Week 21, 2003 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Q) Do you know anything about the reliability of flat-screen TVs?
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\nI am THINKING of getting one. It’s a 20-inch LCD (whatever that means), made by Sharp. The main reason I’m thinking of getting it (not because of what it COSTS) is because it won’t take up much space; my space is limited. But I won’t get it if it’s not reliable. I wonder: if you have to have it worked on, does the repairman say, “We don’t know enough about these yet to even know how to fix it”. They’ll probably hit me with the inevitable extended warranty too.
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\nJust wondered what, if anything, you know about the quality of flat-screen TVs in general, and, this brand in particular. It’s not a decision I want to rush into.<\/p>\n
-Mindy Cecero<\/p>\n
A) Flat-screen TVs come in several forms. \u00a0 One example is a television with a flat-faced picture tube, such as the Sony Wega series. \u00a0 These use a conventional picture tube, but with a flat front. \u00a0 Plasma televisions, and LCD models such as the Sharp you are considering, are more properly called flat-panels to differentiate them from flat-screen tube TVs such as the Wega. \u00a0 \u00a0 Plasma TVs use gas that reacts to changes in electrical current. \u00a0 LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. \u00a0 In an LCD, special crystals making up the screen react according to the electrical signal, creating the image. \u00a0 The screen is backlit so you can see the picture formed by the crystals. \u00a0 These explanations are extremely simple and don’t fully explain the very complicated technology at work, but should give you an idea of the different ways flat-screen TVs work.<\/p>\n
Your main concern seems to be the reliability of LCD televisions. \u00a0 Though TVs such as the 20-inch LCD Sharp Aquos are a relatively new offering, the core technology behind them is the quite mature. \u00a0 The Sharp Aquos LCD TV and other products like it are similar to an LCD computer monitor, but include circuitry for receiving and displaying television broadcasts and video signals from DVD players and VCRs. \u00a0 Millions of laptop computers with LCD displays have been sold and have proven reliable in use. \u00a0 \u00a0 As long as the TV does not have a design or manufacturing defect, there is no reason an LCD TV will not prove to be reliable.<\/p>\n
In terms of the Sharp brand in particular, Sharp is an industry leader in LCD technology and has been for years. \u00a0 Their Sharpvision brand of LCD video projectors is very popular with home theater enthusiasts, and used examples sell briskly on eBay. \u00a0 If you want to buy an LCD product, Sharp is one of the safest bets you can make.<\/p>\n
Extended warranties are largely a matter of personal choice. \u00a0 My personal opinion is that they are unnecessary, offer very poor value for the very high prices charged, and misleading or false information is often used by salespeople in an effort to sell them. \u00a0 Modern solid-state electronics are very reliable and if the product is defective, it is likely to fail while under the manufacturer’s warranty. \u00a0 Even products with moving parts such as DVD players will likely last at least five years, beyond the extended warranty coverage most retailers offer. \u00a0<\/p>\n
One final consideration: \u00a0 the 20-inch Sharp Aquos LCD TV retails for $1,399. \u00a0 The examples I have seen do not match the picture quality of other types of television.<\/p>\n