They just don't build them like that anymore

STEED · 05-01-07, 04:22 PM

Yes I remember when things lasted and went on and on. But now your be lucky if they don't breakdown in a week.

Quote:

Frozen in time: the fridge still going strong after 50 years

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=451935&in_page_id=1770

Heibges · 05-01-07, 04:25 PM

I just bought a new TV a couple of weeks ago.

The last time I bought a TV, 5 years ago, the salesman told me TV's used to be designed to last 10 years, but now they are only designed to last 5.

I guess he was right.

Tchocky · 05-01-07, 04:52 PM

The faster technology changes, the shorter the lifespan of each item.

Our family had one TV for 20 years, and damn if the new HD one isn't beautiful

STEED · 05-01-07, 04:55 PM

Next door got a digital TV and it broke down in less than a month and three days after it was repaired. That was last week, I must find out how it is now.

Heibges · 05-01-07, 05:50 PM

The whole HD thing is so up in the air, that I have been hesitant to buy one. It seems crazy spending that much on a tv.

I do know that the Adult Video Industry has said that HDDVD will be their standard and not Blueray. The AVI selected VHS back in the day, and this killed Betamax.

Yahoshua · 05-01-07, 05:50 PM

Technology itself dosn't induce a shorter lifespan, greed does. A constant rate of breakdowns in products will practically guarantee a continuous production run of a particular product. While on the face of it, this isn't a very appreciative motive, but it does spur the drive for better quality products that are sure to be bought by an all too willing consumer base.

It's a consumer/throwaway society at work.

Heibges · 05-01-07, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yahoshua

Technology itself dosn't induce a shorter lifespan, greed does. A constant rate of breakdowns in products will practically guarantee a continuous production run of a particular product. While on the face of it, this isn't a very appreciative motive, but it does spur the drive for better quality products that are sure to be bought by an all too willing consumer base.

It's a consumer/throwaway society at work.

That's what I think too. Shoddy workmanship is part of their "business plan".

Yahoshua · 05-01-07, 06:00 PM

Yeah, but that's slowly starting to change as foreign companies begin to eat up the territory of U.S. companies and drive the companies to actually produce better products that will outlast their competitors' products.

A prime example is the automotive industry. Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and other companies are taking territory from all of the domestic automotive companies (save for pickup trucks) as their quality outstrips that of the domestic produced vehicles. And it shows that people are willing to pay the extra dollars for a better quality product that will last them at least 15-20 years than for a product that will only last 10 years before it break down completely.

I own a toyota made in 1985 and it's still keeps goin (although it's designed badly, that's another issue).

JSLTIGER · 05-01-07, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yahoshua

I own a toyota made in 1985 and it's still keeps goin (although it's designed badly, that's another issue).

I love my '93 Corolla LE...just a well designed, well built car.

Yahoshua · 05-01-07, 06:26 PM

Not real familiar with corollas'. Are they a reliable company?

Heibges · 05-01-07, 06:27 PM

I guess we better hope the Korean TV makers, force the Japanese TV makers to do a better job.

Isn't there a Eurpean company that makes TV's now?

TteFAboB · 05-01-07, 06:35 PM

I take every last drop out of them. Still have a Sony 17" E200 multiscan monitor that will soon (or better: finally) be stored to start collecting dust as an emergency monitor. It's the most beautifull CRT I ever had and still works perfectly. I regret not buying a 21" or 24" when Sony was still making Trinitron monitors. You'd know if you ever used one. The monitor I had before that one was dumped after turning green and blurred to a point I could no longer tolerate but also because friends ridiculed me for sticking to such a crappy monitor.

This goes pretty much for everything. I'm the collector, the keeper, the efficiency-waste maniac. What saves me is the rest of the house, my counterpart. I couldn't let loose my no-waste impulse if I didn't had someone to pull me back to my senses. The sane mind that convinces me rightfully when things are too old and crappy and when it's time to replace them.

That was the case with my Sidewinder Forcefeedback 1. It was old and crappy and MS had released the FF 2. But it was so expensive! Not worth it! Yes, yes it's worth it - I was told. Buy it. Your old joystick is in a very poor state. The throttle lost sensitivity, the button 2 requires all your strength to activate, the thing is done for good. Buy it. So I bought it, noticed the huge difference it made and what do I know, a few months later Microsoft pulled the plug on the FF2 and it sold out. Had I waited a little longer I'd never have this joystick...yes, indeed, I'm still using the MS FF2 and no it didn't lost any sensitivity yet, I swear!

