Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/06/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'm not so sure about that,B.D. Washers and dryers are pretty simple devices. New ones would have electronic controls not electromechanical ones, but otherwise should be pretty much the same. Maybe some small improvement in efficiency due to optimization of the machine cycles, but not much, I think and the new ones, would not be half so reliable since they are built to a price point. Dehumidifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators are another story. Real progress has been made in making compressors more efficient. Dick >Actually, Dick, I'll be that any washer or dryer you'd buy today would be >far more efficient, use less energy, etc., than your 35-year-old machine. >The only thing inherently valuable in a 35-year-old washer or dryer, >compared to today's machine, is the set of memories that goes with it - all >those loads of little kids clothes, etc. etc. ;-) > > >On 6/13/06 10:05 PM, "Richard S. Taylor" <r.s.taylor@comcast.net> wrote: > >> Don - Economics always rules. Thanks to largely automated production >> processes it's often cheaper to build new than stock replacement >> parts and repair the old. Repair always involves labor and time. >> >> I've followed this unfortunate path myself. When my five-year old >> dehumidifier died recently the choice was either to spend $100 >> minimum to repair it or $200 to buy a new, better one. I went for >> the new, just like most of us would do, but it still rankles. >> >> There's something seriously out of whack here. >> >> On the other hand, if my now 35-year old Maytag washer or dryer >> developed a problem I'd almost certainly repair it. There's >> something inherently valuable in those machines, like our Leicas. >> (Whew! Back on topic, didn't think I'd make it. :-) ) >> >> Dick >> >>> Richard, >>> The waste is in the engineering. I have three cordless drills that all >>> use >>> different batteries not to mention battery design. We rush designs out >>> without thinking through the process because it is too easy to set up >>> another factory deeper in China/Indonesia/Mexico to build whatever was >>> rushed out the door. >>> >>> I think that one of the things that most of us liked about Leica's is >>> that >>> not that much changed over the decades and that most of it still played >>> nicely with the older pieces or younger pieces. There was some serious >>> engineering going on behind the scenes. >>> >>> Don >>> don.dory@gmail.com >>> >>> >>> On 6/13/06, Richard S. Taylor <r.s.taylor@comcast.net> wrote: >>>> >>>> (snip) >>>>> I had a friend who had a big screen TV.... it cost him $4K, he had >>>>> it for a year, then threw it out when it went bad. His new >>>>> replacement was less costly ($2700) and bigger. Made sense to >>>>> him...... >>>>> >>>>> Obviously not me. I like mechanical cameras. >>>>> >>>>> Frank Filippone >>>>> red735i@earthlink.net >>>> >>>> (snip) >>>> >>>> The consumer economy at it's worst - and an astonishing waste of >>>> energy (think) oil) to boot. But that's what keeps the economy >>>> humming. >>>> >>>> It makes my teeth grind to think of all the human and physical energy >>>> wasted when gear like that screen (or a DSLR, to get back on topic) >>>> is thrown out after so little use. >>>> >>>> End of rant. :-)) >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Regards, >>>> >>>> Dick >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information