You gotta love technology. Just when you think you have a good handle on the latest and greatest, up pops something new. Enter Sony with its new OLED [organic light-emitting diode]. But like any of the new technologies there is just one minor issue. Cost. Currently the OLED TVs are expensive. I mean really expensive. How’s $2500 big ones for a 11″ screen.

Both Sony and Samsung have prototypes sized at 27″ and 31″ but there are no pricing available as of yet. Also there is no confirmation when these or larger screens will be available.

But what makes this new technology a true replacement for DLP, LCD, and Plasma televisions? According to a recent article in Consumers Reports is what they describe as ’stellar performance’. The blackest blacks and incredible clarity.

So I did a Google on OLED and found additional information on this next generation television at several web sites. Over at Gizmodo they say:

In the end, it’s not a thing you go out and buy. It’s a message in a slender frame. Sony never had massive R&D investment in LCD like Sharp or in plasma like Panasonic, and it’s clear that this is Sony’s way of saying, “Screw all of those, cuz OLED is what will matter, and oh yeah, Sony will drive OLED.” Am I putting too many words in your mouth, Sony? I hope not, because this time next year, I’d like to be staring at a 50-inch version of this junior wonder. OK, 32 inches will be fine. 25 inches? 20?????

It should be interesting to see these new televisions in action. But it may be awhile before this latest and greatest hit the store shelves. Which may be good for us consumers. Because when OLED does arrive, it could drive down pricing on the current crop of technologies. That is one of the beauty parts of technology. The newest of the new knocks down pricing of the previous newest of the new.

Comments welcome.

Full take on OLED is here.