Real Flat 64" Rear Projection HDTV: As with the majority of other large consumer electronics manufacturers, Philips introduced two new high-end digital HDTV sets at CES, the 34" tube-based direct view 34PH9915, and the massive 64" rear projection-based 64PH9905 bigscreen.
The immense 64PH9905 offers a nearly flat 64" 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display, housed in a semi-futuristic black cabinet. With progressive scan line doubling, Dolby Digital decoding, and a built in HDTV signal decoder capable of 1080i signal reproduction, the 64PH9905 will be one of the best 64" HDTVs available when it arrives in bulk in retail stores this spring.
The 64PH9905's MSRP is a high $9,999, and we expect that competition from Sony and Panasonic's high-end 64" projection HDTVs will drive the cost of Philip's 64PH9905 downward as the year 2000 progresses.
Real Flat 34" Direct View HDTV: 34 inches seems to be the largest that most tube-based direct view HDTVs will be offered in throughout the year 2000. While we spotted one of two 36 inch models, all of the new units from Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, and others in this category offer a maximum viewing screen size of 34 inches, in 16:9 aspect ratios.
Philips' entry into the 34" direct view market is the 34PH9905, and it's a gorgeous 16:9 aspect ratio screen housed in a high-tech silver colored cabinet.
The 34PH9905 supports all 18 of the HDTV broadcast formats, up to a maximum of 1080i. It also features similar internal components to the 64-inch 64PH9905, including a progressive scan line doubler and Dolby Digital decoder.
The 34PH9905 is going on sale worldwide in February, at an MSRP of $5,000.