I read an article a few years ago with the legitimate television manufacturers predicting this exact situation... Visio was using really cheap compoments (like knock off capacitors) and taking whatever shortcuts they could. They predicted that these components would have a very short life, resulting in dead tv's after only a couple years.<p>After reading that (and having experience doing my own motherboard mods), I knew to stay the hell away from their products. So I spent $75 more. TV's are NOT something that should be dispensable- they should last as long as possible. They are environmentally invasive and the resources they exploit are too precious to just throw away.
I own a Vizio HDTV, and I have to say, they're doing a great job at making high end products into commodities. A few years ago we would say the same thing about Hyundai, KIA, and other car manufacturers but today? There's more of them out on the road than ever before, and they stay on the road longer than before. I think we're in a cycle wherein we all want the features, quality, and technology of formerly luxury items for our every day, layman usage. Companies that drive this cycle will likely do better than those that attempt to hold the price line. Apple is perhaps the only exception to the rule (though, their prices have come down a little as well on the premium side), and that's due to the excellent used market.
What is interesting to read here are the comments below the story. The article is from 2007 and yet the comments (predominantly negative) keep going in. I don't personally have any knowledge of Vizio, but I'd certainly be wary after reading the comments!
Careful not to sacrifice longevity with commoditization. The margins become so little, that short product lifetime becomes the comapny lifeline, the last way to increase sales. Eventually the service becomes too lousy and customers shy away. In some respect, this is happening with car industry. HP is also a good posterchild with it's printer cartridge scheme. Goldstar?