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Question

LCD v. Plasma

Mar 15, 2013 7:24AM PDT

I am trying to find manufaturer information on the comparison between LCD and Plasma expected life. I read here on CNet that LCD's are touted as lasting 60,000 hours and plasmas up to 100,000. But I also read about burn in and other issues with plasma. Where can I find Sony information about the life expectancy of the LCD v. Plasma.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Look around and see what others are seeing.
Mar 15, 2013 7:51AM PDT

Cell phones with 2 year life spans. Laptops around 4 and well, TVs have plummeted and I'm going to share a number that is very unpopular but is based on what folk see as well as some parts used in today's electronics.

5 years.

Bob

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Why does Sony Support respond to some things and not others
Mar 20, 2013 9:18AM PDT

My question seems like it would have a very simple answer. Why is it that Sony responds to some things and not others. If with Mr. Profitt is saying is accurate, it seems like Sony is avoiding a problem. If it is not, then it would behoove them to correct it. There is no way I would spend the money on a Sony if TV's generally are only going to last 5 years.

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I can't speak to that.
Mar 20, 2013 9:25AM PDT

I do know a few maker reps and they dance and sing a lot. I have not affiliation or attachment that prevents me from discussions about MTBF or life span.

But let's be clear here that MTBF appears to be a product's life span. I know this sounds technical but while a products life span is greater than MTBF I'm seeing a lot of consumers pitch a repairable product with remaining life rather than repair it.

So, in the consumer world, MTBF equals life span.

Now back to that number of years I shared. It's not that accurate but you can find many failures of said products to back me up. And look at the warranty offerings. So far the best warranty I'm seeing is 2 years.

Even that company with the fruit logo has items with a 90 day warranty on new things.

This is not a Sony issue but an industry issue. Consumers wanted lower prices so we can get there by dropping the warranty and along the way, the idea of producing 10 and 20 year life span products has been lost.
Bob

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The Industry is Misleading the Public
Mar 20, 2013 12:10PM PDT

First, be clear that I am not blaiming you. I appriciate you responding to my question. Here is a stupid one, what is MTBF ?

Second, is there any reliable data on longevity of a plasma or LCE/LED panel TV out there? I can't find any. I know prices are comming down, but spending over $1000 is still a lot of money for most people. When an average family makes $50,000 a year, its literally 2% of their income. I don't know anyone who would shell out the kind of money big TVs cost if the manufaturers were not playing off the expectations of consumers that TV are a durable good not a consumable good. It seems underhanded at best.

Thanks.

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It's mean time between failures.
Mar 20, 2013 12:19PM PDT

And it's not an exact number. Due to many variables any one component can suffer an early failure. You can read more about reliability than you care about.

This is where you think really hard about what you can fork out every 5 years. I know this may not be acceptable but if we plan for the low end life span, we're better off.
Bob