Speaking of computers: my cordless logitech keyboard is so old the markings on the A, S, C and other keys are fading away! But it works like a charm and I'm very used to it. Whenever I use the other PC's still new MS keyboard my typo rating goes to the roof.

Kitchen appliances and TVs are not my responsibility but I didn't allowed my TV to get replaced untill it got blurred. Old Sony with a built-in VHS. The newer one is a Sony Wega 21"-or something because it's slightly widescreen. I guess the Wega brand is outdated by now but this TV is still perfect. Should last at least another 2, 3, heck, even 5 years perhaps! Optimism...or untill they make a 24" HD TV that can be used as a PC monitor. I'll buy that the instant it comes out even if I have to spend the entire year paying for it.

While not my responsibility, the newer refrigerators do make a gigantic difference when compared to the old junk. If this woman were my mother I'd force her to accept a frost-free freezer wether she likes it or not. Less noise, less hassle and besides all: talk about energy inefficiency. The novelty effect is not worth the electricity bill. Of course, now that it has been running for 50 years, might aswell push it to the limit and see for how much longer it will go...

But I'll concur that some things are treasure. Like the HUGE Victor Victrola all-in-one cabinet standing in my living room. Fully functional relic, older than this freezer by 3 decades, though I won't be able to afford to keep it operational in the future if Valves don't become less rare or otherwise cheaper. Nope, it won't play CD-ROMs or DVDs or tune satellite radio but it's beautiful and it looks like some cool old-style science-fiction control panel.

Heibges · 05-01-07, 06:41 PM

I have a 19" Sony Trinitron Monitor I found outside my apartment on the street!

I have had it for 2 years and it looks fantastic.

FIREWALL · 05-01-07, 08:08 PM

3rd maybe 4th owner of a IBM P-200 20" CRT Monitor. Best part it was

FREE!!!

It works perfect so even tho I can get a 20" widescreen
1000to1 cr 2ms LCD for $169.00 at Costco I'm finding it hard to part with.

P_Funk · 05-01-07, 08:12 PM

I believe they call that thing where everything breaks, planned obsalescance.

I'll ask my good friend Chris Rock to explain it all to you:

Quote:

You mean to tell me that they can put a man on the moon, but they can't make a fu**in' Caddillac with a bumper that don't fall off?

05-01-07, 04:25 PM	#2
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I just bought a new TV a couple of weeks ago. The last time I bought a TV, 5 years ago, the salesman told me TV's used to be designed to last 10 years, but now they are only designed to last 5. I guess he was right. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

05-01-07, 04:52 PM	#3
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	The faster technology changes, the shorter the lifespan of each item. Our family had one TV for 20 years, and damn if the new HD one isn't beautiful __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

05-01-07, 04:55 PM	#4
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Next door got a digital TV and it broke down in less than a month and three days after it was repaired. That was last week, I must find out how it is now. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

05-01-07, 05:50 PM	#5
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The whole HD thing is so up in the air, that I have been hesitant to buy one. It seems crazy spending that much on a tv. I do know that the Adult Video Industry has said that HDDVD will be their standard and not Blueray. The AVI selected VHS back in the day, and this killed Betamax. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

05-01-07, 05:50 PM	#6
Yahoshua The Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,493 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Technology itself dosn't induce a shorter lifespan, greed does. A constant rate of breakdowns in products will practically guarantee a continuous production run of a particular product. While on the face of it, this isn't a very appreciative motive, but it does spur the drive for better quality products that are sure to be bought by an all too willing consumer base. It's a consumer/throwaway society at work. __________________ Science is the organized unpredictability that strives not to set limits to mans' capabilities, but is the engine by which the limits of mans' understanding is defined-Yahoshua

05-01-07, 06:00 PM	#8
Yahoshua The Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,493 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah, but that's slowly starting to change as foreign companies begin to eat up the territory of U.S. companies and drive the companies to actually produce better products that will outlast their competitors' products. A prime example is the automotive industry. Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and other companies are taking territory from all of the domestic automotive companies (save for pickup trucks) as their quality outstrips that of the domestic produced vehicles. And it shows that people are willing to pay the extra dollars for a better quality product that will last them at least 15-20 years than for a product that will only last 10 years before it break down completely. I own a toyota made in 1985 and it's still keeps goin (although it's designed badly, that's another issue). __________________ Science is the organized unpredictability that strives not to set limits to mans' capabilities, but is the engine by which the limits of mans' understanding is defined-Yahoshua

