Actually the only reason CRTs aren't as popular is because any TV over like 30" is going to weigh a ton! They are they best and there is no dening that. You need to do a bit more research when you reply to topics.
You need to do more research. CRTs are not only losing in the direct-view market (where the 30"+ sets are very heavy) but they are also dying in the projection segment as well where they are still heavy, but so is the competition. CRTs are not best, based on sales trends it looks like they are worst. Personally I'd take CRT over DLP, but LCD and Plasma are superior IMO.
You're confusing Direct-View televisions with CRT. 30" TVs are NOT CRT. 55" RPTV sets ARE CRT.
Direct-View TVs are absolutely, positively CRTs. They operate under exactly the same principle. The only difference is that the final image is viewed directly rather than magnified and projected.
The reasons CRTs are going the way of the dodo bird are because:
1. R&D into CRT technology ceased 10 years ago. Just now we are getting to the point where digital technology equals CRT. I can't even imagine where we would be today if R&D continued into CRT.
2. Most CRTs, both front and rear projection sets are over 10 years old.
3. People are too incompetent to setup and maintain a CRT.
4. There is 0 marketing going into CRTs because LCDs, DLPs, and plasmas are way more profitable since they apply more to the general population.
1. CRT technology is over 100 years old. It's entirely possible, if not likely, that technology has run its course and reached its limits. Further research also would not necessarily overcome the problems that are causing it's extinction.
2. True, but A. this does nothing to explain why CRTs are disappearing from the market and B. High Def CRTs were/are being sold, people just don't want them
3. This is one of the faults of CRT technology.
4. There's no marketing because people don't want CRT
I have seen $3000 LCDs and they are so crappy I wouldn't even accept one if I got it for free. Just terrible fleshtones, awful black levels, and artifacts due to the fixed resolution, and this is after 2 hours of me going through the setup and service menus. DLPs are much better in these areas, and the only downside is size. The bottom line is if you want a good picture, it's going to take up space - deal with it.
Like I said earlier, there are crappy TVs of all types - LCD, DLP, CRT, Plasma... whatever. Sometimes these crappy units cost a lot of money. But you are using old, no longer applicable generalizations against LCD. A good LCD can definitely hold it's own against DLP. And you assertion that a good picture must take up space is patently false. I get an awesome picture on my plasma
In my opinion the room should be dark when watching movies anyways. And there's always the possibility of stacking 2 CRT projectors on top of each other, although this is costly and complicated.
People have to use the space available to them, not everyone has an ideal home theater with controlled lighting. And sometimes people like to watch movies during the day. The brightness issue is a large problem for CRT.
No way. The only way to get CRT projectors now days is used, and they are ridiculously cheap. $1500 easily gets you a mid-range CRT projector with at least 7000 hours left on the tubes. $500 gets you a nice entry level set that does 720p and 1080i.
Those are still high prices. You can get brand new LCD projectors for less, and it'll have a warranty. And you can still find stores that sell CRT front projectors if you look really hard, they're just not worth buying.