View Full Version : Should I buy a TV that's made in Taiwan, even if it's new?


site123a
05-06-2009, 12:59 AM
I found a store that's selling a Tandberg 34" HD CRT monitor, brand new in the box for a $100. I'm very tempted to go buy the monitor since it has both A/V and VGA inputs, however I never heard of the brand "Tandberg" before and don't know there history with TV's. Plus the fact that it's made in Taiwan is giving me some bad feelings.

I can't find any info on this model. So what do you guys think? Any comments would be helpful.

PS

It's MFG. date is 07/2005.

larschr
05-06-2009, 05:50 AM
Tandberg did best with audio. They made good tuners, amplifier stages and some tape recorders. I've had quite a few Tandberg TVs from the mid-late 70s, and none of them were any better than average. I've also hade some of their computer monitors, and they were also below average. The monitor you mention here is of corse much newer than any of the stuff i've had. From what i know they are pretty good as long as they work, so maybe it's worth it. The original Tandberg "died" in 1977-78, so this has to be rebadged, possibly made by/for the german brand "Loewe". If it's picture quality you want, buy a Trinitron instead.

site123a
05-06-2009, 03:06 PM
I think your right about it being rebranded, however I think it's a MoniVision, but they were below average as well. Friday I'm going to go by the place and see the monitor for myself since they do have one on display.

bgadow
05-06-2009, 09:58 PM
Personally, I rank Taiwan as being halfway decent, maybe just below Korea in quality. Remember that tons of Zenith/RCA/Philco, etc, sets were made there starting in the early 70s.

wa2ise
05-06-2009, 11:09 PM
Well, most TVs nowadays come from Communist Red China... :D

vegabass25
05-06-2009, 11:19 PM
I don't care where things are made. You shouldn't either.

radiotvnut
05-07-2009, 01:14 AM
I don't care where things are made. You shouldn't either.

I, for one, care where things are made. Our country might be in better shape if we still had quality items built here on a large scale basis, like things were 50+ years ago. Now, a great majority of our consumer electronics (and other items) is Chinese shit that does not hold up. I collect all of this old AMERICAN MADE stuff because it was built to last and can usually be serviced when it does fail.

Bigerik
05-07-2009, 01:28 AM
Any more political comments in this thread and it will go away immediately.

AUdubon5425
05-07-2009, 02:05 AM
Well, my Taiwanese Philco set is still running after 36 years, yet I haven't had any appliance from Red China last longer than four years.

zenith2134
05-07-2009, 07:02 AM
The 70's and 80's sets (portables especially) that were built in Taiwan seem to be very high-quality nonetheless. Chinese products from say, 2001 to the present seem to have gone up in quality too. I'm talking about audio gear in particular, not TV's. IMO, all TV's suck nowadays as far as overall quality is concerned.

cfranz
05-07-2009, 07:39 AM
Um... I guess I don't understand. It's 34" in the box for $100. Use the tuner from your DVD player, especially if it gets the digital channels. Then save your money until a good one comes along.

If you are lucky, the thing will last you a while without issues. If not... What the heck, you're out $100.

wilkes85
05-09-2009, 10:31 PM
Well you could buy it, but we all know the quality of anything from that particular region in the world.