LED vs LCD TV which is best for kids?? Durability?

[TwingleMum]

I have a or had a 40" LCD TV. My oldest DS (10yrs old) hit the TV with an empty water bottle and not hard. The TV now has lines all over it. Even though its still under warranty since I bought it only in July 2012 they won't repair it. So I have to buy a new one. The person from PC Richards told me the screens are very delicate. This is very aggrevating to me. I usually have TVs for 12 - 15 yrs. I have one TV thats 20 yrs old and is still in good shape. Are any of the new TVs a better choice for a family with kids???

 

[Albort]

LED is more expensive than LCD. LED is brighter as well...

to be kid proof, i would suggest a projector, as they would be throwing things at a wall or screen instead of an expensive TVs. but as of Durability, its not very good...

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have a or had a 40" LCD TV. My oldest DS (10yrs old) hit the TV with an empty water bottle and not hard. The TV now has lines all over it. Even though its still under warranty since I bought it only in July 2012 they won't repair it. So I have to buy a new one. The person from PC Richards told me the screens are very delicate. This is very aggrevating to me. I usually have TVs for 12 - 15 yrs. I have one TV thats 20 yrs old and is still in good shape. Are any of the new TVs a better choice for a family with kids???

Warranties generally cover manufacturing defects, not mistreatment/damage (and hitting the screen would be mistreating it), so it makes sense that the cost of the repair would not be covered under the warranty.

I agree with the PP that if you are looking for something that can stand up to things like a 10 year old hitting the screen with a water bottles, a projector, where all the main components are out of reach, would be your best bet.

Otherwise, maybe a wall mounted unit that you can place up a it high (out of reach of toddlers who are too little to understand not to touch or hit the screen), combined with some serious talks with the kids about being careful (and consequences for the 10 year old who caused the issue) might work.

We've only had three TVs in my adult life. One was an old fashioned, huge thing that weighed a ton. It lasted through 5 cross country moves, and 2 kids (and their friends) from babyhood on just fine. We sold it to someone else when we moved to Germany and so far as I know it is still running--17 years after we bought it.

We bought a wall mounted flat screen when we moved here. It's doing fine after 4 years. The kids were older, 10 and 12, when we got it--but even at younger ages I don't think they would have hit it or thrown things at it and if they did, I would be upset with them THEM and think they broke the TV, not that that the TV was poorly built.

 

[tvguy]

Flat screen TVs just aren't very durable (which is why the TV's in our Live Trucks that get bounced around are still tube TVs)

If you're going flat screen, I wouldn't consider anything other than an LED now.

As for me, my 1983 and 1996 RCA tube TV's are just going to have to hang in there.

And at work, we have a who bunch of 9" SONY tube TV's with a manufacure date of 1993 that are hanging in there, and I am on my third 13" flat screen on my desk, flat screens just don't hold up.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Plasma screens are glass, unlike 95% of the the LCD/LED TVs on the market which are plastic.

The Plasma will weigh more but it the glass will offer a bit more protection from an empty water bottle, but it will break if something heavy hits it.

The LED/LCD will offer a lighter unit, but as plastic has flex it cannot take a hit as well without possibly causing damage to the LCD panel (note LED and LCD are really the same technology, just how they are lit is different) but the plastic screen will be less likely to crack.

As others pointed out though, throwing or hitting a TV is bad and can cause damage and if this risk is high a projector would be better, but you're going to need space and in brightly lit rooms you will be very underwhelmed.

 

[Micca]

Because you said you have other older tvs I'm tempted to suggest not getting another tv until your kids are old enough to understand to be more careful. I don't know how many tvs I could afford if the kids are careless(not criticizing them--kids will be kids and accidents do happen). Or maybe get a cheap one until the kids are a little older?

