What's going to take over from LCD/Plasma (and when)?

samsamson

Are both LCD and Plasma TV's going to be abandoned in the next few years?

By this I mean will they go the route of CRT and largely be ignored by manufacturers who switch to new and better technologies. Is the "next big thing" in TV displays really that close?

It feels like LCD/Plasma TV's have only been around a short while but I'm already hearing things about OLED, FLCD etc.

What's the story?

Tattoosnob

Looks like OLED is going to be the next big thing, I think Sony have an 11" OLED display available and by all accounts it's supposed to be like watching a moving photograph, but it's going to be a few years yet before they make big screen sizes that are affordable.

Homer

Depends who you listen to I guess!
Sony CEO Howard Stringer is talking up OLED technology and I wouldn't bet against whatever they bring out being the next big thing!

He was interviewed recently and asked whats next after LCD?

Here's some of what he said...

"LCD growth is beyond expectations, Stringer said, but OLED technology, while still too expensive, is the next thing. Or the current thing, if you want to spend $2,500 for an 11-inch screen. Its contrast ratio is a million to one, he said, a hundred times brighter than an LCD screen.

Stringer showed a new version of the screen that's only 0.3 millimeters thick, and that could be formed in curves "wrapped around your arm," he said. A 27-inch version will be out soon. "It will be quite expensive. The only people who could buy them will be in this room."

It appears that Sony is pushing this technology in part because it's actually manufacturing these panels, unlike many Sony-branded LCDs, which it sources from other vendors.

It appears that Sony is pushing this technology in part because it's actually manufacturing these panels, unlike many Sony-branded LCDs, which it sources from other vendors.



Don't forget if the screen becomes as thin as OLED or other emerging technologies then you will still need somewhere to house the rest of the technology hence the base station like you see in the picture above. So what you gain in the depth of the panel you lose out somewhat in having a seperate media receiver for it.

I saw the sony prototypes at ISE 2008 in Amsterdam in January and while the size was very small the picture quality was stunning.
Here are some photos I took (apologies for the quality, camera phone!)..

KerranJast

I saw those Sony 11" OLEDs earlier in the year at ISE in Amsterdam. They look fantastic. The colours especially blacks are brilliant. It'll be years though before they have proper sized ones available at sub €2000 prices.