plasma TVs

[sol]

Manufacturers are ceasing production of plasma TVs, in large part because they are power hungry (and therefore expensive to run) compared to LEDs.  They also cost more to make, don't last as long, and have lower resolutions.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/30/technology/plasma-tv/

For all of these same reasons, I am confidently predicting that within ten years there will be a plasma TV subculture, complete with forums of its own, devoted to the preservation of this archaic technology.  Just like vinyl records, I'm sure there will be some aging hipsters somewhere who absolutely insist the old technology is vastly superior.  Good condition used plasma TVs will be closely guarded, highly valued, prized possessions for these people long after newer technologies surpass them in every possible metric. 

Want to speculate on my prediction?  Pick up a handful of plasmas on clearance and stash them for five years.  Report back on what you can get for them after nobody is making them anymore.

[Jags4186]

I have a 42" plasma tv I bought with my first real paycheck back in 2008. It is still chugging along nicely.....it does weigh about 60lbs though...  I guess that makes it vintage!!!

[arebelspy]

You got the new stuff Jags!

I have a 42" plasma purchased back in 04, still working fine. Weighs over 100lbs.

[MrFancypants]

Well that's sad.  The one I bought about five years ago for a very reasonable price has been excellent.

I guess with display technology moving to ever higher resolution levels now would be a convenient time to abandon this particular tech if there's better to be used.

[Paul der Krake]

Argh, I almost got one a few months ago! I guess I won't be cool in 10 years then.

[pdxvandal]

Bought one in 2007 and it's been running like a champ (although you can buy a similar-sized one for half the price now).

sol, I hope you're right.

[beltim]

For all of these same reasons, I am confidently predicting that within ten years there will be a plasma TV subculture, complete with forums of its own, devoted to the preservation of this archaic technology.  Just like vinyl records, I'm sure there will be some aging hipsters somewhere who absolutely insist the old technology is vastly superior. 

You don't have to wait. The article you quoted said that plasmas offered the best picture quality in the market.  It's harder to sell "deeper blacks" or "better color fidelity" than LED "lower price" and "higher resolution" even if no one makes any content in that resolution.

[rocketpj]

Like the laser disc movies of the early 80s.

Meh, it's a tv.  The only reason we don't still use the ancient CRT is that it doesn't fit in the house and nothing works on it anymore.

[Eric]

I don't see why you had to rag on vinyl, man.

[FreeWheel]

I wonder what kind of tv mine is.

[NoraLenderbee]

Are there forums and a subculture for the old CRT TVs? How about CRT monitors? I'd love to dump mine on some sucker sell them to a hobbyist.

[ImCheap]

For all of these same reasons, I am confidently predicting that within ten years there will be a plasma TV subculture, complete with forums of its own, devoted to the preservation of this archaic technology.  Just like vinyl records, I'm sure there will be some aging hipsters somewhere who absolutely insist the old technology is vastly superior. 

You don't have to wait. The article you quoted said that plasmas offered the best picture quality in the market.  It's harder to sell "deeper blacks" or "better color fidelity" than LED "lower price" and "higher resolution" even if no one makes any content in that resolution.

Some truth to the above already, a "decent" plasma from my understanding is/will hold a better value. They are nice, just saying because we are rocking a 50" plasma!

I don't really care about the current value, its a still a toss away item. I guess if their is some crazy jump in used price plasma' s I'm selling, maybe!

[MrFancypants]

Are there forums and a subculture for the old CRT TVs? How about CRT monitors? I'd love to dump mine on some sucker sell them to a hobbyist.

I believe there is a hobby surrounding that, but as I understand those types fully understand how little monetary value these items actually have so don't expect to get much.

[Johnez]

A sort of frenzy happened when Sony cut production on a specific line. Apparently those were the ones to get. I've had my plasma for about 5 years, serves me well.

[Calvawt]

i definitely prefer watching movies on my 50" plasma versus the 42" LCD in our living room.

[Outlier]

Are there forums and a subculture for the old CRT TVs? How about CRT monitors? I'd love to dump mine on some sucker sell them to a hobbyist.

Retro gamers are always looking for optimal CRT sets. If you have a later model CRT that has good input options for it's time look for retro gamers to sell it to.

[happy]

None of this flat screen rubbish in my house...

[MoneyCat]

I bypassed plasma entirely but years ago a friend gave me his old CRT 720p TV set for free and I used that for a couple years.  That thing was 50 inches and probably weighed about 200 lbs.  But I could plug my laptop in via HDMI and stream video, so whatever.  Plasma always seemed like such a complicated and expensive technology, especially when LED TVs came out.

