Philips New Eco HDTVby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 11 Jan 2008 11:24 AM One of the shining performers at the Consumer electronics show was a new HDTV that promises to sip power instead of guzzle it. Dubbed the Eco TV, the 42-inch, flat-panel LCD television, this new model has plenty of energy-saving features. Among these features are the ability to dim the backlight as a response to the program being watched, or as a response to room lighting. This is similar to the "local dimming" featured on the Samsung LED HGTV, but in this case with Philips, the backlight can be dimmed up to five times the brightness of its normal high peak. The dimming feature saves energy and also improves performance. The power saver mode will prevent the backlight from reaching full brightness. Users can decide to turn these features off, if they notice that the picture quality is affected. With the power savings features turned on, Phillips claims that the television uses only about 75 watts of power, a little more than the standard incandescent light bulb that you may have in your home. Other green features include lead free materials, a reduction in mercury to only trace amounts, and a recycled packing box. One thing that is missing from this model is Philips patented "Ambilight" technology, probably because that technology tends to suck up energy rather quickly. You also won't find any real high-end features on the model. But, if you are looking for a great way to enjoy a flat-panel high definition television (most models are notorious power guzzlers) without leaving a bad "un-green" taste in your mouth, this might be the set to pursue. The new Philips Eco TV is model number 42PFL5630D. It is expected to hit retail stores sometime in March. The manufacturer's suggested retail price will be $1,399. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here. Related Articles: Down and Dirty Guide to TV Types Blu-ray Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantcomputers tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags Eco, flat screen, green, HDTV, television Discuss this article
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