Panasonic PT40LC12 40" 16:9 Widescreen Projection LCD Display
Problems with the 50" Panasonic LCD Projection TV
I purchased my tv from Circuit City in August of 2003.  Less than a year later the lamp went on the tv.  Panasonic, after my complaining, sent me another lamp (which costs $300) after a week because they didn't even have them in stock which I am guessing is because they have to send them out as soon as they get them!  I hoped it was a defective lamp and that would be the end of it.  Not even another year later the lamp just blew on the tv again!! I am going to call Panasonic tomorrow and see what they have to say.  I don't think I am the only customer having this issue.  They make defective lamps and if I had known that I would have had to replace a lamp so often I would never have purchased this tv.  I had my doubts with Panasonic and now they are confirmed.  I have had a Toshiba tv for 14 years now and have never had a problem with it.  I am also going to contact Circuit City tomorrow to see what they have to say.  They must know about this problem with this model of tv since it seems quite a few people have had this problem.  The manual states that the lamp should last about 10,000 hours.  In that same section of the manual it also states on the bottom of that section that they recommend that you have a back up lamp (like they are cheap) in case it burns out because it seems to be so sensitive they know it is going to go before 10,000 hours.  It doesn't even last a year and we have 4 tvs in our house so this particular tv is not used excessively and even if we did use it, it should be made to be watched like any other tv and last, especially after all is said and done you pay over $3,000 for it!