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But Toshiba just abandoned all its LCoS development and announced at CES in January that it's moving to DLP and introducing up to ten new models of DLP HDTV rear-pros later this year. Doesn't that tell you something?

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I just found this article, and it says "Toshiba introduced their Cinema Series 57XLX82 57-inch projection TV at CES 04 and won "Best of Innovations" in its category."

The A 57XLX82 is a 57" LCos television. They won this award, and then abandoned it?

Spiff,

What? You want a direct quote? And who is this guy Adrien Biffen? Did he attend the show? If he did, he coudn't have missed the Toshiba story. It was big news. And in his chart of pros and cons of various TV technologies, he fails to note the so-so contrast ratio of LCD flat-panel and LCD projection sets, although he does mention the limited contrast of LCoS.

Here's the story from the CES Daily, published at the show by TWICE (This Week in Consumer Electronics), Jan. 10th, '04, edition:

TOSHIBA EMBRACES DLP RPTVs, DROPS LCoS
by Greg Tarr

LAS VEGAS -- Toshiba America Consumer Products television marketing VP Scott Ramirez announced here Wednesday that the company has officially stepped away from rear-projection TVs based on LCoS micro devices in favor of the popular and more available DLP chips from Texas Instruments.

For the past two years, the company has touted LCoS televisions as the flagship products in its digital TV offerings, but chip shortages prevented Toshiba from delivering its 2003 models to market. For 2004, Toshiba plans to embrace DLP in a big way, Ramirez said.

He said Toshiba will introduce later this year an expansive DLP lineup using TI's HD2+ hi-def TV chip and a light engine system completely designed and built by Toshiba. . .Ramirez said Toshiba intends to use DLP to take "a top three" market share position . . ."

The story goes on to explain that Toshiba is reportedly planning to offer 10 DLP models in 2004.

In the press room at the show, I also heard that the expense of getting the factory "yield" (the ratio of good to bad LCoS chips) to a satisfactory level was a major impediment to the evolution of LCoS and one of the reasons Toshiba dropped the technology.

Regards,

OK, is there a grumpy virus going around?

I appreciate high quality products as much as anybody, but I don't think buying the latest, greatest thing in HDTV is necessary or wise.
Buy something that you know will perform and make you happy for the near term (5 years?), w/out breaking the bank. If that's all I get out of my HD Phillips 60" then so be it. That TV was the best value/enjoyment purchase I've ever made. The picture quality of the "cheap" CRT HD RPTVs is far better than adequate.

I've been reading a lot of back and forth arguements on DLP vs LCoS... I guess only time will tell. Perhaps if Intel can crank out some good chips it will get manufacures interested in LCoS.

Either way, a yr from now I will have a DLP or LCoS, whichever is better at the time =)

In reply to:

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And in his chart of pros and cons of various TV technologies, he fails to note the so-so contrast ratio of LCD flat-panel and LCD projection sets,

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I noticed that too. The reason I mentioned this article, was to hear what you thought. I trust you.

It does seem that LCoS's fate hangs in Intels ability to produce a high quantity of good chips. If anyone can do it, Intel should.

I've still never even seen a LCoS set. Of the "new" technologies though, I've been most impressed with DLP. No they're making DLP sets that are thin enough to hang on a wall like plasma.

I saw the Phillips LCoS set today in a local store, which had been calibrated by the ISF guy who owned the store and was being fed a HD signal from a Samsung Receiver and it was a very nice looking display. It had a Samsung DLP setup next to it, the 46" version, and to me I prefered the look of the Sammy. I have also seen the Toshiba LCoS set, but that was last fall, and I dont remember anything that stuck out. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Also, spiff, why are you on a wait list for the 2900? You're in Oakland right? I was in Santa Rosa this week at the Good Guys store, and they had several in stock, both black and silver. The Magnolia Hi-Fi, BestBuy's high end store also had a couple in stock. It was hard resisting not taking one home with me. But I need a sub first so, it will come later.

Sorry for the off topic post, but just my 2 cents...


**You're in LA. Forget what I said. Maybe you can get GoodGuys to do a store search and have them ship it down for you. Just a thought if you really want it...**

I've got a guy on the inside that can get me a factory refurbished 2900 for under $500. The catch is I have to wait awhile for it. Well worth the wait if you ask me.

I'd have to agree with you on that one!

Did you ever consider the 2200?

I did consider it, but I'd have to pay more for a 2200 than I can get at 2900 for.