Community poll forum: Should manufacturers stop building direct-view (tube) sets?

The CRT has the best picture. The more technical literature you read, the more this conclusion is reinforced.

However, you have to live with size and weight limitations.

I remember when I went to pick up my Sony KD34 HDTV from a dealer that was getting out of direct view to concentrate on pixel based displays that every one of his demos had noticeable visual artifacts and deficiencies.

CRT are not power hogs either. Industry tests show plasma has twice the power consumption as CRTs and it is only at the smaller sizes where pixel based displays offer lower power consumption.

Technology is improving the performance of pixel based displays, but it is going to be quite awhile before they are on a par with a CRT at an equivalent price.

The Best total overall picture quality is still direct-view tube televisions.
They are also the most affordable for inch per inch viewing quality.
You can get a 26" WIDESCREEN tube set for $399 retail.
What kind of Plasma can you pick up for $399?

Probably Not. Why
1. Still Cheaper
2. CRT still has the best picture quality
3. Plasma/LCDs/DLP are really cosmetic only because of Point # 2...Electronics as in engineering means you identified the most superior and cost effective solution for your design or product. Cosmetic....beauty...thin is not a valid engineering judgement or decison
4. If you want an inexpensive 3rd or 4th set or are young with little $$$ than cost is a factor (point # 1)

To many people seem to forget that there are a very large amount of the population that can't afford the extreme high price of new technology. For many people, the TV is thier only form of entertainment. I've been there, I know what it's like; to be lucky enough to find a TV at a garage sale or thrift store for 20 to $30.00.(that works.) I'm lucky now to have a very good paying job that I can afford alot of nice things. I could go out right now & buy a $2000.00 TV if I wanted, but my $200.00 38" Tv works just fine.(that I bought at wal-mart on sale) There is nothing wrong with keeping regular TV going for years to come, but I quess greed will win out in the end & the fat cats can reap the profits & "those" people can fend for them selves. Just food for thought. Thank you MR & Mrs America.

Actually, sony has stopped production on some CRT's.
After JAN. 1 2007, I believe Costco is no longer going to sell Tube sets. There are still some good HDTV
Tube set out there that look very good, but since HDTV, is a 16/9 media, why would you buy a Tbe set today.

its time for change. its been time. why produce big televisions is no one even buying them. i got rid of my tube telivision and bought a flat panel thats currently haging on my bedroom wall. tube telivisions are old. there a waste of time and labor.

There are many users out there that don't understand the brave new world of digital TV's. I don't see all the older folks (past 70) trying to figure out all the features of the newer sets. Personally, I see no use for anything analogue...

True, optimally a GOOD CTR MAY give a better picture than SOME LCDs, but consider a mid range 32 inch CRT screen, coupled with a mid to low range home theatre system.

In my case, this is just what happened. The result is a pink or blue bloom over half the screen, because the low cost ray gun is inadequately protected from the subwoofer, which in turn is inadequately shielded.

This is way more annoying than (slight) motion discrepancies from a low cost LCD screen, which as long as it has good reception and high resolution, will perform better than CRT in these circumstances.

It is probably cheaper to buy a better home theatre system if you already have a good wide screen CRT TV, otherwise I would suggest that LCD takes the biscuit every time, for a 50 to 100% price premium (hey, it's only money, live a little).

THE PRICE TO REPAIR THE TUBE SET EXCEEDS THE COST OF THE SET.YOU COULD PAY 399 FOR A 27" SET,IF THE TUBE GOES OUT IT COULD COST UPWARDS OF 500 TO 1000.

I originally thought it implied TV sets, but it seems that everyone is thinking of ANY sort of set, not just TV sets, but also computer monitors?

As for repair, my thing why I had my Sony 27'' repaired, was becuase it was either give the guy $100 bucks to put in an used tube or not have a TV set at all.
Well, not another one that was 27'' for the $100 bucks that I had.
I was too poor to buy a new set or I would of.

Now I have a 13" tube set next to my computer (which is using a CRT) and my new 32" LCD, which works fine, BTW.
Even when I have to set it to 4:3, it's still only one inche shorter, screen hight, then my 27" was.
So I don't really even notice any real difference, like I keep hearin people complain about stretched out images on TV or cropped or whatever?
Don't peoiple know how to set their sets to match what they're watching?
Not that hard, one button push changes it.

CRT's (picture tube TV's) should absolutely continue to be produced...Main reasons: 1) They are way, way, way less expensive than their LCD and Plasma cousins (you get way, way, way more value for your buck with a CRT TV). 2) They last way longer than the flat screens. 3) More things go wrong with plasma and LCD's more often than CRT's ; and the cost of repair (if you don't have a service plan) is way, way, way more expensive. 4)The picture quality of the high end tubers is as good as, or better than the low end, or mid-range plasma's and LCD's..(Just ask any qualified and knowledgable salesperson or repair tech).
There are more, but I believe the upsides I've noted should suffice for this discussion..Yes, the flat screens are "flashier" and "cooler" than the bulky and space-consuming CRT's; however, if your friends judge you about the TV style you have----get new friends! (or watch this beautiful picture with your cat (she/he will understand your choice).
By the way, I own a Sony 34" wide screen (model KV34XBR910 {discontinued} ) and I couldn't be happier....
Peace,

DUZZY

hi cnet members,
being in fieldwork regarding computers, still people like direct-view sets. the major reason for this is that they are still in the capacity of general people i.e. they can afford the cost of direct view sets.
flat screen sets are still costly. if tha manufacturers are able to reduce the cost of flat screen then the decision might be another
thank you

Rajnish (INDIA)

the primary of TV is the picture,but now those so-called HD TVs don't improve the picture greatly , we see more that are those manufacturer's boasts, by comparison ,now TVs are more light ,just in the point, ohters are in their boasts ,not to mention the way off the mark prices.

I don't get this bit about choice?
I still see plenty of tube sets being sold and they still will be for quite some time, but as a fading out deal.

Is everyone here that is complaining about CRTs fading out, also the same who own DVDs now?

I was pissed off when I found out that my local video store (name brand store outfit) phased out VHS tapes and I finally had to break down and buy a DVD player but I bought me one that could still let me view all my trillions of VHS tapes, I bought the combo deal.
But!, now that I'm into DVDs, I can't even see what I really liked more about VHS anyway, other then the longer recording times I could cram on one tape, but now that is even old since I now can put a decent quality video of 6hours on a single DVD, (double layer) so I'm already converted over and still have me a nice little combo set to back up all my old tapes before they all rott away.
Old school, tapes.
Tapes couldn't let me instantly jump to any part on the tape.
Tapes rot away.
New school, DVDs.
DVDs I can jump to any place I want instantly.
No rewinding.
Instant editing.

Same thing with this issue.
More advantages then not, with more coming as time goes by.
CRTs are the modern version of the old radios fading away for the TV area.
Or like back and whites being discontinued for color sets.
Zillions of people were quite happy with a cheap, inexpensive black and white set.
But look now, color is cheap and anyone can afford it and the same will come soon enough for LCDs and their ilk.

Well, this is true about DVDs getting scratched easier and all that, but at least they can be fixed.
Once a tape goes bad from old age, it's gone forever.
CDs can simply be resurfaced and you're back to brand new again.
Well, assuming you started with decent quality blanks or movies in the first place.
Not like those crummy blanks that are just chrome with no coating on the one side and you hold them up to the light and can see clean through them LOL
Now THOSE won't last worth a hoot.