CRT is not yet dead. My beloved Panasonic is retiring at the age of 17 years which I bought P 17,000. To compute, I spend P 1, 000 per year for that TV. Prior to this, I am still hopeful to find a brand new from Panasonic or Sony but never I found. There are still brand new CRTs but from the lesser brand like Sanyo or other China brands like Pensonic? I think they are a cop cat of Panasonic. JBC brand, copycat from JVC. People are intelligent on copying brand names, too. I never interest copycats brands, performance is questionable.
The other day I walk downtown to look for a Sharp brand new CRT 21" which I canvassed last year 2014. It's priced at 6,000. I think it's a good replacement for my retiring Panasonic. Now, I'm back at that same store however the salesman said, "Sorry Sir, there is no more supplied Sharp CRTs." I asked, about the other brands. He said, "We have Sanyo, Astron." I'll go Sanyo, how much? 10, 000? What? Sorry, I'm not interested. I said, no thanks, I have to look for other stores to see if they Sharp.
I went to another town, hopeful to find a brand new quality CRT. I passed by used CRT from Korea and Japan but never interested. Surplus TV lifespan is questionable, too. I passed by a big mall. An appliance store is at its side. While I passing by, I was surprised. A SONY CRT TV was outside along with few refrigerators. Am I dreaming? It's price 5, 500! 17 years before I was really enthusiastic to own a CRT from Sony but never the chance I was given because of the high price tag. That's why I have Panasonic. Now, I said, I could still be a proud owner of a Sony CRT TV. And that dream is now a reality. However, before I paid, I asked several questions? Is it brand new? Yes, it's an old stock in the "bodega", no more box, and remote. I can see that are still blue tapes on the corners/edges of TV, which means, really it was not yet removed. So I said, it's close to brand, but not totally brand new. Basically it's already 2015, if I'm to subtract, 1998 was year of quality Sony CRT TVs.
I was very lucky that day, my dream of owning a SONY CRT TV have been realized after 17 years of journey with Panasonic. Sony really has better colors, more real like that Panasonics CRT. I have a CRT monitor too which is IBM, the Sony is closer to the IBMs CRT color. I found a great deal. My brother said, why did you by CRT? Why not the slim sexy LCD? I said,"CRT TVs are tested for longevity, the current TV tech of LCD are questionable yet in terms of lifespan and repair. And definitely picture quality using simply cable TV or Kapamilya or Kapuso shows, CRT TV is the winner!" My brother has a Sony CRT which he bought 14 years ago for 18, 000. Now, I have with me for only 5, 500. If this TV will be with me for 5 years, I'm again 1,000 per year. However, if this TV will be faithful to me for 20 years, wow, I have paid only 250 pesos per year. The best TV for money I have!
I love my CRT TV Journey. One of my best! Salamat po for reading my short story.