches' where as the originating article states 'below 40 inches' as the first poster stated.

Lasers? Wow, first I've heard of this. Tho, 'half' the price is what? Why no ball park range? 36" for $800?

[David @ Oct 10th 2006 11:22AM]

This is from the original article (news.com.au):

Mr Pelaprat predicted LCD TVs would come to dominate the market below 40 inches, and laser television the market above that screen size, displacing plasma.

Dominate over 40" is the implication.

[Michael @ Oct 10th 2006 2:52PM]

Why is everyone listing them as an Aussie company when their international HQ is in California? Even their .au site doesn't list an Australian address.
http://www.dragonseye.com/blog/archives/191-More-laser-TV.html

[numlok @ Oct 10th 2006 7:28PM]

Michael: "Why is everyone listing them as an Aussie company when their international HQ is in California?"

Exactly: http://www.novalux.com

Anyone interested in this technology should check the site out. It provides a wealth of information.

BTW: The Novalux laser units are called "Necsel".

[BBB @ Oct 11th 2006 1:48AM]

Good god you are dense. The OP mentions that the demonstration was by an Australian company, which is a manufacturing partner. It also explicitly states that the tech was developed by Novalux. Please read.

[numlok @ Oct 11th 2006 4:14AM]

BBB: Are you referring to my clarification?

The only issue I have with all of today's articles are that Novalux (/Necsel) seems to be getting the short-end of the attention stick. While I understand that today's PR is centered around the Australian partner's IPO (Arasor), none of the stories I've READ today have included a direct link to the Novalux site (which I STILL believe provides much more information on the technology than ANY of the other related links. I just thought I'd point it out, and give the "Silicon Valley-based" team the URL credit it rightfully deserves.

As a related aside: I was lucky enough to view a working Necsel display in-the-flesh alongside DLP, LCD, and Plasma counterparts at SID 2006 (back in June) and have held Necsel laser components in my own hands, so if you'd like to continue your "density" discussion, I'd rather it were related to the incredible number of individual Necsel lasers that can be "printed" on a single wafer or the color density the display was able to reproduce.

Also, in case you're really interested in this technology, one of the main reasons for the decreased weight and manufacturing costs of laser displays (over DLP and LCD in particular) doesn't seem to be getting much mention...

DLP and LCDs both use high-output lamps, and require lenses, mirrors, and prisms to split the white light into separate (color) wavelengths before recombining them again down the "road". These lamps alone are relatively large and heavy units, and also get EXTREMELY hot, necessitating large (/power-sucking) cooling fans.

Lasers need little to none of this stuff, since they run very cool, and are split into RGB beams from the get go.

In comparison to DLP displays in specific, the Necsel units are also able to do away with both color wheels and "light tunnels".

Anyhow, I though someone might find the background information interesting... I hope it wasn't too "dense".

[rob @ May 12th 2007 8:41PM]

There is a high probability that they will provide a replacement lamp for all DLP projector, since the technology has been proven to be durable with the exception of the lamp of corse .Makeing laser retro fit for all those 100,000 of DLP unit out there allready.ya think?