 

[clarkshel]

I also agree with a PP poster on getting a plasma TV. They would handle a little more abuse than an LCD/LED TV. The best protection is to make sure your kid(s) don't throw anything at the TV. I have 3 plasmas in my house and 4 and 8 yr old boys. They have never thrown anything at the TV's. because they know they would be in so much trouble if that happened. I know accidents happen, but my kids also know there are places they can throw stuff. An around the TV is not one of them.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I have a or had a 40" LCD TV. My oldest DS (10yrs old) hit the TV with an empty water bottle and not hard. The TV now has lines all over it. Even though its still under warranty since I bought it only in July 2012 they won't repair it. So I have to buy a new one. The person from PC Richards told me the screens are very delicate. This is very aggrevating to me. I usually have TVs for 12 - 15 yrs. I have one TV thats 20 yrs old and is still in good shape. Are any of the new TVs a better choice for a family with kids???

LED TVs area nothing more than LCD TVS that use LEDs instead of CCFLs for the back lighting. Their durability is the same.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks everyone. I think I may get a Plasma TV. There are some really good prices right now. The boys are very good but boys will be boys. I am making them wait a few weeks until I get a new TV. Trying to teach them a lesson about responsibilty and respecting property. Let me tell you they are missing XBox and relaxing in front of the TV after dinner. (the TV that was damaged is our big TV in our family room.).

 

[Micca]

Since you're considering plasma, you might be pleased to hear that the quality of the plasma tvs can be awesome. Check out Panasonic plasmas if you can.

 

[SandrA9810]

We have a Panasonic Vierra 50" UT and love it. The cat likes to sit on the entertainment unit and attack the games. She would have destroyed an lcd/led. Plasmas have better color spectrum like the old tube tv's.

Manufacture warranty only protects against the unit from failing. An extended warranty with the store protects from human accidents, like hitting, breaking, burn in, and all sorts of stuff, no questions asked. Plus it's a longer time frame. My bf got the 4 year plan, longest they offered.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Since you're considering plasma, you might be pleased to hear that the quality of the plasma tvs can be awesome. Check out Panasonic plasmas if you can.

Agreed, the black reproduction in a Plasma cannot be beat! Plasma's are great for primary screens, just be conscious of temporary image retention that can happen (modern plasma's pretty much are immune from permanent image retention) and don't be shocked, it goes away after a few minutes of watching something else.

 

[ksjayhawks]

So, is ds helping to pay for the new tv?

 

[clarkshel]

Agreed, the black reproduction in a Plasma cannot be beat! Plasma's are great for primary screens, just be conscious of temporary image retention that can happen (modern plasma's pretty much are immune from permanent image retention) and don't be shocked, it goes away after a few minutes of watching something else.

The new plasmas are not immune from burn in. However; they are a lot better than they used to be. You just have to make sure you view a variety of things on it. Also don't pause TV or video games for long periods of time. If you play lot is video games on it, make sure you view some HD TV for a while. My one Panny plasma I have is a little over 7 years old. We have not had any issues with image retention or burn in. My kids play a lot of wii and ps3 on it. I just make sure to view some HD channels on it also.

Just make sure you don't get the cheapest plasma you find. Get a good brand name. Like Panasonic or Samsung. Panasonic is the top plasma maker out there.

 

[ilovemk76]

I have a or had a 40" LCD TV. My oldest DS (10yrs old) hit the TV with an empty water bottle and not hard. The TV now has lines all over it. Even though its still under warranty since I bought it only in July 2012 they won't repair it. So I have to buy a new one. The person from PC Richards told me the screens are very delicate. This is very aggrevating to me. I usually have TVs for 12 - 15 yrs. I have one TV thats 20 yrs old and is still in good shape. Are any of the new TVs a better choice for a family with kids???

Either is going to be damaged if you hit it. At 10 years old a child should not be throwing things in the house. Maybe you can just use the 20 year old one until it breaks.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The new plasmas are not immune from burn in. However; they are a lot better than they used to be. You just have to make sure you view a variety of things on it. Also don't pause TV or video games for long periods of time. If you play lot is video games on it, make sure you view some HD TV for a while. My one Panny plasma I have is a little over 7 years old. We have not had any issues with image retention or burn in. My kids play a lot of wii and ps3 on it. I just make sure to view some HD channels on it also.

Just make sure you don't get the cheapest plasma you find. Get a good brand name. Like Panasonic or Samsung. Panasonic is the top plasma maker out there.

Not impossible for them to get burn in but with image shift, etc, its very rare.