Since its debut in late 2008, Mitsubishi’s Laservue laser television has been met with three universal comments: stunning, expensive and reclusive; the respective third keeping this a still relatively unknown technology.  Will laser display technology ever meet the demanding expectations of the TV mainstream?

Stunning is for the picture quality.  Gushing reviews followed the Laservue immediately after debuting at the 2008 CES.  Engadget called the colors sensational and the contrast extremely intense.  Powered by three lasers projecting a seamless array of pure color, the Laservue is capable of projecting hues and life-like colors normally viewed from your living room window.  When the laser engine is switched off, true black levels are achieved, creating an insane contrast ratio previously unseen in video displays.

Expensive is for the price.  Early proponents predicted a laser television would be far less expensive to produce than plasma and LCD, because of less “internal parts” and cheaper substrate materials.  As with most new emerging technologies, the Laservue primarily caters to the luxury end of the market.  Currently selling for $6,999 at commercial sites, some fans were left feeling jilted and betrayed as the entry prices were actually two the three times early predictions.  The whole economy thing didn’t help either.

Reclusive is for the availability.  Mitsubishi is the only tv manufacturer actively manufacturing laser displays and curious onlookers have to travel to a limited number of high-end retailers to view or review one in person.  The Laservue is also packaged in what is quickly becoming a display antiquity - a rear projection box.  Mitsubishi has been overly protective and stingy with information concerning the availability and details on the Laservue (including a recent manufacturing glitch), with apparently only one demo model making the review rounds.  (Ed. note: We have been trying for over a year to obtain one for a detailed review).

In a apparent viral-inspired video appearing on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, Frank DeMartin, Mitsubishi’s Vice-President of Marketing, explains why the LaserVue laser tv is the perfect technology to tout carbon neutrality. For the first 5,000 Twitter and Facebook followers to join its Carbon Neutral Campaign (CNC), Mitsubishi will purchase $5000 worth of Carbon Offsets from Bonneville Environmental Foundation.  In the video seen below, DeMartin explains laser technology can power a huge 65-inch high definition television screen using less than 100 watts of power.  Plasma and LCD models require four or even five times that amount of power, according to DeMartin.

Mitsubishi revealed through back channels today that its laser powered Laservue TV has resumed production.  After a lackluster debut in Q4 of 2008, several media outlets have reported on a halt in Mitsubishi’s production of the Laservue, from a still undisclosed manufacturing defect.

Mitsubishi’s 65-inch LaserVue is a rear-projection TV boasting a color range twice as broad as a typical HDTV, but consumes significantly less energy than a plasma or LCD. The Laservue is 3-D-ready and is available to purchase for around US $7,000 .  No plans for a European or Australian debut have been announced. A 73-inch set was scheduled for release last year, however, these plans have been delayed.  Undoubtedly, the downturn in the world economy has played a role in stifling the market for premium big screen TVs, but proponents of laser technology still tout the Laservue for its picture quality.

View Laser TV - The Next Step in Flat Screens, a video on integrating lasers in existing video technology.

Due to what Mitsubishi is calling “a problem with manufacturing equipment,” the production of Laservue laser televisions have been temporarily halted.  The whiz kids at Engadget HD are reporting production will resume in early 2009.  This news is a continuation of what has become a tradition of Mitsubishi vagaries surrounding its first generation laser tv.  Details regarding the original Laservue release date, price and technical specifications were closely held by Mitsubishi and only released with the debut of its 65-inch laser display in late 2008.

Despite global economic woes, news continues to trickle in regarding the development of laser tv techology and 3D TV.  The following article from one year ago, recalls SpectronIQ’s foray into the laser tv market, and its plans to introduce a 72-inch model in 2009.  It remains to be seen if any new laser technology will be showcased at the 2009 CES running from January 8-11.  However, you will want to check out Mitsubishi’s booth at South 1/20333 as they will be showing off plenty of 3D TV and 3D gaming on Laservues.

CES: The Laser Cutting Edge

While the reviews for Mitsubishi’s 65-inch Laservue laser tv have been overwhelmingly positive, they have also been relatively sparse.  A 73-inch version was supposed to ship in late 2008, but obviously these plans have changed.  Hopefully more reviews will be forthcoming from this year’s CES.

All rights reserved. Wired Magazine 2008

It’s getting close to the end of the year, so brace yourself for those best-of-the-year lists. Time recently listed the Laservue as the second best gadget of 2008, with the Optima PICO micro-projector coming in first.  The development of laser technology is also timely for pocket projectors, as laser engines are compact, very bright and energy efficient.

Wired Magazine listed the Laservue as the 5th “Top Product Which Helped us Forget 2008.”

Long overdue and much speculated about, Mitsubishi’s LaserVue laser television has arrived just in time for Black Friday and the holiday shopping season. Priced at $6,999 for the 65-inch model, this laser-powered luxury shockingly stands out when compared to the surplus of affordable flat screen models. However, LaserVue is attempting to bring back market interest in rear-projection TV with cutting edge technology and arguably the best looking picture quality your eyes have ever seen.

The LaserVue is 3D-ready, wall mountable, and happens to be energy efficient – using less power than a comparable LCD or plasma set. So if you are looking for the purest picture imaginable, and price is no object, Mitsubishi has this one of a kind TV for you.  Crutchfield is apparently out of stock, but Amazon has a few left in stock.  A 73-inch LaserVue is due to be released later this year.

It’s been a busy week for laser tv news on the web.  To sum things up, Mitsubishi is now shipping its 65-inch LaserVue laser television to select retailers in North America.  Most articles rehash the LaserVue’s top selling points: “twice the color and half the power.”

A few articles recount the tech lounge head-to-head comparison with a Pioneer Kuro.  Read more here.  I look forward to more direct comparisons with other plasma and lcd models (recently price-reduced) and news on the wider release in 2009.

Until we get our hands on a demo LaserVue (Mitsubishi says demand is strong and they only have 2 demo sets to pass around until Q2 2009) we must rely on others for reviews.  The thetechlounge guys are at it again, and this time they came armed with a few Blu-ray discs to compare Mitsubishi’s LaserVue L65-A90 with a similarly priced Pioneer Kuro PRO-151FD 60 inch Plasma.

“At the end of the day, I think this tech is going to make a significant impact on future generations of DLP sets. The advantages run across the board, and the only real limiting factor at this point is price.  It’ll bring you Grade-A, bona fide HD satisfaction. Once the price inevitably drops, it’s going to be even more attractive.”

Read the tech-laden and very positve HD Guru review of the LaserVue.

Laser TV has finally arrived, in San Antonio, Texas at least.  A kind reader tipped us off to an very early review from thetechlounge guys at the Laservue World Premier from Bjorn’s.

“Our experience with Mitsubishi’s newest tech was great, but we’re reserving judgment until we do some in-depth testing with some different source material and in a more suitable viewing environment to get a better idea of real-world performance.”