[iamnotmad]

Hello, I am trying to decide if I should get something like the TV-Armor to protect my screen. That outer glass slightly separated from the panel seems pretty flimsy. Is it? I have a G10.


I have a 4 year old, and he's pretty careful around the TV and knows well not to touch it or throw things in that room, but I worry when his friends come over sometimes.


I'd much rather not spend the cash for a shield, nor do i want to have it on all the time anyway, if the glass is reasonably shatter resistant.

 

[RandyWalters]



Quote:
Originally Posted by iamnotmad /forum/post/18162758


Hello, I am trying to decide if I should get something like the TV-Armor to protect my screen. That outer glass slightly separated from the panel seems pretty flimsy. Is it? I have a G10.


I have a 4 year old, and he's pretty careful around the TV and knows well not to touch it or throw things in that room, but I worry when his friends come over sometimes.


I'd much rather not spend the cash for a shield, nor do i want to have it on all the time anyway, if the glass is reasonably shatter resistant.

It's actually fairly impact resistant - they call it "TUF Display" and at CES a year or two back they had a demonstration where they had a big steel ball bearing on a string and swung it into the glass and it bounced off of it. You can find the videos on You Tube.


HOWEVER, the Anti-Reflective coating applied to the outside of that glass is delicate and can be gouged/scratched fairly easily so anything sharp that hits the glass with enough force will leave marks that you'll probably be able to see while watching TV. There are some posts here where people have damaged the coating with toys, broom handle, wii contoller, vacuum hose, etc. If that happens, the glass has to be replaced and it can run about $500-$800 parts and labor.


With kids around, especially someone else's kids, you should just buy or build a plexiglass screen and have it in place when the little ones are over. Better safe than sorry.

 

[ctg115]

I have a PZ80U and while I can't speak to the toughness of the glass, the antiglare coating is easily scratched. The cat took claws to it and left several hairline scratches in the coating. Thankfully they are only visible if you are watching in very bright sunlight or if you are sitting too close to the screen. they aren't visible at normal viewing distance in the evening. If the coating for the 09's is the same you will need to be careful. My wife made a fabric covering for the tv which we leave on all the time and have had no problems since. Also helps to keep it dust free.

 

[brentsg]

It's really a shame that the transition from CRT and RPCRT have left us without any sort of durability.


I know a lot of folks took the protective screen off the RP models but at least it was there.

 

[iamnotmad]

Thanks all, I think I might make one, since it is not my intention to leave it on all the time. Lowes has some nice plexiglass type stuff I think. Otherwise, good to know Randy, that it should be pretty break resistant at least.

 

[RandyWalters]

The shatter-resistant outer glass is tough for safety and it also protects the delicate plasma panel. Some of their new 2010 models will be doing away with this protective outer glass a-la Pioneer.


Here's one of the videos - this one is of the Pro model but it has the same outer glass as the consumer model (impact is around the 1:15 point):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcRJnHrsXdw


That ball looks and sounds heavy !

 

[iamnotmad]

Thanks randy, after your other message I looked up on youtube and found another demo with the same type ball. that's pretty good. So the 2009 models don't appear to have any weakness in this regard. It seemed to me that outer glass with a little space behind it before the panel was pretty delicate. But I guess not.


I'm just going to make a make shift cover in case I need one. Not worth $150 official solution for me (for a 42" tv).


Thanks again.