Why is my laptop screen 1/2" thick but my LCD TV is 2" thick?

[MrFloppy]

Got a new 1080p LCD TV recently so that I can now watch the Ravens suck in HD in two rooms of the house :(

It is a 47" LG. Why is it 2" thick while my laptop screen is only 1/2" thick? If it is to enclose the associated electronics, why not put those in a standalone box with a cable to a nice super thin display?

The only thing I can think of is that a 1/2" thick 47" assembly would flex and break so the depth is beefed up a bit to prevent this.

[gazpacho]

The main reason is that it is more expensive to make the screen really thin. In the case of TVs 2 inches is thin enough but in a laptop 2 inches is unacceptable.

[MrFloppy]

Hmmm...so if I was to take a screwdriver to my new telly, how thick would the actual LCD panel be? 2"?

[kanicbird]

I think flexing and back lighting are important factors. Laptops used to use very small florescent tubes IIRC, I think its moved to LED's now. it seems like both fairly expensive to upsize to 47in, larger light sources would appear to be cheaper and more even.

[Gus Gusterson]

Lots of reasons. The electronics your laptop screen needs, like a power transformer, are located in the main part of the laptop rather than behind the screen. In a TV, those electronics are behind the panel. Large LCD panels need lots of backlighting to make them bright enough to compete with a well-lit room, so that's behind the panel too. All of that backlighting generates a lot of heat, so there are generally fans behind the panel. Models with built-in speakers need to be thick enough to accommodate the speakers. You need space for all of the various connections (HDMI, component, s-video, etc.). There is a lot of stuff behind the panel in an LCD TV.

[MrFloppy]

Lots of reasons. The electronics your laptop screen needs, like a power transformer, are located in the main part of the laptop rather than behind the screen. In a TV, those electronics are behind the panel. Large LCD panels need lots of backlighting to make them bright enough to compete with a well-lit room, so that's behind the panel too. All of that backlighting generates a lot of heat, so there are generally fans behind the panel. Models with built-in speakers need to be thick enough to accommodate the speakers. You need space for all of the various connections (HDMI, component, s-video, etc.). There is a lot of stuff behind the panel in an LCD TV.

I understand that which is why, in my OP, I suggested all that stuff goes in a separate box. Yes the backlights would remain and maybe fans although none of my flat panels have fans. Nothing else.

How thick would it be?

[Gus Gusterson]

I understand that which is why, in my OP, I suggested all that stuff goes in a separate box. Yes the backlights would remain and maybe fans although none of my flat panels have fans. Nothing else.

How thick would it be?I don't have a measurement, but this link should give you an idea of how thin an LCD TV can be. Some models from Sharp have a new form factor. The edge of the TV is very thin, but there are a few bump-outs for electronics and the mount for the stand which keep the overall thickness at a few inches. If they took away all of the stuff in the bump-outs (and put it into your separate box), you'd have what is probably the thinnest LCD TV (of that size) that you could have.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/breaking/sharp-unveils-d64u-the-thinnest-aquos-lcd-tv-line-ever-289540.php

[yabob]

Actually, if OLEDs work out, you should be able to get a VERY thin display. And they're starting to appear over the commercial horizon:

http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/oled_tv_technology.htm

Sony is selling a small one now:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137884-c,tv/article.html

This guy thinks affordable big OLED screens are 5-6 years off:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6741419-1.html