Sharp, Pioneer, Sony and JVC all are touting slim HDTVs, but for the moment, Hitachi has taken a thin lead (get it?) with its line of Ultra Thin 1.5-inch thin line of full HD LCD TVs. Due in the early spring for prices yet to be determined, there'll be 32- , 37- , and 42-inch models with the same flat front and flat back.

Hitachi achieved the thinness using a variety of proprietary parts and technology too copious (and boring) to list, and there's no bulging internal tuner since you'll likely hook the TV to a cable or satellite box. They've been available in Japan for about a month, the lucky stiffs. With the yen-dollar disaster, knowing what they're selling for in Japan won't help figure out what they'll be sold for here.

Hitachi also showed off a 1.5-inch 50-inch plasma due in 2009, but that could be eclipsed by Pioneer, which has promised an even skinnier 9mm (.35 inch) 50-inch plasma also in 2009 and Sony says its 3mm (.11 inch) emaciated OLEDs HDTVs will be available around the same time.