My 42" Sony Plasma TV recently lost picture and I'm told it needs a new power supply and video supply to the tune of $475 - $550. I love the picture on the TV and have never been crazy about the way LCD pictures drop out or fade when viewing from various angles.

Should I spend the money to repair my plasma or consider purchasing a new TV?

The usual criterion for determining, based on cost, whether a repair is "worth it" is to decide whether the cost is more than half of the replacement cost. If the cost is less than half the replacement cost, it's usually worth it. Otherwise, it isn't.

Of course, there can be other considerations like, "I want a new TV, and I can afford it." That usually outweighs the cost.