Greg In The Desert

I thought the fuse in my Sony rear projection TV was pretty easy to fix but now I have learned that many similar models to mine are failing due to the optical block.

According the website “Sony LCD Rear Projection TV Problems“, every model of Sony TV made between 2003 and 2007 is a subject of warranty extension or class action lawsuit. Most of the issue come from visual anomalies due to the optical block over heating. It can cost up to $1500 to repair the optical block.

Besides having information about the problems on various models, examples and what Sony may or probably won’t do about it, the site does give extensive information about the optical block and it’s various parts.

I haven’t seen anything like this on my Sony TV yet. I have a KDF-E60A20 which is specifically list as not part of the warranty recall even though people have reported issues. It annoys me to see this sort of thing going on with Sony. I already paid too much for this TV, had to replace a poorly designed fuse and now have this to look forward to.

I have read about many people on the Smarthome and CocoonTech message boards have a lot of their Insteon devices failing. Some people have had a high failure failure rate. I’ve been following these discussion closely because I have yet to have any failures. Until a few months ago.

My first device to fail was a Switchlink V2 that was controlling the bathroom light. The device simply failed to turn on the lights nor would the LED bar light up. If I pressed the reset button and held it down, it would light one of the LEDs. According the the Smarthome message boards, this is a common failure mode.

Despite the inconvience of having to replace the switch (in a room that has no natural light), I have to admit that Smarthome has been very generous with replacments since these switches are probably out of warranty. On the other hand, these are all early first generation type switches, which are showing design issues. So they should be replacing them.

The other switch that has died is a LampLinc V2, it simply doesn’t operate nor does the set button have any effect. I expect that Smarthome will replace it without question.

This doesn’t sound good if I want to get my MacBook Pro repaired, which has similar issues. I might as well hold off and buy a new one

Last week a MacBook Pro 15”, 13 months old, came in for repair because the battery would not charge, and the machine had stopped responding to the power button. This machine had been “heavily” used, and did not have AppleCare. In this case, the machine required at the very least a replacement logic board, a part that costs over $1000. Generally, out of warranty machines can be sent in to Apple for flat-fee repairs. This program requires a machine to show no signs of accidental damage—no significant dents, scratches, bowing, or liquid spills—but this machine had lots of dents, plenty of bowing, a separating top case, and damage to the screen.

Apple will still repair damaged computers as mail-in repairs. They have a tier system for the extent of damage, and this one was a Tier 4, the most costly. The MacBook Pro was sent in, and had most every component—inside and out—replaced as part of the Tier 4 dispatch.