Do old Apple TVs stop working?

I have a very early Apple TV and sometimes it just drops out while I'm watching something. Other devices on the network seem unaffected, including the iPhone on which I'm using the Remote app to control the Apple TV. It all works fine ... until the TV stops playing and disappears from the Remote app. Anyway, just wondering if these things stop working eventually (even if a new one is on my summer shopping list anyway). Thanks.