I‘ve always been a fan of home theater and TV technology. Over the decades, I’ve tried many of the “next big things” the industry has offered: projectors, rear-projection TVs, a 43” tube TV that felt huge at the time, and for a short while a curved TV. Looking back, it’s been a fun ride, but many so-called “game changers” never lived up to the hype.
Not all the trends covered here have made it into my living room, but I’ve experienced enough to recognize a pattern: TV makers are constantly chasing new innovations, and they don’t always pan out. Some ideas solved problems most of us never had, others had technical flaws that took you out of the experience, and others just couldn’t get consumers onboard.
Rear Projection TVs: When Bigger Meant Bulkier
Back in the early 2000s, rear projection TVs became popular because they were the most bang for your buck if you were looking for a big-screen TV. They were far less costly than plasma screen TVs, and there was an active used market. For many, it was the first time they could afford a TV that large in their home. For a home theater fan like me, they were hard to pass up. They dwarfed the biggest tube TVs, and watching sports, movies, and playing video games on them felt next level.
But once you got one in…