ViewSonic VP171b 17 inch LCD Monitor

Ive had my VP171B for just under a year now. I did not keep it on all the time, only when I used my computer. Its been a fantastic LCD monitor in almost all respects. Until last night, when the screen suddenly became very light, then very dark till it vanished, at which time I smelled a noxious odor and viewed thick black smoke rising from behind the LCD screen! After immediately pulling the power plug, I made sure that the monitor was not actually ablaze and removed it from my desk to a safe spot. I replaced it with a 10 year old heavy NEC XV15+ CRT monitor which works as well as the day I bought it. This only goes to show that new technology does not necessarily equate with reliability. My VP171B is still well within its warranty period and so Viewsonic ought to replace it. I will talk to them today about it and I will let you know how the warranty service is.