Hi All:

I am a frequent lurker and an occasional poster. I have followed HDTV's emergence for quite some time -- looking for the right moment to move into this hardware.

I have a lovely 15 to 20 year-old old CRT-based SDTV that shows no signs of failing. It's probably one of the best purchases I've ever made, in terms of bang for the buck.

It seems that HDTV hardware is well past the early adopter stage, and is entering maturity. Costs have stabilized and are unlikely to drop as much in the next 5 years as in the past 5 years. Features and specifications seem also to have stabilized, with little that is fundamentally different showing up.

One question that I do have is this: is it likely that I will get a 15 to 20 year lifetime out of an LCD HDTV?

Thanks, Ken

The answer is probably. Many people have had LCD computer monitors for 5+ years. It often depends on how you treat your stuff, which manufacturer you buy and of course, the luck of the draw.

My TVs have also lasted 15-20 years, but these days many people seem to be exchanging more often, simply to have the latest technology. As long as the used TVs are not simply thrown away, then I guess there's nothing wrong with that if you can afford it.