CES: Samsung gets LED down the path to thinness

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LAS VEGAS -- Samsung stepped up to the CES plate with a new line of LCD televisions that use LED for back-lighting, instead of florescent light that’s the standard but is quickly becoming old-fashioned in the industry.

The LED back-lighting allows for LCD TVs that are brighter, more environmentally friendly and ultra-slim. Samsung’s new Luxia line will feature sets only about an inch thick, including the tuner that some TVs hide in the base.

There will be three Luxia models coming out in the spring. No prices were disclosed, but Tim Baxter, vice president for Samsung Electronics America, said they would probably cost at least ‘several hundred’ dollars more than the company’s current LED back-lit sets that are already at a premium.

The 6000 will be the downscale model, while the 7000 will build on the TV/Internet trend, adding online capability that Samsung plans to deliver in conjunction with Yahoo for news, stocks, entertainment and other content.

The 7000 will also come with a wall mount that adds only about a half-inch of additional thickness. The full-fledged 8000 will have all of the above, plus a picture delivered at 240 Hz to cut down on fast-action blur.

-- David Colker