Panasonic set to unleash 85-inch 1080p plasma for $30,000
The TH-85PF12U is the size of four 42-inch displays put together.
(Credit: Panasonic)Large plasmas are coming down in price, but if you want to go big--and I mean really big--you still have to pay dearly. Set to hit next month, the $30,000 TH-85PF12U is billed by Panasonic as the industry's first 85-inch, full-HD, 1080p plasma. It's the size of four 42-inch plasmas stitched together.
Panasonic says that thanks to its newly developed Neo plasma display panel technology, "even with effective wide-screen dimensions of 74.4 inches by 41.8 inches, the TH-85PF12U is significantly thinner and lighter than past plasmas, with a main body depth of 3.9 inches and an overall weight of approximately 260 pounds."
Typically, extra-large plasmas just haven't cut it in terms of picture quality, but this model sounds--or rather, looks--more promising. Panasonic's NeoPDP technology has proven, at least in smaller Panasonic plasmas, to produce a great picture while using much less energy.
As for the $30,000 price tag, all we can say is that if you're not a multimillionaire with cash to burn, wait a few years. You'll probably be able to pick this baby up for 15 grand soon enough.
Comments?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
Cut it to $300 and I'll buy more than one.
Sound good? Great.
2203/85 = 25.92 or 26 is the number of pixels per inch on this 85" screen.
2203/42 = 52.45 or 52 is the number of pixels per inch on your typical 1080P 42" plasma.
52/26 = 2
26/52 = 0.5
2/.5 = 4 What this basically boils down to is that for every four 42" plasma pixels (stacked 2x2), you get one big 85" plasma pixel.
You're welcome. :)
@Coprophilous your name is appropriate because you are a huge *********
Yeah, if I had the room and money I'd buy a few of these and couldn't care less about what people have to say about it. I'm heading out to buy a lottery ticket right now.
the problem is . . . the digital projectors last only 10,000 hours . . . while film projectors last . . . well, 200,000 hours.
guess eventually things will level out . . . if humanity survives that long.
ummm... maybe I can strap it to the roof?
- by gedalneil September 12, 2009 1:38 PM PDT
- Kevin Miller of TweakTV was able to get some primary color readings off of the 85 inch panel. Not too impressive it seems. http://www.tweaktv.com/the-kevin-miller-channel/panasonic-th-85pf12u-first-look-with-primary-colors.html
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