I am about to join the plasma owners list, i am curious to the life of these guys?? I know each one is different, but is there a ball park figure that i can use, say like 500 hours...????

I just want to know what/when replacement costs and repairs may occur.

thanks

60,000-100,000 hours for the panel

Other parts vary. I think the majority of people are upgrading theirs or just getting into plasma so the repair point isn't defined yet.

so basically i can buy one and have it for 5 years with no signs of failure

so basically i can buy one and have it for 5 years with no signs of failure
Yep. I told my wife that I would sell our house with all of our plasmas. The buyer can have the old technology, while I get my next house with newer plasma technology within 2-3 years.

Chris

so basically i can buy one and have it for 5 years with no signs of failureNo. The long life expectation is the projected life of the technology, but it's no guarantee that the plasma panel itself won't fail early, or that the power supply and various video and input boards and such inside the TV won't fail early. Just like how Tube TVs were rated for 30,000 hours, but most of the time something else went wrong with the TV and it stopped working after a few years even though the tube itself is still in perfect condition.

I don't even care that my PX50U is rated at 60,000 hours or my PZ700U is rated at 100,000 hours. I might outlive my PX50, but i probably won't outlive my PZ700 but otherwise it's a non-issue to me :D

I have a 1999 Pioneer Plasma that is really dim now. If someone will tell me how to view the number of hours played, I will post it. Power supply failed in 2005, and Pioneer reimbursed the repair cost (I called Pioneer and got reimbursed $900 after seeing a post in this website about a Pioneer recall!! Got to love this site). Otherwise, no repairs or problems.

I also own two Panasonics - 6UY (2004 purchase?) and 8UK (2006 purchase?). They still look great.

so basically i can buy one and have it for 5 years with no signs of failureI've owned a PDP for (2) years w/~2000 hours of operation and it is performing as well as one can expect for a 50PX50U.

I have a 1999 Pioneer Plasma that is really dim now.
8 years is an eternity in terms of plasma technology. Today's displays have much longer life span.

If you watch for 8 hours a day it will take 20 years for new plasmas to become half as bright. And then you can just turn up the brightness and watch it for another 10 years, though chances are at that point you'll want to go out and buy a .5" thick, 20 lb. OLED display that hangs on the wall like a picture :)

my stuff usually lasts no more than 3 years and then i have to keep up with the jones and i buy bigger and better. BUT buying a 58"panny plasma is a big investment for myself, so i want to have some sort of assurance that it will last at least until it is paid for hahah(3+yrs)