Sharp LC-BD80U series: LCDs with built-in Blu-ray players

Sharp has announced a full line of LCDs with integrated Blu-ray players -- the LC-BD80U series -- in what is a new product category for consumer-electronics tradeshow CES.

While initial details on the features of the built-in Blu-ray player are scarce, some specs are available for the LCDs.

Key features of the Sharp LC-BD80U series are: an 'Advanced Super View' anti-reflective screen; 120Hz refresh rate, with dejudder processing; four HDMI inputs (three on the LC-32BD60U and LC-37BD60U); two component video inputs; PC input; 32-, 37-, 42-, 46- and 52-inch screen sizes.

It's good to see LCDs with built-in Blu-ray, which can be convenient in locations where you may not want the bulk of a separate player. However, we're anxious to see more details on this series, particularly pricing and whether the Blu-ray profile is fully profile 2.0 compatible.

Some of the smaller screen sizes will be a harder sell, since the superior image quality of Blu-ray won't be as noticeable, although it's still good to have the option to watch your Blu-ray discs on, say, the bedroom TV.

Sharp explicitly said the LG-BD80Us will have dejudder processing, which is a feature that was missing from last year's LCDs. While not every viewer likes the effect of dejudder processing, the option is always welcome, especially since it's quickly becoming a standard feature.

The LC-32BD80U, LC-37BD80U, LC-42BD80U will come out in the US in January; the LC-46BD80U and LC-52BD80U will come out in February. No pricing has been announced for these sets, for either the US or UK. Availability in the UK is also still to be revealed.