New TV technology ?

Last month's Sound & Vision.

it's also in March's issue of "CustomRetailer".
(S)urface Conductor (E)lectron-emitter (D)isplay. Basically, some advancement in CRT tech have been made, which allows CRT to be integrated into "flat pannel" technology, for supposed superior results over current plasma and LCD. You'll get all the benefit of CRT's great potential picture, like supper sharp image, low heat, and supesr dynamic range/contrast and blacks, even spot on color...but it will all be flat!
I think they use many super tiny CRT's that are charged from a flat plat behind them. They couldn't do this tech before in the past, but now can.
I'm sure I'm missing a ton, but basically, it's "flat CRT" I gather.

The surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) is a flat-panel, high-resolution display currently under development by Canon and Toshiba. It is expected to gain wide acceptance for use in television receivers. Some SEDs have a diagonal measurement exceeding one meter (approximately 40 inches), yet they consume only about 50 percent of the power of cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays, and 33 percent of the power of plasma displays having a comparable diagonal measurement.
The SED consists of an array of electron emitters and a layer of phosphor, separated by a small space from which all the air has been evacuated. Each electron emitter represents one pixel (picture element). The SED requires no electron-beam focusing, and operates at a much lower voltage than a CRT. The brightness and contrast compare favorably with high-end CRTs. Prototype electron emitters have been developed with diameters of a few nanometers (billionths of a meter). This leads some engineers to believe that SED technology can offer unprecedented image resolution. Consumer units are expected to be available in 2002.

For more info, go to http://searchwin2000.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid1_gci797765,00.html

The word on this technology is that it is capable of delivering black levels comparable to CRT, which is still unmatched by plasma, DLP, LCOS, etc. Also, the speed at which the pixels turn off and on is suppose to be faster than plasma sets and MUCH faster than LCD sets. All of this, plus the advantages mentioned above, make this technology promising.

However, because it is a display device based on elctrons exciting phosphors, it is, like plasma and CRT sets, subject to burn-in problems. I would like to know just how sensitive, relative to those other types of display devices, and what kind of realistic longevity one can expect, before I purchase something like this.

My own current leaning is toward the Sony rear projection SXRD set (Qualia 006) that I saw at CEDIA. Fantastic picture -- incredibly detailed, yet smooth and free from noise, reasonably free of motion artifacts, good color and okay black levels. This 70" set can be comfortably viewed at distances that are much closer than I would view a 42" plasma set (pixel structure is not annoyingly prominent).

"Consumer units are expected to be available in 2002." Seems like they may have run in to some difficulties getting the technology right (or affordable) given it is 3 years behind schedule. Is it real, or just another dream?