Built in obsolescence...ANOTHER rant.

[rwsmith]

Has anybody noticed that cell phones work fine for a year or more likely, two years, then start going buggy? It's too perfect, because the bugs are specifically designed to drive you crazy and want another phone. Screen often fades to black, it won't respond to input, it gives you what you don't want.

We had six phones of several types on our plan, and like clockwork, the similar ones began to fail at about the same time period from which they were bought. I'm not going to name names.

Two of the more expensive phones called for an upgrade. When you upgraded it said, "No room for upgrade". I asked, "Can you put a memory chip in it?" I was told that there was already a memory chip in it.

I looked this up and I'm not the only one that realizes what's going on.

Here's an even better one. These kiosks that sell cheap electronics? Talk about built in obsolescence, call it instant obsolescence. They are designed not to work from the start or they were just manufacturing failures that didn't work. They will light up, and give the manufacturer and the name of the device, you look it up and do what's needed and you are supposed to assume that you are doing something wrong. If you take it back and say it doesn't work, they won't give you a refund but they'll fight with you and relent by giving you a replacement.....that doesn't work either. The experience is so unpleasant that most people won't go back twice. Unless you are my son. I have BEGGED him not to buy stuff from places like that, but he can't resist. And it's ALL ****.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I think the demographics they are aiming at have no idea of value, quality and such.

 

[SC_Mike]

My iPhone 5 worked great until I got the first "software upgrade". I've had probs ever since.

 

[Coldshooter]

Now you know the real meaning of "Smart" phone.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

As I get closer to age 60 the more aware I am that my designer believed in planned obsolescence.

 

[snubbyfan]

I've been obsolete for years.

 

[jframe]

Hell, EVERYTHING is made that way today. You can't fix your car anymore, they want you to buy a new one in five years or less. My girlfriend and I bought a new couch a couple years ago, and I told the lady at the furniture store that I wanted one like my folks had that would last 20 or 30 years. She just laughed at me, and said we'd be lucky to get 10 to 12 out of one now. Seems kinda crappy for something that costs five or six hundred bucks. Cell phones are the worst I agree, but look around at how crappy everything else is made as well, so it comes as no surprise.

 

[judge]

My phone works all the time with no sweat! Like seeing it hanging on the wall every day - have the same one for 20 years (ATT)

 

[chaparrito]

My iPhone 5C is almost three years old and still fully upgradeable. It does exactly what I need it to and a lot more. I bought it unlocked for a hundred dollars and don't have a "plan". 40 bucks a month prepaid gives me unlimited talk, text and more 4G data than I could ever possibly use.

So, no.

 

[rwsmith]

I got the same answer about washers/dryers...

Hell, EVERYTHING is made that way today. You can't fix your car anymore, they want you to buy a new one in five years or less. My girlfriend and I bought a new couch a couple years ago, and I told the lady at the furniture store that I wanted one like my folks had that would last 20 or 30 years. She just laughed at me, and said we'd be lucky to get 10 to 12 out of one now. Seems kinda crappy for something that costs five or six hundred bucks. Cell phones are the worst I agree, but look around at how crappy everything else is made as well, so it comes as no surprise.

I was told that since they use electronics in washer/dryers now I'd be good to get five years out of one due to moisture messing them up. Fortunately I find that decent brands still last a good while.

 

[Bugkiller99]

I was told that since they use electronics in washer/dryers now I'd be good to get five years out of one due to moisture messing them up. Fortunately I find that decent brands still last a good while.

Whoa whoa whoa here. Your washing machine and dryer have problems because they might be exposed to mositure????

Next thing ya know rain coats will work fine, unless they get wet.

 

[soFlaNative]

I love buying the assembly instead of the wiper insert then having the rubber separate
from the frame as soon as the first streak appears.

 

[Watchdog]

I love buying the assembly instead of the wiper insert then having the rubber separate
from the frame as soon as the first streak appears.

Yeah. I don't know who came up with the idea for the wiper blade assembly, but I'd like a few words in private with him.

 

[chaparrito]

Yeah. I don't know who came up with the idea for the wiper blade assembly, but I'd like a few words in private with him.

Me too. I always end up with the wrong set.

 

[Arik]

Going on 3 years with this phone. Works fine. I did have the problem you described with the upgrades and memory until I realized that everything I was saving wasn't actually going into the SD card. Once I manually moved them there was plenty of space for upgrades. Then there are the miscellaneous files which add up over time and can't really be deleted.

Phones have become what the computer was in the late 90s. But more. It's a traveling phone, gps, camera, game center, tv, Communication device. Every time something is upgraded it usually means it need more memory and/or more space. Eventually the older technology can't handle that amount of information and starts to slow down or stop working due to conflicting script. Kinda like trying to do the work of today's PC using one from 2002. Won't work.

The other problem is the bloatware. All that preloaded nonsense that came with your phone. It can't be deleted. It takes up space. The IMDB, Inside NFL, Amazon shopping, music and App store and more. Sometimes there is a way around it. You can purchase some phones directly from the manufacturer without all that **** and go to your carrier and have them connect that phone to your account. Unfortunately Verizon doesn't allow that and I think maybe one other company.

Like a computer your cell has stored all the cookies and links to places you've visited. Even deleted downloads still remain in one for or another. Occasionally going through your files and deleting items helps

 

[Jessie]

I have an older Ford Expedition that's developed an occasional misfire on one of the cylinders. I went to check the plugs for a cracked insulator or bad wires.
I can't even SEE the plugs! Looks like I need to take the wheel off and remove the wheel well splash guard to get to them.
Who designed that?!!
As to phones, they're now computers, and those have been going obsolete after a couple of years since their inception.

 

[redlevel]

Modern electroncs, whether on a car, phone, appliance, or a computer are nothing short of a miracle. They can surely be aggravating at times, but think of all the benefits.

I am pretty much a luddite in many ways, but I can't help but think how convenient even a flip phone would have been back in the day when I had to get a pocket full of change and find a phone booth in order to call the 25 or so customers I had to get orders from each day. Also, it is so nice to have almost instant comms with my folks when they or I am on the road.

Some folks would complain if you hung them with a new rope.

 

[SW MP15]

I'm pretty happy with my iPhone 4s, I upgrade IOS all the time. Most recent was 9.2. I'd like a new phone,but, don't want to LEASE one, which seems to be the rage? Don't want to shell out $650 for one either and not going to sign another contract. In case a new carrier comes along and offers me a new magic plan, with a free iPhone? Yeah Right, like that's going to happen!!

Got my grandson a new 6s plus when they came out. 64gb. And it's as big as my tablet? I need a phone, but not a tablet to keep in my pocket.

So I guess I'm stuck in the viscous cell phone circle?

Da Da Da Da (theme from the Twilight Zone)

Danged if you do and danged if you don't!!

 

[Farmer17]

my I phone 5 was 3 years old and the battery wouldn't hold a charge very long so I bought an I phone 6 a couple of days ago because the battery was so expensive. At&t recently stopped leasing phones so you have to buy them now and about $550 is the cheapest one and they go up to 8-9 hundred pretty fast.

 

[kalei]

Wife loves her iPhone 3gs! got it in 2009 did all upgrades thru iOS 6 and no further updates will be released for it. Still works great, battery install good for at least 15 hrs.