Thoughts on DLP...

[ggiese]

the older LCDs didnt have a life of that long though. I guess it depends on what you buy but the DLPs out now shouldnt have any problems. I think also LCD screens can have the "burn in' effect if your using them for say a game system or even if you have your computer hooked up to it and use it alot for word or exel programs. DLP's wont get anything "burned in" the screen.

As for the moving parts, I wouldnt even worry about those breaking at all. If it does, it should be covered by the factory warranty.

I used to work at Circuit City and when you buy a TV like that, you can usually get the store warranty thrown in with the TV if you haggle enough with the sales person.

Circuit City blows... I bought my Panasonic LCD Projection TV from them with the promise that I would get a $200 CC gift card... (either that or I could get 0% financing). Yeah, right... Find out later it is tied to my "CC" Credit Card, which apparently is not handled by CC, and for some odd reason, noone at the store had recorded on my purchase that I wanted the points... The credit card company refused to honor it - CC refused to stick up for me, or to make it good... No 0% financing either... Fockers...

[HarvInSTL]

the older LCDs didnt have a life of that long though. I guess it depends on what you buy but the DLPs out now shouldnt have any problems. I think also LCD screens can have the "burn in' effect if your using them for say a game system or even if you have your computer hooked up to it and use it alot for word or exel programs. DLP's wont get anything "burned in" the screen.

As for the moving parts, I wouldnt even worry about those breaking at all. If it does, it should be covered by the factory warranty.

I used to work at Circuit City and when you buy a TV like that, you can usually get the store warranty thrown in with the TV if you haggle enough with the sales person.

When you say older lcd's, are you talking about LCD Rear Projection TV's, LCD Flat Panel TV's/Monitors, LCD Projectors???

I don't see how any manufactor could have released any LCD product with a MTBF below 40000 hours. If you have any exact models or brands in question let me know and I'll find out.

LCD TV's are not affected by burn in either.

Circuit City blows... I bought my Panasonic LCD Projection TV from them with the promise that I would get a $200 CC gift card... (either that or I could get 0% financing). Yeah, right... Find out later it is tied to my "CC" Credit Card, which apparently is not handled by CC, and for some odd reason, noone at the store had recorded on my purchase that I wanted the points... The credit card company refused to honor it - CC refused to stick up for me, or to make it good... No 0% financing either... Fockers...

Honestly any big name electronics retail is going to have shitty service. Sure you might get a good sales person from time to time. But their overall objective is to make money, not to be concerned with saving you money.

The best service I've gotten have been from local family run stores that have been around for a few years. Problem with that is I would normally pay 20% more than what I could get it for at Best Buy or CC.

[bard]

TI is the only mfg of DLP chips because, well, we invented it I bought a 46" Samsung several years ago through a work discount purchase plan (TI employee if you haven't already caught that hint) and I absolutely love it. Yes, it is comprised of millions of tiny mirrors that are constantly moving to give you the different colors for each pixel by reflecting a white light that is coming through a revolving color wheel (timing must be a real biotch!), but the movement is extremely tiny and lifetime expectations are ~20 years according to some documents I just Googled up. How many dead pixels or lines have you seen on LCD screens The sharpness of my 720p unit is amazing. I can't imagine how nice the new 1080p units are. This is the main tv of my home of 4 tv-aholics so it's racked up a ton service hours without a hitch. I'm still on the original bulb (only expected maintenance part) and I've never seen a rainbow, but that is supposed to be something to do with the viewers eyes so you'll either see it or you won't. I do notice a wierd shimmering of flesh tones on occasion if the lighting of the scene and video source are just right, but my wife can't see it. There is an occasional high pitched humming coming from the unit when you first turn it on that is either the color wheel motor or just an artifact of the high intensity bulb heating up. I have no idea which it is but it quits within 5 minutes on the rare occasion that it happens. There are no unusual lighting limitations of the room like a typical old school rear projection screen and the x-axis viewing angle is larger than any rear projection I've had a chance to compare to. The y-axis is more limited than the x-axis but it's completely viewable between the ranges of sitting on the floor and standing. Is it as nice as Plasma? No, but it's also way cheaper. LCD? Depends on the models you're comparing. Even if I weren't an employee I would consider DLP the best bang for the buck option out there.

I'll shut up now and let you get back to your regularly scheduled program

[HarvInSTL]

I've never seen a rainbow, but that is supposed to be something to do with the viewers eyes so you'll either see it or you won't. There is an occasional high pitched humming coming from the unit when you first turn it on that is either the color wheel motor or just an artifact of the high intensity bulb heating up.

If its under warranty or a service plan have a tech come out. It is your color wheel, or more specifically your color wheel bearings.

Its pretty easy to replace on the Samsungs, well at least the older ones. So if its not under warranty you could do it yourself.

As far as the rainbow goes, its hit or miss. Like you said some can see it, and other can't.
Everyone I know that has been able to see it on an older set with a 2x color wheel couldn't see it once they looked at a set with a 4x color wheel.