The Future Of TV Is Here (If You're Not An Impoverished Size-Queen)

The ever-reliable David Pogue reviewed Sony's new OLED television set, the XEL-1, in this morning's New York Times. (Brief side note: why can't they come up with better names for electronics? XEL-1? Come on. Name it, The Blitzkrieg Entertainment Box or Karma's Revenge Lust.)

Apparently, OLED blows LCD and Plasma right out the window. Check out the ebullient descriptions:

"Its picture is so incredible, Sony should include a jaw cushion."

"The XEL-1’s picture is so colorful, vibrant, rich, lifelike and high in contrast, you catch your breath. It’s like looking out a window. With the glass missing."

You may recognize the name OLED from such films as your cellphone. Manufacturers have been using it for years, but it's so expensive to produce, nobody has had the balls to make a TV out of it. In steps Sony (and thank God they're doing something; the PS3 is such a huge disappointment).

Here are the problems: 1) it only comes in eleven inches; 2) it's $2,500.

Right now: not worth it. Wait a year or two.

TV Images to Dazzle the Jaded [The New York Times]