sony sdm s71r lcd colour display locks up after turnon. (Sony SDM-S71R)

Member Name: barns

Product:	Sony SDM-S71R
Date:	09/12/08 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Screen fine, visible at many angles, not bad menu system, BUT...

Disadvantages: If yours locks up like mine, dont say you weren't warned!

Ive had my SONY smd s71r LCD colour computer monitor for over two years now and am about to stop using it. The screen locks up within 2 sec of turn on. It used to be a good screen, menu fine (and buttons easy to see and no chance to hit accidentally, unlike others with buttons down on the stand) and very fair quality when I can get it working (its currently a TV display on a set top box which has VGA output, so it WAS a pretty slick quality display in the kitchen downstairs).
Now, since no buttons work, I have to UNPLUG it when I should be able to turn it off; and have to plug it in, then turn on the STB within 2 secs or it locks up and nothing shows. I can't use the menu button or indeed ANY buttons after its locked up, but if I get lucky each time I turn it on, I USUALLY get a picture.
I wonder if I have the only faulty SONY SDM S71R in the world, or not? I note that there are some second-hand on eBay in the US right now, I hope no-one is going to get caught buying a dud like this?

Summary: Good for the first 12+ months until it failed

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Installation:
Picture quality: