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shifuimam · 08:26 AM

So I bought this Zenith 27" CRT HDTV monitor about four years ago. It appears to be going out. I've got a couple spots (purple and black) in the top left and bottom right corners that are getting bigger, and I'm starting to see horizontal flashing bars when there is a lot of white on the screen (like many of the screens on the Wii and its games). With profit sharing coming up in a few months, I figure it might be time to upgrade.

First off, does four years seem about right as far as the life span of this thing goes? When I was a kid, our Sony CRT lasted thirteen years before the tube blew - but it was barely used. I use my TV just about every day (and pretty much nonstop on the weekends), so it sees a lot of heavy, regular use. Should I not be expecting 10+ years out of my TVs anymore?

Secondly, are Vizio HDTVs any good? Sam's has one of their 37" models for only $750, which seems to be a pretty good deal. My ex has a 52" Sony Grand Wega rear-projection LCD that is very, very nice...but I don't know that I want to spend a thousand dollars on a TV. I want something that still has a good quality picture (mostly for DVDs and HD on the Wii and the PS2...I don't own a PS3 or an XBOX 360, and I don't intend on aquiring either anytime soon) and is reliable enough that I won't have to be buying another new TV in a few years.

I haven't been keeping a close watch on LCD TV specs...any particular numbers or various specs I should keep an eye out for

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I know that people ask the brand question a lot - I'm also really wanting to know what my expectations should be for the lifespan of an LCD TV, since my current one seems to have started dying so quickly after I bought it. At this point, on the brand, I'm thinking either the $750 Vizio or going to HH Gregg to try and talk them down on a Sony or Samsung - it's just hard to tell from the thousands of forum posts and reviews online if the Vizio is really any good. Kthx

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Chongo · Dec 17, 2007, 08:24 AM

www.avsforum.com is a good resources as well as Tech product reviews for cell phones, computers, MP3 players - CNET

Now, as far as the Zenith is concerned. Goldstar(now LG), I believe, bought the Zenith name a few years ago. It is possible that it is crapping out. It may just need a degaussing. Has it had any large speakers by it lately?

I have heard good thins about Vizio. I have heard that the same sets are sold under the Westinghouse brand. I'm looking at getting a 32" Vizio for our bedroom, but my PF checks don't hit until march

shifuimam · Dec 17, 2007, 09:01 AM

Yeah, I've tried degaussing it multiple times. There has never been anything close to it that would cause that much magnetic interference. I'm pretty sure the TV's just dying a slow-but-painful death.

CNET gave the 37" Vizio a 6.9...it's hard to know how good it really is, or long it will last.

nonhuman · Dec 17, 2007, 09:05 AM

4 years? My dad's got an old Mitsubishi TV that's about as old as I am. Still working perfectly.

shifuimam · Dec 17, 2007, 01:22 PM

Yeah. That's why I'm wondering if this is caused because..

(a) it's a lemon
(b) it's a Zenith
(c) it was used very heavily for the four years I've had it thus far

...or a combination of those.

I've read that the Vizio has blurring/ghosting problems with high-framerate video games. I'll have to get a Sam's membership and check it out, I guess, before I commit to buying. It seems like the most bang for the buck, so to speak, but I'm still waffling.

Does anyone here have a Vizio that they use heavily for gaming?

Lateralus · Dec 17, 2007, 01:46 PM

Target had a 37" Olevia on Black Friday for $549. By the time I got there, they had long since sold out. But I convinced the customer service peeps to give me a rain check, which is good through January.

Trying to decide if I actually want to use it....

Teronzhul · Dec 17, 2007, 02:36 PM

I have a 24 year old Curtes Mathes CRT that still gets near daily use. A good tube based TV should last for a very long time. I have a Vizio gv42lf and like it a lot. The differing Vizio models though aren't necessarily using panels by the same manufacturers etc, so I can't say that you'll be as pleased with the 37 as I am with my 42. The only real issue with my display is that the black levels suck, but if you can ignore that then it produces a very solid picture.