LCD TV lifespan
tonka said:
Plasmas only last 5 years absolute max and then they die, a normal telly lasts 10 years nowadays.
Plasmas are usually quoted as lasting 30,000 hours (or more for recent models) which is about as long as a CRT TV.
On this subject, I came across the following article:
Plasma TV Buying Guide: How Long do Plasma Televisions Last
The 30,000-hour figure should be comforting, since this is about how long CRTs last. Let's put all this in perspective: Assuming the average household watches 4 to 6 hours of television per day, a plasma display will last between 13 and 20 years. If you think about it, that's quite a bit of bang for your buck.
This article -
Panasonic Plasma vs. Sharp LCD TV Review - also has some interesting comments:
Where the Sharp LCD really outpaces the plasma, though, is in the screen integrity/longevity department. The single greatest distinction between plasma and LCD displays—besides picture quality and coloration—has to do with the imperviousness of LCD screens to burn-in and the renewability of their picture elements. The florescent bulb that powers the Sharp's picture should realistically last about as long as the plasma TV's half-life, 30,000 hours. The bulb may not burn out for a few thousand more hours, but its white balance will probably have changed enough and the bulb itself will probably have dimmed dramatically enough to merit replacement. Whereas one would have to replace an entire plasma TV in such instances, one only has to replace the bulb in the Sharp LCD. The Sharp LCD TV can be returned to "like-new" performance levels with a simple bulb change out, which Sharp's Service Center assured us can be done by the user him- or herself. Thus, the Sharp Aquos line has a big advantage over Panasonic's plasma line when it comes to performance over time.
A well-made plasma may have a slight edge, picture-wise, over a similarly well-made LCD display, but users can count on their LCD TVs to continue to perform, given a minimal investment (around €270 for a new lamp), indefinitely.