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Pros and cons of CRT televisions, found on about.com

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Pros:

Price: CRT analog televisions are some the most affordable viewing devices on the market. Some digital models can be quite expensive. But, most units are moderately priced when compared to rear projection and flat panel models, especially in 30" and below models.

Picture Quality: Tube televisions have the best picture quality of any television, period.

Contrast ratio, sharpness and overall detail is excellent on almost every model. This holds true even for analog units.

Video Game Play: CRTs are wonderful display devices for people who love to play video games like Playstation or XBOX. Their ability to process highly detailed images at a fast rate is excellent. This is my preferred model to play video games on.

Durability: Being the oldest of TV types has its advantages because manufacturers know what does and doesn't work with this technology. I sometimes wonder how confident they are or how much I am with rear projection and flat panel models in terms of performance over time. The bottom line is that CRT televisions are built to last.

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Cons:

Size: Tube televisions are heavy and bulky, which makes them difficult to move around, change cables and place in small spaces. In most cases, a person has to clear a corner for this type of television. Digital models are heavier than analog models and can weigh over 100 lbs. On the bright side, Samsung has developed a SlimFit television that is only 2/3 as deep as traditional models, but they still weigh over 100 pounds.

Screen Size: Currently, screen sizes max out at around 36". This is a tremendous disadvantage for CRTs because rear projection and flat panel models (with larger screen sizes) popularity is growing while their price is falling.

Pizzaz: This word is not used enough. While CRT tubes are probably the most reliable of any TV type, when was the last time you heard someone say, "Would you like to come over and check out the new 27" tube I got the other day?" When was the last time you saw a commercial for an all-digital CRT HDTV with built-in ATSC digital tuners? In their defense, not many televisions can compete with the show-stopping appeal of a flat panel or 60-plus inch rear projection model.

technt77

Do you think that tubes will become obselete then within the next 20 years?

tiggapooh

My guess is that they will become obsolete within the next 10 years. The cost of the other options are comeing down in price, and my guess parts will be hard to come by in the next few years.