High-def TV in the great outdoors

Got some gardening to do but don't want to miss Oprah while you're out weeding?

Oregon-based Planar Systems is joining the burgeoning outdoor-display market with a 42-inch high-definition monitor designed specifically for outdoor viewing.

The weatherproof WP-42HD, manufactured under Planar's luxury video brand, Runco, utilizes LCD technology and glass with element-proof bonding to deliver a wide-screen flat-panel monitor that's supposed to withstand temperature shifts, exposure to moisture, dust and oils, and intermittent direct water spray--way more wear, in other words, than the TV in your living room.

Planar says you're free to leave the display outside year round. The WP-42HD's weatherproof aluminum cabinet features an internal ventilation system to provide adequate cooling. An internal setting allows for optimal operation in colder temperatures down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. (Not sure you'd ever find me watching the tube in that kind of chill, but hey, I'm a California girl.)

The display features a 1366x768 native resolution and accurate reproduction of both native film and native video formats (480p, 720p, 1080i). Inputs include digital DVI with HDCP, as well as a multimedia RGB/computer input for gaming, Internet surfing and other computer activities.

The WP-42HD will be available in November. But before you get ready to drag the La-Z-Boy onto the patio, did we mention the MSRP of $8,995?