Laser TV

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.

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.

As news and information continues to trickle in regarding Mitsubishi’s $7,000 LaserVue Laser TV, one finds it hard to believe it’s actually on sale.  However, the rumors must be true because Mitsubishi is proudly offering a LaserVue Premier Account to all LaserVue owners.  There’s even a secret toll free hotline.  For those of us who cannot enjoy an evening of irradiated glow from a new 65-inch LaserVue, there’s always the specs:

Spec Sheet

Dimension Sheet

Owner’s Guide

Height:39.8",Width:54.7", Depth w/o base:10.6", Weight w/ base:136.4 lbs

Bitstream recently broke the news that the 65-inch LaserVue laser TV, shipping later this month to select Mitsubishi Diamond retailers, will retail for $6,999.  While this price does not come close to some of the early and overly-optimistic price projections by Novalux et al., this confirms Mitsubishi is targeting the high-end big screen market.  Is the market ready for a 130-pound, 10-inch deep RPTV costing $7,000, while domination by cheaper flat screen alternatives is all but a forgone conclusion?  A larger 73-inch LaserVue is planned to be released prior to Christmas.

Mitsubishi Electric has updated its LaserVue website with some new FAQs and a couple of snapshots from its April dealer Line Show in Huntington Beach, California.

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More Laser TV and laser light source news as it happens…