[Beridian]

I have two plasma TVs, a 50 inch and a 42 inch.  I chose plasma over LED because the plasma TVs sold at a substantial discount to the LED models.  Side by side viewing I think the plasma picture is as good if not better than what I see on LED TVs.  I found out later that the plasma's do use more power, but I still think the up front purchase price savings made them a good value.

[BlueMR2]

Are there forums and a subculture for the old CRT TVs? How about CRT monitors? I'd love to dump mine on some sucker sell them to a hobbyist.

Retro gamers are always looking for optimal CRT sets. If you have a later model CRT that has good input options for it's time look for retro gamers to sell it to.

Indeed.  I've got some old video game systems kicking around (although, gradually diminishing as they die and are no longer reasonable to repair).  For whatever reason, those games that look plain, but acceptable on CRTs look absolutely horrible on flatscreens.

[begood]

We got a Panasonic Viera 42" plasma TV (at Costco, natch) in 2009. We liked it so much we got a second one, exact same model, to replace a CRT in 2010. They've both been great TVs - gorgeous color and resolution. Live sports, in particular, look fantastic on them. I find the LCDs to be too sharp and the LEDs too cold. *shrug* I don't know how long these puppies will last, but I hope it's a good long time.

My brother liked the one we have so much that they bought one, and then they got one for my dad, so we all have the same TV. :)

In terms of power suckage, they're usually on for an hour or so weeknights and maybe 3-4 on a weekend. And we turn off the power strips they're on when not in use.

[GoCubsGo]

Timely thread... I had one of the original plasmas a Pioneer Elite  (I bought it in 2003 or 4 for the price of a nice used car...before my mustachian days...yikes).  Anywhoo, it just died this summer after years of faithful service (I watch a lot of sports so it got a workout).  I went shopping  and saw the same thing about plasmas getting discontinued (and CNET WAS very upset about it haha).  I bought an LED and I swear my energy usage has dropped a noticeable amount . I think just running the thing cost me $80 a year more than what my current tv costs to run.  That $880 in extra costs over the 11 years could have paid for a new TV.  I'll admit I liked the picture more than my current tv but damn that was a wasteful purchase.

[skyrefuge]

1) Goddamit, they are not "LED TVs"!! They are LCD TVs. LED="Light Emitting Diode". LCD="Liquid Crystal Display". "LED TVs" are "LCD TVs" that just use LEDs for their backlighting rather than fluorescent bulbs. This is one of the greatest examples of marketers creating new terminology that makes no sense, but getting it to stick nonetheless and using it to sell lots of product (everybody knew "plasma picture quality is better than LCD", so to sell LCD TVs they tried renaming them to "LED TVs", and holy shit, it worked!) There ARE actually LED displays, but they aren't really in mainstream TVs yet, just phones (all Samsung Galaxy S* phones have LED displays).

2) Ever since the early days of flat-panel wars, plasmas have always been preferred over LCDs by the TV snobs, so it would not be at all surprising if that cult following carries on, and their scarcity wouldn't be the only driver of that cult. In the early days, plasmas simply did have better picture quality than LCDs, and they still might, though LCDs have caught up quite a bit (with LED backlighting being one of the advances).

3) I have one of the rare HDTVs that's a CRT, bought just as HDTV was gaining traction and CRTs were giving way to flat panels. At the time it was pretty universally acknowledged that CRT picture quality was better than flat-panel technology, but that wasn't enough to prevent the size and cost advantages of flat-panel from taking over (my TV is only 34" but weighs 212 lbs.) Unfortunately I'm not aware of any significant CRT cult that has developed!

[MrFancypants]

We got a Panasonic Viera 42" plasma TV (at Costco, natch) in 2009. We liked it so much we got a second one, exact same model, to replace a CRT in 2010. They've both been great TVs - gorgeous color and resolution. Live sports, in particular, look fantastic on them. I find the LCDs to be too sharp and the LEDs too cold. *shrug* I don't know how long these puppies will last, but I hope it's a good long time.

My brother liked the one we have so much that they bought one, and then they got one for my dad, so we all have the same TV. :)

In terms of power suckage, they're usually on for an hour or so weeknights and maybe 3-4 on a weekend. And we turn off the power strips they're on when not in use.

I think I have that exact same TV.  I got it for $600 on sale because it was the outgoing model in 2010.  Great TV that'll do until the 4k TVs come down in price.