Runco Launches First Outdoor LCD

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Planar Systems Inc. has announced the first flat-panel LCD display designed specifically for outdoor living under its Runco custom home theater brand. The debut of the new Runco Climate Portfolio and its WP-42HD weatherproof display represents the marriage of Runco's luxury video heritage and Planar's history of ruggedized, reliable display technology, bringing stellar video quality and performance to the first luxury display series intended for the outdoors, the company said in a press statement.

"The Runco WP-42HD is the first product that illustrates the synergy between Planar's engineering and display history and Runco's dedication to superior video," commented Scott Hix, vice president and general manager, Planar Systems Inc. Home Theater Business Unit. "From the beginning we said that Runco and its dealers would benefit from Planar Systems' unique capabilities in specialty display engineering. Runco's Climate Portfolio affords its dealers a competitive edge and accelerates Planar Systems' vision of becoming the worldwide leader in specialty video displays, including the outdoor display category."

A 2006 study performed by Quixel Research profiling the viability of the outdoor display landscape in the U.S. provided compelling analysis that the outdoor display segment is on track to quadruple between 2007 and 2009, Planar said. Quixel's most recent study found that significant outdoor living spaces, as well as complementing amenities, have become commonplace in the planning processes of luxury custom home builders, designers, architects and CEDIA professionals.

"Runco's success with performance video, combined with Planar's understanding of ruggedized, weatherproof outdoor displays, is a win-win for luxury integrators and their customers. The combination of talent makes Runco perfectly poised to be a leader in the exploding outdoor market," Tamryn Pratt, an analyst with Quixel Research, said in Planar's press statement.

Runco's 42-in. weatherproof WP-42HD utilizes advanced LCD technology and glass with special element-proof bonding to deliver a high-definition widescreen flat-panel monitor ready for the elements. Featuring a 1366 x 768 native resolution, combined with Runco's exclusive Vivix internal video processing for outstanding imagery, artifact-free scaling and pristine reproduction of both native film and native video formats (480p, 720p, 1080i), the WP-42HD offers exceptional video quality, features, flexibility and connectivity to achieve the ultimate custom outdoor viewing experience, Planar said.

Engineered for maximum durability, the WP-42HD's weatherproof enclosure ensures protection from adverse environmental conditions including temperature, exposure to moisture, dust, oils and intermittent direct water spray. The custom aluminum cabinet is sealed to ensure protection from the elements and features a specially-designed internal ventilation system to provide adequate cooling. The WP-42HD surpasses International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Ingress Protection IP56 weatherproof standards, allowing integrators to "install it and leave it" without worry, according to the company.

Runco has equipped its WP-42HD with a wide array of custom installation-friendly features including a 178-degree viewing angle, an internal setting for optimal operation in colder temperatures (-4°F in Winter Mode), and an RS-232 automation interface with discrete on/off, input selection and aspect ratio control. Ample inputs include digital DVI with HDCP, as well as a multimedia RGB/computer input for gaming, internet surfing and other computer activities.