Originally posted by CarpePoon:
Originally posted by guitarman19853:
the "best" (so i've heard) projection based tv's are the DLP sets because when you have to replace the bulb, it automatically aligns the picture. so you dont have to pay for someone to do that.

Problems:
LCD: Dead/Broken Pixels & Contrast range
Projection: Bulb replacement & alignment (non DLP)
Plasma: not 100% sure on the exact problem, but i dont believe they last very well... i think the gas "wears out" or soemthing...



Yes this TV I am getting automatically alligns the bulb. you simply pull it out and replace it from a side access hatch. But the bulbs alone are around $200. And I'm thinking if I blow 2 of these over a 4 year span, the extended plan pays for itself. Just wondering what people have experienced.

I would never get a plasma. They are only good for about 4-5 years and then their brightness fades by something like 15-20% every year after that. And that is only if they are mounted perfectly level and straight. If they are not, then the life expectancy is even less.



I don't know where people get this crap aboust plasma's lasting 4-5 years... My Panasonic plasma has a half life of 40,000 hours. I repeat 40,000 hours. That means that after 40,000 hours of operation your brightness would be half that of when you bought it. And at the rate that we watch tv it would a very long time before you "needed" to replace it. I have my screen on for about 21 hours a week - so if you do the math it will take 36 years for my plasma to wear out.

The only reason to mount them "level and straight" is to keep them from falling off your wall. These screens don't care how they're orientated.

The "plasma gas" doesn't "wear out" - at least not anytime that I will see it in 36 years of ownership. The gas doesn't leak out or need to be "recharged".

I don't mean to jump on anyone's case about this but the above mentioned comment is flat out wrong. If you like the set that you're looking at then get it and with the warranty. But bear in mind that the picture you see in almost any projection tv will fade when viewed from different angles. They look great when seated at the correct height in front of the set, but stand up or walk around and it will wash out. That's why I chose a plasma... Because no matter what angle I viewed the screen from you could see perfectly.

Just my opinion.

Jack