Mitsubishi’s LaserVue HDTVs have been in the making for a while but the critically acclaimed high-def set is now available at select specialty retailers. You still might need a second mortgage – good luck getting approved – to foot the $6,999 MSRP, but the TV apparently produces a Pioneer Elite comparable picture at 1/3 the power consumption. Plus, you can tell your trendy poker buddies that you HDTV is powered by frickin laser beams. How sweet is that?

My hopes of owning such a righteous HDTV have been severely dashed. Mitsubishi has priced their 65-inch LaserVue HDTV that will begin shipping to Diamond stores at the end of this month and you may want to sell your car or take out a second mortgage. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the 65-inch set will cost a smidgen under $7,000, which is on par with other 60+-inch HDTVs, but there’s no word on the 73-inch set, yet.

I first saw the Laser TV, LaserVue, at CES and was pretty impressed by it, but as with anything new, I was a bit skeptical. I saw the LaserVue from Mitsubishi the other day and I have to admit that it looks amazing. It was pitted against a plasma (presumably the Pioneer Kuro) and LCD and it was hands down the best of the bunch. The colors are absolutely stunning and so vibrant. A 65- and 73-inch Diamond LaserVue will begin shipping in Q3 with the former being the first to market. Each set is 120Hz and is roughly 10 inches deep. You’ll want to check one out in person just to see the difference.