How thin do you need an HDTV to be? LG displays a 0.1-inch-thick LCD display

When it comes to electronics, thin is pretty much always in. So everyone gets incredulous when the latest super-svelte HDTV is revealed, pondering just how close to the wall you can hang an ever-thinner screen. Today is another one of these days, as LG has unveiled a new LCD display that measures a mere 2.6mm—or 0.1 inch—thick.

The 42-inch 1080p panel makes the company's previous record-setting ultra-slim screen look corpulent at 5.9mm. LG says that using a combination of LED backlighting and "proprietary optical film technology" provided the breakthrough to make a TV an additional 3mm skinnier. Despite its debut, the panel wasn't tied to a specific product announcement; the screen will be shown privately at CES next month, where LG may or may not reveal more details about its commercial availability.

What sometimes gets lost in the screen anorexia competition is just what value the extra slimness provides to the consumer. If you're mounting the set against the wall, it might appear a little sleeker hanging there, but it won't make the viewing experience any different. Plus, you'll need to hide all the cables and set-top boxes to complete the look anyway. I'll grant that at 8.8 pounds, the LG makes the actual initial lifting of the set a whole lot easier than an 80-pound plasma, but once it's set up, what's the difference? Am I mistaken that the ooh value is much bigger than the use value? Let us know in the TalkBack section.