Samsung 8500 series LCD TVs feature local-dimming LED backlights, Yahoo! widgets
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jul 30th 2009 10:28AM
posted Jul 30th 2009 10:28AM
posted Jul 30th 2009 10:28AM
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Now that should be a sweet LCD, too bad it costs so much. Would just get a Panasonic G10 instead.
I wonder if they have improved the viewing angle on these things at all? Because that was pretty poor on their other edge lit LCDs.
Saw this thing last week at a work training.... viewing angle and contrast/colors are way better then the edgelit
Maybe next year
When it comes to LCD, local dimming LED backlight versions are the only ones that pique my interest. If they can get the off-axis viewing to look decent, these have a chance to compete with plasma.
But as we can see, plasma now holds a significant price advantage. I'll look forward to seeing local dimming LED LCDs continue to improve and drop in price, but for the time being, plasma is still king.
Edge lit LEDs use half or less of the power of even the best Plasma. I wouldn't discount what it costs to run the unit in your calculations.
I certainly cannot speak for everyone, but for me, I prioritize picture quality and accuracy above all else. If two displays have equal quality and accuracy, then price (both up front and cost of operation) comes into consideration. But when one display has better picture quality and accuracy AND it has a lower up front cost? That's a winner to me - even if it costs more to run over time.
Wow, I was not expecting the 8500-series to have local dimming.
Will the 9000-series (we knew that would have local dimming among other things) use the SAME physical screen and backlight, or something even better?
That's what I was wondering! What will be the differences between the 8500 and 9000 series. Maybe they'll fix the slow run-time problems of the Yahoo widget engine with the 9000 series to make it actually worth it.
Nice, local dimming!
The price is ridiculous! $3500 for a 46 inch??
In the Netherlands I can buy a 50 inch Pioneer for €2200 en the 60 inch for €3200.
Does it have a highly reflective, glossy screen?
If so, no go.
What do you think?
Of course it does!
Let's see. The Sammy 54" for $4499 or the Panasonic 54" V series for $2499. Duh.
Considering this big boy's features and the fact that 3500 USD equals €2484 I think "ridiculous" is somewhat exaggerative, unless the Pioneer you're talking about has similiar features. But hey, I'm just passing by and have little knowledge on TV's whatsoever so maybe I'm wrong.
Seriously these contrast ratio numbers get so inflated they're basically useless now (even more than before). I'm sure this "7,000,000:1" contrast ratio is no better (if not worse) than the sony's OLED TV's 1,000,000:1
Sony's OLED TV's. Which OLED TV's. They only have one and that is only 11" and that one is way over the top on price.
No comparison hear.
I can say that I used to be a Sony fanboy. They used to make some great LCD TV's. Now I am very much considering a Samsung LED tv when my xbr2 goes to hell.
I don't know, as much as I love my Samsung 52A750 and would love to have the 54B750, I'd have to say for the price of this bad boy and the soon to arrive 9000 I would grab a Kuro 60" or the Panasonic V10 series 54" or 60" next time around for my main movie loving home theater set up retiring the 52A750 to the bedroom.
Someone needs to post an official review once it has been made available.