Planar introduces true High-Definition 42-inch Plasma TV

Planar Systems, Inc., a worldwide leader in flat-panel display systems, is expanding its home entertainment offerings with the introduction of a true high-definition (HD) 42-inch plasma television. Leveraging 20 year's experience in the flat-panel display industry, Planar has created the Planar PDP42HD to offer consumers the best combination of image quality, performance and price in the 42-inch HD plasma display category.

The Planar PDP42HD is a 42-inch plasma television that produces a true 720p (1024 x 768) high-definition picture with a contrast ratio of 800:1, delivering cinema-quality images and vibrant colors. With seven input options, the PDP42HD enables users to connect to a broad range of entertainment sources, displaying images from devices including video cameras, gaming consoles, HDTV and DVD players. The PDP42HD also allows the viewing of multiple images at once, through its picture-in-picture (PIP) capability, and the remote control can be used to zoom in and out of images and freeze images on-screen.

"Consumer interest in plasma technology is increasing due to its thin form factor, excellent performance and attractive prices," said Riddhi Patel, senior analyst at iSuppli/Stanford Resources. "The consumer plasma market is expected to grow from 739,000 units in 2003 to 6.1 million in 2007, for a compounded annual growth rate of 70 percent."

Planar will showcase the PDP42HD in Dell's booth (No. 21872) at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Jan. 8-11, 2004. The Planar PDP42HD will be available January 2004 with an MSRP of $3,999 through online and direct retailers, including Dell, PC Connection, PC Mall and Tiger Direct. The PDP42HD is backed by Planar's Customer First warranty, featuring free 2-day-air advance replacement for one year.

"With the launch of the Planar PDP42HD plasma, Planar is demonstrating its commitment to the home entertainment market, delivering true high-definition, cinema-quality experience to consumers at a very competitive price," said Erick Petersen, vice president and general manager of the commercial business at Planar. "We've leveraged our experience in the display industry with successful 42-, 50- and 60-inch plasma displays and will continue to nurture our strong relationships with online and direct resellers to offer consumers the best quality displays."
Planar's first high-definition plasma television, with an integrated tuner and speakers, allows for viewing of true, high resolution signals without compression of the image, creating stunning picture quality. In addition, the company offers a wide range of true, high definition, flat-panel displays for use in both home and business environments, including 50- and 60-inch plasma displays and 15- and 17-inch LCD TVs. Planar's comprehensive suite of home entertainment products also includes a HDTV-compatible 42-inch plasma display as well as desktop LCD monitors.