There's a problem with almost all High Definition TV's being swept
under the rug in the sales world. Burnt Tubes!
The problem started when the new screen format 16 by 9 came on
the sceen. Most of the time users are watching exsisting programming
which is in 4 by 3 mode (480i). Television manufacturers decided the picture
should be centered and the area on the sides should be darkened.
As the customer uses the set over a period of months, only occasionaly
watching a full screen DVD movie. The center of the tubes darken more
rapidly. Leaving a visible set of lines where the 4 by 3 edges were.
You only notice this when you have full screen picture showing. The damage
is permanent, and not covered by any warranty or service contract.
The problem is made worse by some local broadcast stations. If the
consumer is watching a 4 by 3 program on a high definition channel
the station crops the picture. And you cannot change the screen size format
on most sets, when the source material is High Definition (1080i).
Under these conditions you are guaranteed to burn the tubes.
Prevention is the only cure.
All the consumer can do is to watch as much full screen programming as
possible. You will have to stretch the picture if the source is 4 by 3.
And turn down the brightness if you have High Definition channel showing
a 4 by 3 picture. Rare is the salesman at the electronics store who is even
aware of the problem. The set affected are Projection sets with CRT's,
Direct View Sets, and all Plasma sets. So far DLP (digital light processing)
and LCD (liquid crystal display) screens don't seem to be damaged. Dakota
