Sharp HDTV LCD monitor

[Gregg Lengling]

Sharp HDTV LCD monitor : Sharp Corporation has developed a "Mega-Contrast" Advanced Super View Premium LCD that defies conventional wisdom to deliver an unprecedented contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 the highest level in the industry. This contrast ratio goes well beyond that of self-illuminating displays such as CRTs, plasma and organic EL displays, and represents a revolutionary technology which is ideal for master monitors used in darkened locations such as television broadcast studios, mobile broadcast vans and motion picture production houses. In the future, Sharp will be working toward the further evolution of LCD technology for displays designed to support the digital imaging culture of the 21st century.
 
Sharp high contrast LCD
Master monitors used in settings such as TV broadcast stations, mobile broadcast vans and motion picture production houses are typically used in darkened spaces and demand even higher contrast ratios. CRT-based monitors have been used so far for this application, but the remarkable improvement in the display performance of the mega-contrast advanced super view LCDs is fueling an extremely increase in demand for LCDs to be used as master monitors in these settings.

Sharp super view LCD - Digital format
The TV broadcast infrastructure around the world is rapidly making the shift to digital format and demand for LCD TVs, which are designed to be the primary TV set in home living rooms, is also expanding extremely rapidly on a global scale. In addition to low power consumption in a thin profile, and the ability to display high-resolution images such as full-spec HDTV pictures, LCDs offer high contrast ratios in bright spaces such as the homes of ordinary consumers, making possible bright, clear, high-quality image displays.

Sharp LCD - Video images
Sharp's Mega-Contrast LCD developed at this time is based on an accumulation of unique "one-of-a-kind" technologies nurtured over long years of experience in the field of LCDs. This revolutionary technology achieves the industry's highest contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, delivering a wide dynamic range resulting from this unprecedented high contrast ratio. This new LCD will enable filmmakers and video producers to check video images to the most demanding levels of clarity and color reproduction.

Sharp Mega Contrast LCD - Specifications
• Product name - "Mega-Contrast" Advanced Super View Premium LCD
• Screen size - 37-inch
• Resolution - 1,920 V x 1,080 H
• Contrast ratio - 1,000,000:1
• Luminance - 500 cd/m2

[Stanley Kritzik]

Sharp also has, or will have in 4Q 2005, a 65 inch 1080P TV receiver.  I have a 45" 1080I unit, and it's great.  Fortunately, I don't have the space for a 65" unit which, I assume, will be pricey, at least this year.

This screen size is the result of a new Sharp glass plant which cost them $4.5 million, and I think, keeps them in the LCD lead.  Sony, for example, has a lot of catching up to do.  There's no resting on one's oars in the consumer electronics business these days.

By the way, the current price for my 45" LCD is about half what I paid for it last October.

[Gregg Lengling]

Sharp also has, or will have in 4Q 2005, a 65 inch 1080P TV receiver.  I have a 45" 1080I unit, and it's great.  Fortunately, I don't have the space for a 65" unit which, I assume, will be pricey, at least this year.

This screen size is the result of a new Sharp glass plant which cost them $4.5 million, and I think, keeps them in the LCD lead.  Sony, for example, has a lot of catching up to do.  There's no resting on one's oars in the consumer electronics business these days.

By the way, the current price for my 45" LCD is about half what I paid for it last October.

Yeah I watched the price erosion from the original $7999.99 that we saw on the sales floor last fall.  My buyer leads me to believe the 65" will start out at $14,000....maybe $12,000 depending on when they show up.

But remember a lot of these prices change drastically before hitting the streets.  Both Hitachi and JVC have 1080p RPTV light-engines coming soon, and the prices that were originally stated on those will be twice what they'll hit the streets at due to Toshiba beating them to the street with units at 1/2 the price JVC and Hitachi were hoping for.

Just look right now you can buy a 720p 42" Toshiba Plasma (Monitor, no tuners) for under $2k.....

And you can buy a 72" 1080p DLP from Toshiba for $4199.99....


This will definitely be the HD Xmas that retailers have been hoping for.

[Stanley Kritzik]

I agree.  HD is going to be big 4Q this year, and D*'s new channels will help next, too.

Correction: Sharp's glass plant in Japan cost $4.5 Billion, with a "B".  My error.

SK