Household heater meshes with LCD, acts like a fireplace

Not really keen on coughing up the dough required to retrofit a chimney in your domicile? Fret not, dear fireplace lovers, as a somewhat chintzy new device from Japan promises to provide the heat your body needs along with the (artificial) glow of slowly burning logs to boot. From what we can glean from the wonders of machine translation, this creature boasts an LCD which shows a heartwarming image of burning logs while the vents beneath actually warm your heart. Not bad for ¥25,800 ($241), not bad at all.

[Via Dvice]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:26PM]

This is cool. Seems really great for people living in a smaller apartment or studio and don't have real fireplaces, but would like to have one.

I would totally buy one of these, but currently I'm stuck at home and therefore have no need. But it's still pretty!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:26PM]

Haha, should've seen this one coming. Not a bad idea though, especially with the price of gas.

[Richard Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:27PM]

It could be just a very inefficient LCD monitor?

[Ghen Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:27PM]

I want that on my desk at work. Can you just imagine the looks you'd get? Does it come with speakers??!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:28PM]

Are you sure it's an LCD? It looks to me like a cheap piece of plastic with lights behind it... like they have at home depot for about the same price :-P

[Branhower Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:33PM]

FIRE!!! Oh, wait...

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:48PM]

$241? When is the fire-sale? -^_^-

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:52PM]

That's $*@(#$ amazing!

I'm also a fan of the virtual fireplace during Christmas time that they play on some cable channels.

[hotpuck6 Posted Feb 1st 2008 4:09PM]

i hope it blows the scent of burning wood as well, i like that better than the heat provided by a fireplace.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 4:17PM]

if it's a true lcd screen..it could possibly be hacked to be used as a monitor/tv?

[PGPProtector Posted Feb 1st 2008 4:26PM]

Looking at the site & other pictures.
1) The Firelogs are NOT an Image but lighted logs like all the other electric fireplace heaters out there.
2) The "LCD" of this LCD Fireplace is the timer (The little triangle thing on top)

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 4:36PM]

but can it play doom? (sorry...seemed like an appropriate quip lol)

[NO DOUBT GET LOUD Posted Feb 1st 2008 4:36PM]

Im guessing its run by an xbox 360.

[Gregorian Posted Feb 1st 2008 4:59PM]

Shame it's not a real LCD.
You could then turn it into an aquarium in the summer.
Or a cage full of mice or hamsters for the kids to play with.

This thing also needs a 3D mode. Put on the glasses for that added realism.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 5:11PM]

I can't wait for LCD windows in houses instead of normal ones.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 5:20PM]

Its a telescreen, Big Brother is watching you!

[EtherGnat Posted Feb 1st 2008 7:21PM]

I just gave up on our fireplace (which we've never used) and put a 50" Plasma TV in front of it on the raised hearth. I bought an HD-DVD fireplace video for $15 on Amazon and for the first time we had a roaring, crackling fire in our family room. It was pretty cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 7:57PM]

weird... I cant reply on comments...

Yes you are right, its no lcd... you can feel the 3d plastic here
http://shop.hammer-price.jp/goods_detail.php?goodsIdx=12110#

just toggle between the 2 pictures...

sad!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 1st 2008 7:41PM]

I bet GreenPeace likes this.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 2nd 2008 1:14AM]

I can't reply to comments either...

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2008 9:18PM]

I can see how someone in a condo might want something like this, but I recommend a wood-burning fireplaces or wood stove: http://lowtechtimes.com/2008/02/03/fireplace-buying-guide/

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2008 2:31AM]

My grandfather already has one like this. Only, it's not an LCD, it's a screen of LEDs, programmed to show flames rising. It's fairly horrible.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 6th 2008 8:50AM]

Are there any functions other than just a replica of fireplace? Why not just stick a picture on the wall which is very very very much less than the price to buy this thing.

http://giftgadgetgateway.com