The Absolute Latest in HDTVs

Sharp's 1080p Gaming LCD TVs are designed for use with PCs and game consoles. These 32-inch displays feature a smaller footprint, a swivel stand for flexible viewing of games, and a bottom-mounted speaker. The sets each have a resolution of 1080p, three HDMI 1.3 inputs, and a PC connection. Available in black, red, and white, these HDTVs run about $1600 and are on shelves now.

LG's Full HD (1080p) PG60 plasma series delivers a high-quality home entertainment experience in 50- and 60-inch (shown here) screen sizes. The HDTVs have a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, a panel that the company says is rated for approximately 30 years, and four HDMI 1.3 inputs, as well as Deep Color, USB 2.0, and A/V inputs.

Though DLP TVs are not as skinny as LCDs or plasmas are, they have other virtues. Samsung's Series 6 (shown here) and Series 7 DLP models feature support for USB 2.0 as well as the HDMI 1.3-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) spec, which allows compliant consumer electronics to communicate directly with one another. Series 6 sets will be available in sizes ranging from 50 to 72 inches. The Series 7 displays, with LED lighting, are available in 61- and 67-inch versions that Samsung touts as exceptionally environmentally conscious, consuming about half the power of a 60-inch plasma set. These new DLPs will appear in the spring.

Mitsubishi did not announce any sets at CES. The company did, however, discuss its new laser TV technology, which it showed in a prototype. Because lasers are the purest light form that humans can see, Mitsubishi says, laser TV produces colors so incredibly vivid that the picture is above and beyond all current HDTV standards. No specifications for the TVs are out yet, but the company says they will be available in the fall.

Each new Sharp Aquos LCD TV sports ethernet ports for accessing Internet content such as weather, NBC news, high-resolution artwork, and other Web content. The D64 series is available in 42-inch ($2000), 46-inch ($2400), 52-inch ($3300), and 65-inch ($9000) screen sizes. The sets feature a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1, 1080p resolution, 176 degrees of viewing angle, three HDMI 1.3 inputs, and a PC input.

Panasonic introduced a brand-new size to its Viera line of HDTVs for 2008. The 46-inch TH-46PZ800 offers 1080p resolution and a built-in SD Card slot in its bezel for playing videos and viewing photos without the need for a connected device or player. Panasonic is also touting the new Viera line's 20,000:1 native contrast ratio and Game Mode, which the company says decreases frame-by-frame lag time. The 46-incher joins the 42-inch, 50-inch, and 58-inch sets in the THX Certified Display PZ800 line of plasmas. The new lineup will be available in the spring.

In addition to this 37-incher, the LZ800 line includes a 32-inch model. These 1080p Viera LCD HDTVs also offer SD Card slots in their frames and a Game Mode setting. New to the Viera lineup is what Panasonic calls Viera Link, which lets viewers use one remote to control all HDMI-connected input devices (including Blu-ray players and home-theater components). The new LCDs will be out in the spring.

This 50-inch concept high-definition flat screen has what Pioneer says is an infinite contrast ratio--which means, if it's true, that the display shows only absolute blacks and emits no measurable light. In other words, you can say good-bye to the glow normally visible from your powered-on TV even when the screen is blank. When this set is displaying images, the picture is richer and the colors are more accurate, says Pioneer. Unfortunately, since it's only a concept now, there's no telling when it will darken your home entertainment center.

This new LCD TV series from Vizio--a company that sells HDTVs in outlets such as Costco--has a sleeker look than previous models have, mostly due to the slimmer bezel. The sets feature a 120-Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, and four HDMI 1.3 ports. You can pick up products in the new SV series sometime in July; they will be available in 42-inch and 47-inch versions for $1500 and $1900, respectively.

Continuing with its mantra of low-cost, high-value HDTVs, Vizio is aiming its new plasma series at high-end users. The series consists of six models that range in size from 32 inches to 60 inches. The 50-inch and 60-inch displays will cost $1700 and $2900, respectively. The sets will feature 1080p and four HDMI 1.3 inputs.

Gamers and sports fans should like this LCD HDTV series. Each display has a 120-Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, four HDMI 1.3 inputs, and Deep Color for producing dark blacks. The company is releasing 42-inch, 46-inch, and 52-inch models; priced from $1700 to $2900, these units will be ready for your credit card in March. (Toshiba made quite a few other TV announcements, too.)

These LCD sets seem designed for home-theater use. Each HDTV in the series has 1080p resolution, a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, and four HDMI inputs. The displays have a two-tone design with a glossy black bezel. They will range in size from 32 inches to 52 inches, and will release starting in February. Pricing ranges from $1100 for the 32-incher to $2700 for the 52-inch set.