Newspaper reporter working on story about old TVs, new TVs and planned obsolescence

Hey there... My name is Charles Passy and I'm a feature writer for the Palm Beach Post in West Palm Beach, Fl.

I'm doing a story about, well, my TV -- a 25-inch Sharp Linytron console TV that I purchased in 1986 (for the then pricey sum of $399) and that has continued to serve me well through today. Great picture, only has broken down once, the thing is a rock.

But I recently succumbed to the lure of new technology and bought a 50-inch plasma. I can't bear the thought of departing with my beloved Sharp.

All this has got me thinking why a TV can last 21 years and still have a great picture while so many other consumer electronics products I've purchased have died within years, if not months! Is this what they call planned obsolesence? Or did I just get lucky with my Sharp? Or were those Linytrons really known to be amazing TVs? (From what I read on a message board here, they're not supposed to be all that great, actually.)

In any case, I'm looking to interview electronics fanatics, old TV fanatics or just anyone with an old TV who might have a similar story to tell. If you can enlighten me as to why old TVs (or old electronics in general) might be better, I'd really be grateful. (Or if you can explain how I just got lucky, so be it). So far as I can tell, audiokarma is about the only site where these kind of matters are discussed.

If you'd like to talk, feel free to email me at my work address ([email protected]) or call me at (561) 820-4589. I'd enjoy hearing from folks.

If you'd just like to sound off on this message board, I'm also glad to hear any thoughts, but since I'm not much of a technophile, I'd love to do a few phone interviews.

Thanks!