Telephones... then and now

[dickfoster]

Who (in my age group) could have ever imagined the demise of the CRT? I was at the recycle centre the other day and someone brought in a working 50 inch Toshiba CRT. I thought about it, but no thanks.

I am using a desk that my Dad used in the sixties. A few short years ago, I was going to cut a hole in the top, cover it with glass and put one of those (larger) CRT monitors down below. So glad I didn't.

Just wait a while and the flat screens will all go away someday too. They will eventually be replaced with a personal virtual display that you'll wear all the time that will do whatever you need a display for, watching TV, driving your car, browsing the Internet, bank teller, etc. Whatever you need a display for and wherever it is, it will be right there when you want or need it. No more fighting for the remote because everyone will have their on TV on their own display that only they can see.

 

[ultrarunner]

For me it's all about getting the job done...

If the 50 year old Amana freezer keeps working so much the better... it was paid for a half century ago.

But... what can you say when the first car I owned and still own was made in 1929?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sorry, if the old man repeats. My Dad is using his fridge (GE) from the early sixties. In fact Ontario Hydro I believe paid to have it converted from 25 to 60 cycles.

 

[MossRoad]

No flat screen TV in this house... at least not yet.

That surprises me. LED TVs are very energy efficient and take up way less space.

We have a nice plasma TV. Now that isn't too energy efficient. Its like having a 600W blow dryer running in the room. But man, that picture is nice! :laughing:

 

[3930dave]

LED should be be a bit better, but, The Game is Afoot.....

US tests reveal major TV manufacturers may be manipulating energy ratings | Environment | The Guardian

If I'd known how bad modern major appliances were going to get (lifespan wise), I'd have bought the similar era GE fridge that IT was talking about, when my Grandma's was sold...... most modern fridges barely make it out of warranty....

Rgds, D.

 

[QRTRHRS]

We still have our land line, mainly because my wife is deaf (she does have an implant but still cannot use a phone) and her Caption Call phone allows her to make an emergency call should I not be home. Else, I would drop it in a heartbeat.

Why? Let's just say that the neighbors eavesdropping way back when are far less offensive then the telemarketers that just do not let up.

I got on with AT&T Microelectronics (formerly Western(ma bell)Electronics) in 83' right after divesture. What struck me most were the processors that WE had been making all along while everyone thinks Intel, etc. There were several other reminders of bigone times. The facility had been started around 49' to make vacuum tubes and was the first location to manufacture those new fangled transistors.

 

[3930dave]

Since this thread has morphed into TV also:

I don't understand that comment.

My last purchased CRT TV(s) was when I got 5 for $20@ from a hospital closure, that must have been 15 or 20 years ago. As they gradually failed SWMBO finally authorized a 47" LED about 10 years ago. One of the last years COSTCO sold them with a bring it back any time for a FULL refund.
It's still going strong.

They don't keep the room as warm.

I talk to many people who have flat screens fail at 4 to 6 years.

New tech going into a mass market should be over-built at introduction, IMO. Coming out of the gate unreliable can be a kiss of death. As time rolls on, that new tech becomes more of a commodity, so cost "optimization" tends to prevail.

Modern (cell) phones tend to great for texting, taking pictures, watching video.... often not so much for voice quality. I get that a lot of the market today is OK with that trade-off.

Rgds, D.

 

[MossRoad]

... I get that a lot of the market today is OK with that trade-off.

...

And that's the way things are going. Companies are shooting for 80%. The last 20% to make it perfect don't generate enough sales to cover the cost to make it perfect.

For example:
You spend $100 to make a product or provide a service.
Someone else is going to make a similar, yet not as good product or service and sell it for $80.
The consumer will weigh if that extra 20% is really worth it or not. In most cases, they'd rather save the 20% than get something that's perfect.

So, $500 phone, or $400 phone? Both make calls, text, internet, etc.... one's a little slicker, but man, that 100 bucks saved will buy a lot of something else.

 

[Industrial Toys]

At some level, I think many consumers are always glad their various assets fail and they have an excuse to go shopping.

I have lived on this pioneer settled property for some time. It has always amazed me, what relics I have dug up. If things were truly that hard why did they throw so much away? I think the scale has changed but not the idea.

 

[ultrarunner]

That surprises me. LED TVs are very energy efficient and take up way less space.

We have a nice plasma TV. Now that isn't too energy efficient. Its like having a 600W blow dryer running in the room. But man, that picture is nice! :laughing:

I just can't see replacing something that still performs the same as when bought new.

Mom's 50 year old freezer just keeps going...

Can't count the friends and acquaintances that have told me 10 years is doing good on new applicances... but then I keep my cars forever... like 40+ years.

One thing about the old Western Electric phones we have is no supplemental power required... power outage... no problem...

And no need to search for a phone when it is corded!