Samsung Electronics showed off a new line of high-end, ultra-slim, energy-efficient televisions at CES 2009 and planned to increase the proportion of TVs it makes using LED technology. The company has put a big emphasis on LED-backlighting on this year's LCDs, and its LN-B8000 series are the most souped-up models at CES 2009.

The key features of the Samsung LN-B8000 series:

    * 240Hz response time
    * Slim design, about an inch thick
    * LED-backlit
    * Ultra Clear antireflective screen
    * Internet@TV capable
    * Built-in Ethernet
    * Wi-Fi-ready, with purchase of additional adapter
    * Energy Star 3.0 compatible
    * 46- and 55-inch models
    * Available in first half of 2009, pricing TBD

The LN-B8000 uses a so-called edge-lit LED backlight system, is just over 1 inch thick, will be the third generation of LED TVs, which use LEDs rather than cold cathode fluorescent lamps as their primary light source. The company says such devices can reduce energy consumption by 40 percent over traditional liquid crystal display models.

From the specification sheet, the major step-up of these HDTVs over the step-down LN-B7000 series is the 240Hz refresh rate. Like the step-down LN-B7000 series, the major area for improvement is the associated dejudder processing, particularly eliminating annoying artifacts and making the processing look more natural.

Of course, it's also likely that this series will offer different image quality from the other series. Last year's Samsung LN46A950 was one of their highest rated LCDs of the year, so the LN-B8000 series has high expectations. The South Korean company declined to give pricing on the new product line that will launch later this year, but said they will be more expensive than current LED models.