CES 2008: Mitsubishi Unveils LaserTV

During a CES press event that was long on theatrics but short on details, Mitsubishi unveiled its much-awaited—and oft-delayed—rear-projection microdisplay TV that uses a laser light engine, instead of a conventional UHP lamp. Dubbed LaserTV, the DLP-based set can display a much broader range of colors than current high-definition televisions, the company claimed.

Lasers can produce far more accurate light than conventional lamps. While an average TV can display only 40 percent or less of the visible color spectrum, laser TVs can produce twice that, Mitsubishi said. Like LEDs, the use of colored lasers obviates the need for a spinning color wheel, which can cause the rainbow effect. Lasers will also likely last the life of the set and are more energy efficient than high-powered lamps.

Unfortunately, the company didn't offer many details about LaserTV, other than promising availability by year's end—which is what they said last year, too. The set on display was a 65-inch DLP model, but there was no information about what screen sizes will be offered or how much the sets will cost.

Perhaps the biggest issue, however, is that the demand for any rear-projection technology has been in a rapid free-fall, with some TV manufacturers pegging 2008 demand at only 650,000 units. That's a far cry from the more than 23 million flat-panel LCD and plasma TVs that sold this year—and one reason why more manufacturers, most recently Sony, have exited the category.

During the event, Mitsubishi also showed off the set's ability to present 3D images, teaming up with 3D technology company RealD, which provided 3D shutter glasses and custom 3D content.

—James K. Willcox