OT: Winge

S

Sylvia Else

Guest
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.
 
"Sylvia Else" <sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote in message
news:bp78gjFk02gU1@mid.individual.net...
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.
Click to expand...

Ah, long gone are the days of 7805s in TO-3 packages, which'd last forever.

For that matter, long gone are the days of over-engineering. Everything now
is built right down to the edge of functionality - to both cut costs and to
guarantee death as soon as the warranty expires.

Be thankful it lasted a decade; something of 2014 vintage will be lucky to
see you into 2016.

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom
 
On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:01:45 +1100, Trevor Wilson wrote:


When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).
Click to expand...

You had a TV? Wow!
<how could I ignore such an obvious lead>
 
Sylvia Else <sylvia@not.at.this.address> wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.
Click to expand...

10 years...
You are either joking or showing you age. ;-)

--
:p
 
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.
Click to expand...

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).

--
Trevor Wilson www.rageaudio.com.au
 
On 24/03/2014 8:01 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).
Click to expand...

Ah yes, but at least they were economically repairable, although I'll
concede that's in part because they were so expensive in the first place.

I wasn't being serious. Ten years for a laptop is a good time (although
it hasn't actually seen that much use since I bought it second hand many
years ago). I'm just frustrated that it's decided to die now when I have
a temporary use for it.

I now have to decide whether I can justify buying a replacement for
something that gets so little use.

Sylvia.
 
"Trevor Wilson"
Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).
Click to expand...

** I have similar recollections, but more like 1 to 2 times a year to fix
our Kriesler 23inch set.

The TV guy was in and out in about 15 minutes and exchanged one or maybe two
valves - the sets were designed for easy valve replacement and valve
deterioration was responsible for over 90% of all troubles.

Solid state sets arrived in the mid 70s ( along with colour) were vastly
more reliable, so much so that the number of TV tech employed dropped to a
small faction.

My last set, a 68cm NEC, lasted over 10 years with no faults, then died
spectacularly.



.... Phil
 
On 24/03/2014 11:35 AM, Phil Allison wrote:
"Trevor Wilson"
Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).


** I have similar recollections, but more like 1 to 2 times a year to fix
our Kriesler 23inch set.

The TV guy was in and out in about 15 minutes and exchanged one or maybe two
valves - the sets were designed for easy valve replacement and valve
deterioration was responsible for over 90% of all troubles.

Solid state sets arrived in the mid 70s ( along with colour) were vastly
more reliable, so much so that the number of TV tech employed dropped to a
small faction.
Click to expand...

Sadly, the new Philips solid date set we rented in the late 70s failed a
couple of days after it was installed with a strange fault that made the
picture a lot wider, and killed the sound. That fault recurred over the
set's life, though I later discovered that it could be corrected by
giving the set a good thump. The alleged technicians never did figure it
out, but when, many years later, I obtained a circuit diagram, it seemed
fairly obvious where the offending loose connection had to be, given the
symptoms. I suspect many techs had little understanding of the equipment
they were repairing.

Sylvia.
 
On 24/03/14 08:36, news13 wrote:
On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:01:45 +1100, Trevor Wilson wrote:


When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).

You had a TV? Wow!
how could I ignore such an obvious lead
Click to expand...
HUH!! sheer luxury !!
I wasn't even allowed inside until 10 years of age !!
 
On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:35:32 +0800, Rheilly Phoull wrote:


Yeah, although my cardboard carton used to leak in the rain season but
the dog kept me warm.
Click to expand...

You had a dog? Wow!
<sorry, I plead wet Mondayitis>
 
"Rheilly Phoull" <rheilly@bigslong.com> wrote in message
news:pKydnc1JG4BZFrLOnZ2dnUVZ_t6dnZ2d@westnet.com.au...
On 24/03/14 08:36, news13 wrote:
On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:01:45 +1100, Trevor Wilson wrote:


When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).

You had a TV? Wow!
how could I ignore such an obvious lead

HUH!! sheer luxury !!
I wasn't even allowed inside until 10 years of age !!
Click to expand...

Now THAT'S luxury!

