Nakamichi looks to the KIMONO for LCD design inspiration

While we enjoy sporting a snazzy kimono as much as the next guy/girl, we're not sure that we want our super-expensive LCD TV to be fashioned after said article of clothing. Nonetheless, Nakamichi has just unveiled a new flat panel lineup with a swooping lower bezel called the KIMONO series, complete with an "asymmetrical fold" designed to resemble the overlapping sections of the traditional Japanese robe. Besides the questionable aesthetics, however, the 42- and 47-inch KIMONOs offer quite an attractive feature set, complete with full 1,080p resolution, a 5.1 channel amplifier outlet (when hooked up to external speakers, the TV acts as the center channel), both analog and DVB-T tuners, a built-in DVD player, integrated FM radio, and our old favorite, an HDMI input for getting your Blu-ray or HD DVD on. Other nice touches include a USB 2.0 jack and 6-in-1 card reader (even xD gets some love here), allowing you to view pictures and presumably video content captured from a variety of sources. Pricing and availability are as yet unannounced, but if the company's $512 Lumos portable DVD player is any indication, you'll definitely be paying a premium for the privilege of sporting such an, um, unique design.

[Robin O'Neil @ Sep 7th 2006 2:09PM]

One way to design a new product
Take two expensive existing products and put them together to form a new design
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/web2/systems/product.asp?section=systems&sub=tv&prodid=121
and
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/web2/systems/product.asp?section=systems&sub=tv&prodid=442

[pito189 @ Sep 7th 2006 2:42PM]

Reminds me more of a homeplate from baseball than a kimono. Looks like tons of features though.

[locomoco @ Sep 7th 2006 3:24PM]

Seems odd that Nakamichi would build it with it appearing that the right side is folded over the left... you usually don't don't wear a kimono folded that way unless you're dead.

[DrThaddeusVenture @ Sep 7th 2006 4:03PM]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is kimono inspired but ok...

Descent specs and I love black brushed metal buttons even though I don't like to see buttons on the front of my TV. (although I can't see any details in the picture to know where the buttons are)

The screen to bessel ratio is pretty bad and the small base looks unsteady. All-in-one devices are just bad bad engineering.

[DarkFader @ Sep 7th 2006 5:32PM]

@locomoco: a TV is supposed to be dead, perhaps that's why.

[craig bromberg @ Sep 7th 2006 5:44PM]

ridiculous.

have a look at samsung's new 40 inch lcd. not only is the design far more sophisticated. it's also many hundreds $$$ cheaper.

[Perrey Z. @ Sep 8th 2006 7:32AM]

They are ripping off Samsung's design and claiming it "unique" this thing looks more like Origami than a Kimono.

Nakamichi is not even Japanese-owned, they are part of a Hong Kong-based company who also own the Akai trademark.