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Samsung SDI Co. (Seoul, Korea) (www.samsung.com)
has developed the world's thinnest cathode-ray tubes for TVs,
overcoming one of CRT's weakest points. A CRT can provide higher-resolution
images than that offered by a liquid-crystal display at one-third
the price. But the thickness of a CRT has been a major drawback.
Other distinctions between the technologies include weight, heat
dissipation and total power draw all in favor of the LCD.
The new CRT display, dubbed 'Vixlim' for 32-inch (81-centimeter)
digital TVs, is only 13.8 inches thick-almost half the 19 to 24
inches of traditional CRTs.
The South Korean firm plans to start production and shipments
of the new CRTs toward the end of this year. The new picture tube
is certain to drive down LCD prices, adding fuel to competition
in flat-panel TVs among companies in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan,
an industry observer said.
While an LCD is about 4 inches thick on average, and still slimmer
than the recently developed CRT, the new tube is only as thick
as a DVD player or VCR. According to Samsung SDI, there is no
need to invest in new production facilities for CRTs since the
company can use existing production lines to produce the unit.
This factor then allows TV makers to commercialize a 32-inch CRT
television at a cost of $1,000 each - less than one-third the
price of an LCD-TV of the same size, currently shipping at more
than $3,000.
The new tube's brightness and viewing angles are about the same
as those of current CRTs. Samsung SDI is the world's largest CRT
maker producing 62M units last year. They hope to adopt the thin-type
CRTs for all personal computers and other electronic products
by the end of 2006.
A special team, set up in 2000 within the firm to pursue CRT
development, has achieved a breakthrough by developing electron
beam deflection technology and special lenses. While Samsung SDI
produces CRTs and plasma-display panels, a core firm of the Samsung
group, Samsung Electronics Co., is a major maker of TVs and LCD
panels. These are both competing to benefit from the popularity
of flat-panel TVs.
The development of the new CRT is likely to restore Samsung's
position as a major rival of LCD-TVs. Although retail prices of
32-inch LCD-TVs have been declining at an annual rate of more
than 20%, the growth of thin CRTs will put added downward pressure
on prices of LCD-TVs, said an industry observer.
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