I had to walk through snow 10 miles each way to get to school and back,
uphill in both directions, carrying a sheep under each arm to keep my hands
warm!

That reminds me, I really need to dig out my Kingswood Country DVDs; it's
been a while.

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom
 
On 24/03/14 10:16, Bob Milutinovic wrote:
"Rheilly Phoull" <rheilly@bigslong.com> wrote in message
news:pKydnc1JG4BZFrLOnZ2dnUVZ_t6dnZ2d@westnet.com.au...
On 24/03/14 08:36, news13 wrote:
On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:01:45 +1100, Trevor Wilson wrote:


When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which
cost
many weeks wages).

You had a TV? Wow!
how could I ignore such an obvious lead

HUH!! sheer luxury !!
I wasn't even allowed inside until 10 years of age !!

Now THAT'S luxury!

I had to walk through snow 10 miles each way to get to school and back,
uphill in both directions, carrying a sheep under each arm to keep my
hands warm!

That reminds me, I really need to dig out my Kingswood Country DVDs;
it's been a while.
Click to expand...
Yeah, although my cardboard carton used to leak in the rain season but
the dog kept me warm.
 
On 24/03/2014 11:10 AM, Sylvia Else wrote:
On 24/03/2014 8:01 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).


Ah yes, but at least they were economically repairable, although I'll
concede that's in part because they were so expensive in the first place.

I wasn't being serious. Ten years for a laptop is a good time (although
it hasn't actually seen that much use since I bought it second hand many
years ago). I'm just frustrated that it's decided to die now when I have
a temporary use for it.

I now have to decide whether I can justify buying a replacement for
something that gets so little use.

Sylvia.
Click to expand...

**A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a tablet computer + Bluetooth™
keyboard from Aldi for $225.00. Astonishing. Fast, capable and easy to
locate business and other software for almost free.

--
Trevor Wilson www.rageaudio.com.au
 
On 24/03/2014 11:35 AM, Phil Allison wrote:
"Trevor Wilson"
Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).


** I have similar recollections, but more like 1 to 2 times a year to fix
our Kriesler 23inch set.

The TV guy was in and out in about 15 minutes and exchanged one or maybe two
valves - the sets were designed for easy valve replacement and valve
deterioration was responsible for over 90% of all troubles.

Solid state sets arrived in the mid 70s ( along with colour) were vastly
more reliable, so much so that the number of TV tech employed dropped to a
small faction.

My last set, a 68cm NEC, lasted over 10 years with no faults, then died
spectacularly.
Click to expand...

**Yep. You can't beat solid state. When I was 14 years old, the family's
portable, caravan TV (12 Volt/240 Volt) failed. The old man took it to
the local TV place and they wanted $50.00 for a quote. Horrified, my old
man declined (50 Bucks would have been close to a week's wages). He
asked me if I wanted to have a shot at fixing it. I figured I could have
a go, since the manufacturer (Princess) thoughtfully provided a
schematic with the set. It was much easier than I had hoped. The TV
worked on 12 Volts, but not 240VAC. I located a faulty diode (with my
trusty Sanwa dad had given me for my 14th birthday) in the power supply.
I hopped on a train to Radio Dispatch (ah, they were the days) to by A
diode. Installed it with my (urk) Scope soldering iron (another gift
from the old man) and the thing worked until it was chucked out a couple
of years ago.


--
Trevor Wilson www.rageaudio.com.au
 
On 24/03/14 13:46, news13 wrote:
On Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:35:32 +0800, Rheilly Phoull wrote:


Yeah, although my cardboard carton used to leak in the rain season but
the dog kept me warm.

You had a dog? Wow!
sorry, I plead wet Mondayitis

YUP! sadly we fell on bad times and had to eat him.
Click to expand...
 
On 24/03/2014 7:01 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).
Click to expand...
I think that I was about 9 when we got our first TV, a 9" Bush. 4 guys
came round to install it. After dinner, the family sat down to watch the
news, my father turned it on with the volume knob (he believed that it
was dangerous to turn up the brilliance control before the sound came
on). We sat there for about half an hour before he came to the
conclusion that it wasn't going to work. Next day the 4 guys came back
with a new set, that one lasted about 8 years, but, in the end, the tube
had been boosted so much that the picture had a dull red background.
 
keithr presented the following explanation :
On 24/03/2014 7:01 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).

