Re: Sony & Panasonic
Well I have worn out 2 Sony TVs with heavy and long term use. Had a Panasonic VCR die (my only Vhs deck so no loss - yet the similar age and used more Sanyo still works today., as does my 30 year old Sony portable - was 3 when purchased). But both are generally well engineered brands which are in a similar market place.
I prefered Sony stuff years ago due to the Trinitron tube and better quality VCRs.
Panasonics Guideplus EPG scared me off their flat panel TVs.
Both brands of Panasonic (them and JVC) made good video carmeras but the portable VCRs were not so hot. I would have loved one of those cameras. The most popular accessory was the 14 pin K lead, the JVC GXN70 (I think) camera was much nicer than the Sony HVC4000P, but the Sony portable SLF1UB wiped the floor with anything from Panasonic (NV180) or JVC (a little VHS-C thing). I have done the head to head BTW and my old SL-F1 was better.
Later on the best all in one from Panasonic was a video 8 they OEMed for another company.
However the Sony camera was not bad in low light and had good colours. Managed better than an early 1st gen CCD all in one jobbie I saw in action a long time ago, the owner went on about his LUX and was shocked mine kept colour a lot longer (as was I)
As to products Sony were in a lot more markets then, they were one of the few companies to do mid and top range stuff, their ES kit was nice.
If either goes under it will be a sadder place as both companies still make good products worth buying.