05-01-07, 06:26 PM	#10
Yahoshua The Old Man Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,493 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Not real familiar with corollas'. Are they a reliable company? __________________ Science is the organized unpredictability that strives not to set limits to mans' capabilities, but is the engine by which the limits of mans' understanding is defined-Yahoshua

05-01-07, 06:27 PM	#11
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I guess we better hope the Korean TV makers, force the Japanese TV makers to do a better job. Isn't there a Eurpean company that makes TV's now? __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

05-01-07, 06:35 PM	#12
TteFAboB Admiral Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,247 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I take every last drop out of them. Still have a Sony 17" E200 multiscan monitor that will soon (or better: finally) be stored to start collecting dust as an emergency monitor. It's the most beautifull CRT I ever had and still works perfectly. I regret not buying a 21" or 24" when Sony was still making Trinitron monitors. You'd know if you ever used one. The monitor I had before that one was dumped after turning green and blurred to a point I could no longer tolerate but also because friends ridiculed me for sticking to such a crappy monitor. This goes pretty much for everything. I'm the collector, the keeper, the efficiency-waste maniac. What saves me is the rest of the house, my counterpart. I couldn't let loose my no-waste impulse if I didn't had someone to pull me back to my senses. The sane mind that convinces me rightfully when things are too old and crappy and when it's time to replace them. That was the case with my Sidewinder Forcefeedback 1. It was old and crappy and MS had released the FF 2. But it was so expensive! Not worth it! Yes, yes it's worth it - I was told. Buy it. Your old joystick is in a very poor state. The throttle lost sensitivity, the button 2 requires all your strength to activate, the thing is done for good. Buy it. So I bought it, noticed the huge difference it made and what do I know, a few months later Microsoft pulled the plug on the FF2 and it sold out. Had I waited a little longer I'd never have this joystick...yes, indeed, I'm still using the MS FF2 and no it didn't lost any sensitivity yet, I swear! Speaking of computers: my cordless logitech keyboard is so old the markings on the A, S, C and other keys are fading away! But it works like a charm and I'm very used to it. Whenever I use the other PC's still new MS keyboard my typo rating goes to the roof. Kitchen appliances and TVs are not my responsibility but I didn't allowed my TV to get replaced untill it got blurred. Old Sony with a built-in VHS. The newer one is a Sony Wega 21"-or something because it's slightly widescreen. I guess the Wega brand is outdated by now but this TV is still perfect. Should last at least another 2, 3, heck, even 5 years perhaps! Optimism...or untill they make a 24" HD TV that can be used as a PC monitor. I'll buy that the instant it comes out even if I have to spend the entire year paying for it. While not my responsibility, the newer refrigerators do make a gigantic difference when compared to the old junk. If this woman were my mother I'd force her to accept a frost-free freezer wether she likes it or not. Less noise, less hassle and besides all: talk about energy inefficiency. The novelty effect is not worth the electricity bill. Of course, now that it has been running for 50 years, might aswell push it to the limit and see for how much longer it will go... But I'll concur that some things are treasure. Like the HUGE Victor Victrola all-in-one cabinet standing in my living room. Fully functional relic, older than this freezer by 3 decades, though I won't be able to afford to keep it operational in the future if Valves don't become less rare or otherwise cheaper. Nope, it won't play CD-ROMs or DVDs or tune satellite radio but it's beautiful and it looks like some cool old-style science-fiction control panel. __________________ "Tout ce qui est exagéré est insignifiant." ("All that is exaggerated is insignificant.") - Talleyrand Last edited by TteFAboB; 05-01-07 at 07:30 PM.

05-01-07, 06:41 PM	#13
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I have a 19" Sony Trinitron Monitor I found outside my apartment on the street! I have had it for 2 years and it looks fantastic. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

05-01-07, 08:08 PM	#14
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	3rd maybe 4th owner of a IBM P-200 20" CRT Monitor. Best part it was FREE!!! It works perfect so even tho I can get a 20" widescreen 1000to1 cr 2ms LCD for $169.00 at Costco I'm finding it hard to part with. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???