I think that I was about 9 when we got our first TV, a 9" Bush. 4 guys came
round to install it. After dinner, the family sat down to watch the news, my
father turned it on with the volume knob (he believed that it was dangerous
to turn up the brilliance control before the sound came on). We sat there for
about half an hour before he came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to
work. Next day the 4 guys came back with a new set, that one lasted about 8
years, but, in the end, the tube had been boosted so much that the picture
had a dull red background.
Click to expand...

If we are going to tell stories from the past --
I was involved in instaling an obsolete BBC TV transmitter , 405
lines, Oh the definition, at RMIT in 1952 or 53 as a training machine
before TV was turned on for the public in 1956.
If I remember correctly it was on a similare frequency to the cabs of
the time and we got a whole lot of complaints. l-)

--
John G
 
On 25/03/2014 5:37 PM, John G wrote:
keithr presented the following explanation :
On 24/03/2014 7:01 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems
likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally
thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).

I think that I was about 9 when we got our first TV, a 9" Bush. 4 guys
came round to install it. After dinner, the family sat down to watch
the news, my father turned it on with the volume knob (he believed
that it was dangerous to turn up the brilliance control before the
sound came on). We sat there for about half an hour before he came to
the conclusion that it wasn't going to work. Next day the 4 guys came
back with a new set, that one lasted about 8 years, but, in the end,
the tube had been boosted so much that the picture had a dull red
background.

If we are going to tell stories from the past --
I was involved in instaling an obsolete BBC TV transmitter , 405 lines,
Oh the definition, at RMIT in 1952 or 53 as a training machine before TV
was turned on for the public in 1956.
If I remember correctly it was on a similare frequency to the cabs of
the time and we got a whole lot of complaints. l-)
Click to expand...
I wouldn't have thought that it would have been obsolete in the early
50s, the poms kept 405 lines well into the 60s.
 
On 25/03/2014 8:09 PM, keithr wrote:

I wouldn't have thought that it would have been obsolete in the early
50s, the poms kept 405 lines well into the 60s.
Click to expand...

And awful it was too. Black and white, and only 405 lines, I can't
believe we were willing to watch it.

Sylvia. <--- pom.
 
keithr wrote on 25/03/2014 :
On 25/03/2014 5:37 PM, John G wrote:
keithr presented the following explanation :
On 24/03/2014 7:01 AM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
On 23/03/2014 4:07 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
My ten year old Thinkpad T21 has developed a fault which seems
likely to
involve one of the power control chips. Not worth trying to fix.

Why can't they make things that last anymore.

Sylvia.

**Clearly, you are MUCH younger and dumber than I had originally
thought.

When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, I can recall the TV repair guy
calling at least 3-4 times per year to fix the family TV set (which cost
many weeks wages).

I think that I was about 9 when we got our first TV, a 9" Bush. 4 guys
came round to install it. After dinner, the family sat down to watch
the news, my father turned it on with the volume knob (he believed
that it was dangerous to turn up the brilliance control before the
sound came on). We sat there for about half an hour before he came to
the conclusion that it wasn't going to work. Next day the 4 guys came
back with a new set, that one lasted about 8 years, but, in the end,
the tube had been boosted so much that the picture had a dull red
background.

If we are going to tell stories from the past --
I was involved in instaling an obsolete BBC TV transmitter , 405 lines,
Oh the definition, at RMIT in 1952 or 53 as a training machine before TV
was turned on for the public in 1956.
If I remember correctly it was on a similare frequency to the cabs of
the time and we got a whole lot of complaints. l-)

I wouldn't have thought that it would have been obsolete in the early 50s,
the poms kept 405 lines well into the 60s.
Click to expand...

They may have still used 405 lines but this transmitter was no longer
required by them if I remember correctly and we needed a training
machine as it was all new to us.

--
John G
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top