OLED TVs, coming? Options

[impala454]

not sure when we'll actually start seein em, but it's some pretty crazy stuff. i know they use OLED screens for some phones and small devices. check out this vid (and yeah it's wesley crusher ) like how thin your 5" thick LCD TV is? how bout 3mm!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ufs9Wx0VXQ

[impala454]

I think what JRock doesn't realize is that TVs don't have all that much of a markup in the first place. Even besides that, I've noticed through following OLED for a long time, that the expectation with this stuff is that it'll be so cheap you'll see it used as magazine inserts and such. You also have to look at the definition of "cheap".

Right now, if you want a large TV that will reproduce 1080p images, you have to spend > $2,000. If you want it to be flat (and by our terms 6" thick or less) and large (say 50"+) you're going to spend in excess of $3,000-4,000. so even if a 60" OLED TV that's 1cm thick comes out at $2,000, to me, that is extremely cheap given the choices we currently have. That's also not taking into consideration the performance of the product will be much higher and use a small fraction of the power of current options.

I have a feeling though that they will be even cheaper than that though. I mean we're talking about going from having expensive, custom engineered machines building current panels, to having what's essentially an inkjet printer printing out the display material in giant rolls. that's a huge leap, and there's too many electronics companies out there and too many consumers who want the biggest baddest TV but can't afford it, for this stuff to remain an exclusive commodity.

[pebkac]

I think what JRock doesn't realize is that TVs don't have all that much of a markup in the first place. Even besides that, I've noticed through following OLED for a long time, that the expectation with this stuff is that it'll be so cheap you'll see it used as magazine inserts and such. You also have to look at the definition of "cheap".

TVs are one of the few consumer electronics pieces of hardware that DOES have a high markup. My managers love it when we sell them because they're an easy $800 of pure margin.

Irregardless, if the process to make it is as simple as you say it is, all that may very well change in the near future.

This post has been edited by pebkac: Sep 14 2007, 11:01 PM