[Las Vegas Dave]

HDTV pings!

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The pinged subjects can be HDTV technology, satellite, cable, and OTA HD reception (Over The Air with roof top or indoor antennas), Broadcast specials, Sports, Blu Ray/HDDVD, and any and all subjects relating to HDTV.

LVD

Note: if you search Freerepublic using the keyword "HDTV”, you will find most of the past HDTV postings.

[James C. Bennett]

These days, engineering timed obsolescence into devices and products is a highly specialised operation. Ever notice that bright pink substrate under metallic-looking phones? That is done to stand out as the products experiences wear with use, making it appear visibly obsolete within a certain time span. Likewise, components are made to partially fail over time so that consumers replace the products using them with new ones. Companies produce new models so frequently these days, such practices are important to pay for R&D cycles.

[org.whodat]

They last until they break.

[Pravious]

Wow. That’s a whole lotta words just to say “beats me.”

[Bruce Kurtz]

My 2009 Sony 52 inch LCD lasted 15 months. Got an estimate to repair to replace the panel. It was $500 over the cost of the TV, provided they could get a panel. I was lucky I paid for the TV with a credit card. The credit card company extended the warranty by a year, and I got about a 90% refund.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

The information that you are looking for is “mean time between failures”. (MTBF). When you know it, you will know how long 95% of the devices will still be working. Five per cent will have failed in that time period. If the MTBF is 9500 hours, after that time 95% of the devices will still be working and 5% will have failed.

[USS Alaska]

Technically, you can replace the backlight of an LCD, but I dare anyone to prove that this is remotely cost effective. You're better off just buying a new TV.

I bought a Samsung 63" LCD five years ago and the picture was getting dimmer so we bought a new light bulb and I installed it {very simple to do}.

The original TV cost $2110 {including tax} and the replacement light bulb cost $145 {including tax and shipping} which is about 7% of the original price.

If it costs $145 every five years to make the TV perform as if it is new, I think it is cost justified.

If the same thing happens 5 years from now, why wouldn't I replace a light bulb {albeit a damn bright one} instead of buying a new TV?

[NavyCanDo]

Sounds like they will last until the next “Gotta get me one of those” technology breakthrough in TVs, that make all TVs before it old school. Not sure what that will be yet. Certainly not 3D. Too small of an interested market for those. But some big jump is 10 to 20 years ahead, you just know it.

[CharlesWayneCT]

One of my big-screens is a somewhat older “rear-projection” model — it has a single bright white light, that is used to drive the display. It fades over time, and will last maybe 15,000 hours. It is however replaceable — costs around $200 bucks, but cheaper I think if I shop around.

I’ve bought 3 replacements, so I always have one around, and I’m on my 3rd bulb, so I still have one left. I’d say it lasts about 2 years per bulb, so in another year I’ll probably buy another replacement bulb, and then ditch the TV when I run out because there is better technology coming.

[ThomasThomas]

More info needed.

Do own a gun?
Do watch network news?

[Road Glide]

How long the screen display and backlights will last means nothing, if the weak power supplies that manufacturers are using is entered into the equation.

I’ve only had one LCD tv so far, and it didn’t last long.

It was an “LG” 26”, bought new in March 2009. Lasted until December 2011, when one day, it just went “poof” and the screen went dark.

Took it to a local repair shop and had them look at it. Bad power supply/voltage regulator. They kept it for a while, then told me the cost would be about $260 to repair including parts and labor. Not worth it, you can buy a new, larger tv for not much more now.

So we’re back to a 25+ year-old tube tv, looking around for a new model.

I’ve heard of numerous other flat-panel sets going bad due to power supply related problems. My suggestion to the manufacturers/designers would be twofold:
1. How about an EXTERNAL power supply (like found on small electrical devices, a “power block” of some sort)? It would remove a source of heat from inside the case, and, it would be easily replaceable in the event of failure. Couple this with...
2. A “power in” port on tv’s that retain an internal power supply. If the tv experienced a power supply failure, it would be a trivial fix to simply plug in an external source of power and get your tv back, at least temporarily.

The article concludes with the line, “In other words, don’t worry about lifespan.”

2+ years of life from an LCD tv is pitiful, and simply unacceptable.