I was about to buy a new digital TV and read this:
http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2008/02/theoretically_r.html
THis would be when my old Mitsubishi TV finally dies. Had it close to 15 years.
Turns out new digital TVs last only 18-24 months, 2000 hours and die from:
1) lack of spare parts for even recent TVs
2) tin whiskers due to lead being left out of solder now (affects data centers too)
3) more brittle solder without lead causing heat flex to crack off connections to ICs
4) capacitors that use corrosive liquid electrolyte that self-destructs
And extended warranties can be useless as they give you the runaround at times.
What is the solution?
I’m not sure but could include:
standardization by a mfgr of parts,
avoidance of short-life parts
new technologies that have longer lifetimes
maybe separate tuner and TV to increase modularity for replacement/ repairs?
I guess smaller LCDs are less prone to this due to lower heat buildup, less parts, etc.
