As an early adopter of the flat-screen television craze, I can attest to the wonderful benefits of the device. I love mine, especially when watching movies or my favorite sporting event, hockey (it's so much easier following the puck in HD).

For a while there a few years ago, flat-screen TVs were flying off the shelves. Builders were using them as perks for new home purchases, and restaurants and bars seemed to buy them in bulk.

A main beneficiary of the flat-panel boom was Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) -- the largest maker of glass for flat-panel televisions.

In 2002, the stock was unduly pummeled in tandem with the rest of the technology sector. At that time, one could fetch shares for the eye-catching price of a buck a share. Investors were speculating that GLW would ultimately fail as demand for its products crashed.

Flat-panel displays saved the day. The company fixed its balance sheet and shares rocketed higher off its lows. By 2006, shares of GLW peaked above $26 per share. It was a great run, but with the collapse of the housing bubble, the easy money in GLW was made.