Question on Flat Panels

[MacLeod]

My uncle was out shopping for a flat panel TV and the salesman recommended against them and told him that with plasmas and LCDs there was some thingamajiggy that you had to replace every couple years for routine maintenance which cost about $300!

I have never heard of this and was under the assumption that LCDs and plasmas required no maintenance and would last upwards of 20 years!

Is this salesman the usual dolt you find in these stores or have I been missing something?

[JimBRICK]

My uncle was out shopping for a flat panel TV and the salesman recommended against them and told him that with plasmas and LCDs there was some thingamajiggy that you had to replace every couple years for routine maintenance which cost about $300!

I have never heard of this and was under the assumption that LCDs and plasmas required no maintenance and would last upwards of 20 years!

Is this salesman the usual dolt you find in these stores or have I been missing something?

Its lcd projection and dlp that you need to replace the bulbs in. they have a lifetime of 5-6000 hours. Lcd and plasma can have a 60000 hour lamplife. so really it all depends on how much tv you watch. When I sell lcd projos and dlp I make sure the customer knows they will have to replace the bulb. Dont want an angry cust thinking he got screwed in 5 years

[GV#27]

Like Jim said most current flat panel LCD's and Plasma's are claiming 60,000 hour lifespan.

[MacLeod]

Good. Cause I told my uncle the guy was wrong but as with most older relatives, they always think Im wrong! :D

So the LCD and Plasma flat panels are good to go for 10+ years but the DLP and LCD projectors need the 5 year replacement.

Thanks guys! I appreciate any chance I get to rub in his face that I was right! LOL :p

[billbillw]

Mac,
Just so you are clear, any of the rear projection type (LCD/DLP/LCoS/SXRD) have a single projector bulb that needs replacing. They say 4000 hours, but many folks have had to replace these in only a year or two. Average cost is about $300.

On the flat panels, LCDs have built in back light that is rated at 60000 hours average. This will be less if the viewer is always watching at the brighter settings, but it still should be 15 years or longer.

Plasmas are different. Technically, they don't have a back light. Each pixel is its own light source. The life span of a plasma is determined on how fast the plasma gas leaks out of the panel glass. They gradually loose brightness over the course of many years as the gas leaks out. This process is accelerated by high altitudes, and of course by having the TV adjusted to its brightest settings. Early plasmas were found to be significantly less bright after several years, but the newest ones are rated for much longer. If adjusted to proper settings (not brightest) and at normal altitudes, you should get 15+ years out of a plasma now, just about like an LCD.

[danger boy]

rarely do people keep their TV's of any kind for 10 yrs anymore..

If i were in the market for a flat panel display.. i'd expect it to last a good 4 or 5 yrs tops.. imagine someone holding onto their plasma tv for 20 yrs? LOL by then.. we won't even have displays anymore.. it'll all be holographic images.. :)

[ilikesound]

we'll all probably be walking around with virtual-boys on our heads in 15 years.