Plasma TV's

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have been wondering about this for a while. Are the newer Plasma TV's reliable? I have heard that they burn out in a few years and then become junk. How long can they be expected to last? What brands are better (or worse)? I have old fashioned CRT TV's from the 90's and am thinking of upgrading to the modern age, but it seems like a lot of money if they don't last long.

 

[Tony_SS]

Put your money in the car. Fugg a plasma tv.

 

[85_SS]

They do last. I bought mine a few years ago now and it's fine. It's life rating is 60K hours, which will out live me at the rate I watch TV. Best brands for Plasma are Pioneer and Panasonic. Mine is a Hitachi and the only reason I wouldn't recommend them is their customer service is the pits. Otherwise it's a great TV.

I bought mine before the priced nosedived, so I paid a good buck (same as what I paid for my Monte come to think of it), but we needed to upgrade from the 19CRT LOL We knew the prices would drop a lot, but we got our use out of it - watch a movie at home rather than go to the movies a bunch of times and it pays itself off (somewhat!). That and you don't have to listen to kids talking and some obnoxious person eating natchos with their mouth open :wink:

 

[srercrcr]

I've been comparing plasmas to LCDs and have read the plasma is more sensitive to light coming in windows, reflecting on the glass I guess.

 

[Uncletruck]

I figure the crappier my TV, the more I'll want to get out and do something more constructive. Thus my circa 1989 20" RCA.

But, if you watched as much as 5 hours of TV a day every single day, a plasma with a 60k hour rated lifespan would last about 32 years. Also remember that new technology tends to overbuilt, so you can believe that as they start making the sets cheaper, they won't last as long.

-UT-

 

[custom442]

If a TV means that much, then buy it I guess. For me a 36" 120$ used one is fine, I have a sony that's lasted 4 years and no wearing at all; and if someone hit it with a baseball bat I wouldn't care.

 

[eddieb1969]

85 Cutlass ,

We bought a 50 in Hitachi Back in November . I didnt buy it from the 2nd place i went to research because i got a better deal locally . I researched them online first , found alot of supposed outdated info . The Guys at best buy did tell me that they were much better than they were at first and didnt have the reliability issues that they once had . They do last alot longer and mine has a built in screen saver in case the kids were to leave their xbox on pause for a long time . Thus far it has performed wonderful . The picture is outstanding . It has alot of features and even has a power tilt/turn in the stand . We did buy a wall mount , but have yet to use it . You will find pros and cons , as with anything, but i have found that most that work there (best buy) are trained well and are honest with everything that we have asked about . Hope that helps . 😀

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Thanks everyone. I am a TV junkie living without cable for four months now, and it sucks. I will be adding cable this fall as the Olds will be largely done. I want a gigantic TV for bragging rights, as well as a good place to play GT5 when it comes out, which will also force me to buy a PS3. I don't actually watch much TV, but I love having it on in the background so that I can do educational multitasking ( reading data online while having documentaries on in the background). Plus, soon all programming will be broadcast only in HD, and I don't want to deal with clipping some of the picture or screen to watch wide screen programming.

 

[srercrcr]

"The Guys at best buy did tell me that they were much better than they were at first and didnt have the reliability issues that they once had."

I would never listen to what they have to say, most were flipping burgers last week!