The Panasonic TC-P54Z1 is the wafer-thin TV we’ve been waiting for.

As part of the Z1 plasma series, this NeoPDP HDTV unit can produce a 1080p image from a 1-inch-thin design. Even nicer, it throws in access to VIERA Cast, Panasonic’s own web app, which delivers Amazon’s video-on-demand service and sites such as YouTube.

Also, the addition of WirelessHD technology promises a clutter-free setup, because it can transmit “uncompressed 1080p full HD content wirelessly with no deterioration in quality by using 60GHz millimeter wave radio.”

Other features include a 40,000:1 native contrast ratio, a 600Hz sub-field drive, an SD card slot, THX certification and Panasonic’s own Viera Link.

The first entry into the Z1 series will be the 54-inch TC-P54Z1. Of course, like many of the TV models we are seeing at CES 2009, this one doesn’t have a price yet. It seems like a big, thin tease, but the TV should be available by summer.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.