I rarely buy extended warranties. Actually, I’ve bought two in my life. One was for a Sony camcorder, and I never needed it. The second was for my new car, just in case. I’m not a believer, generallly, in extended warranties. If I buy a DLP rear-projection set, however, I may need to rethink that.

Consumer Reports says buyers of DLP (Digital Light Processing) rear-projection sets might want to invest in a long-term warranty.

The magazine says the microdisplay HDTVs are more likely to need repairs than other high-def sets — and repair costs can be significantly higher. In addition, the DLP’s light bulb, which helps display the image on screen, sometimes don’t last more than a few years.

A little disconcerting. But I wouldn’t let it stop me from buying a DLP set. I’d just get an extended warranty!

Buying a DLP HDTV? Get the Warranty