FanofUlf wrote:I just can't spend 1200 again, and I disagree with "it happens". Baloney, my CRT TV from 1990 lasted 20 years. Mass produced electronics with 21st century top of the line 1000 dollar price tags DO NOT just fail, nor should it be implied this a non-chalent, easy going, live and let die situation.
I don't mean to be casual or callous to the fact, but this is the reality. This is what is considered acceptable now, if not by you then by the manufacturers. They are creating tv's the way computers are created - with a 3-6 year planned obsolescence period. Your only defense is to buy an extended service plan or to accept that you will be replacing a tv much more frequently than your parents did. If they thought they would last more than one year (or cared that they did) then the warranty would be for longer than one year.
They are not top of the line in terms of overall component quality - they are mass produced with mass produced components just like the cars, air conditioners, dishwashers, etc that have parts that go bad and need to be replaced. The problem is that this was the most expensive part that could go bad - liked a blown head gasket on a car would be.
A lady was buying a 60" $3000 tv off me one night and said "for $3000, it better last." Why would it stand any better chance of lasting than the $150 one? They are basically the same thing from a technological stand point. The more expensive one just has more computer chips and image processors to go bad in it.
You will find a larger and overall nicer plasma in the $600-$800 price range than you would an LCD. LG PV450, Samsung D530 and Panasonic S30. However, these are all last years model numbers and they are physically hard to find in stores. Walk into a Best Buy, Sears, or HH Gregg right now and you will think they are closing up shop. All the new stuff will be coming in the next 6 weeks or so.