Broken digital voice recorder - there miust be way to retrieve a conversation.

[Resurrection Man]

Well done all. I hate seeing all this built in obsolescence, and brilliant to see Stans interview saved.

And " Broken Digital Tape Recorder" will make a great name for a rock group.

It's not built-in obsolescence, ts, but basic economics. A lot of stuff is too cheap. Take our old Humax PVR. It started playing up. To take it to someone is going to cost time/petrol to get there. Whoever looks at it is probably going to charge £25 minimum. And that is without replacing anything (even assuming that a part was available). A refurbished new one is £65. Simply not worth pursuing taking it to be repaired. Now if it cost £300 then, yes, it would be worthwhile.

* actually chez-RM I'd be able to sort it out myself if it was something like a hard drive fault as they are pretty generic so the labour cost in money wouldn't factor.

[Pabmusic]

It's not built-in obsolescence, ts, but basic economics...

Over here, it's often possible to get electrical goods mended, since the cost will probably amount to the equivalent of £5 or so - there are dozens of 'home businesses' that cater for this. So very little that is repairable is ever thrown away.

[MrGongGong]

" Broken Digital Tape Recorder"

There is much discussion amongst the folk on the CEC list etc about whether the term "Tape" still applies to works for "Fixed Media"

I didn't think it was a DAT machine ? (don't , whatever you do open one of those up.... it has what is known in this house as a "very high b-doingggg factor )

[teamsaint]

It's not built-in obsolescence, ts, but basic economics. A lot of stuff is too cheap. Take our old Humax PVR. It started playing up. To take it to someone is going to cost time/petrol to get there. Whoever looks at it is probably going to charge £25 minimum. And that is without replacing anything (even assuming that a part was available). A refurbished new one is £65. Simply not worth pursuing taking it to be repaired. Now if it cost £300 then, yes, it would be worthwhile.

* actually chez-RM I'd be able to sort it out myself if it was something like a hard drive fault as they are pretty generic so the labour cost in money wouldn't factor.

lots of stuff IS too cheap, because costs are kept down by dubious methods.
We all like cheap goods, but our consumption patterns, driven by the producers really need to change, and fast.

[Resurrection Man]

lots of stuff IS too cheap, because costs are kept down by dubious methods.
We all like cheap goods, but our consumption patterns, driven by the producers really need to change, and fast.

What do you mean 'by dubious methods' ?

Sorry but I don't understand what you are trying to say. "Consumption patterns"...??

[teamsaint]

What do you mean 'by dubious methods' ?

Sorry but I don't understand what you are trying to say. "Consumption patterns"...??

consumption patterns? buying lots of cheaply produced goods that break quickly and get thrown on landfill (possibly) to be replaced by more of the same.

Dubious methods? Oh come on RM !! Ultra cheap labour in the developing world, use of cheap non renewable resources, highly polluting methods of producing raw materials, etc etc.

http://thediplomat.com/tech-biz/2013/07/12/is-apple-making-iphones-with-illegally-mined-indonesian-tin-samsung-is/

the race to the bottom on price surely has to be replaced by something better, doesn't it?

[Resurrection Man]

....
the race to the bottom on price surely has to be replaced by something better, doesn't it?

Unfortunately Joe Public couldn't care less. Cheap is good as far as they are concerned. Cost of everything. Value of nothing.

[MrGongGong]

Unfortunately Joe Public couldn't care less. Cheap is good as far as they are concerned. Cost of everything. Value of nothing.

and there at the bottom of the barrel we have "lord" Sugar

[Bryn]

and there at the bottom of the barrel we have "lord" Sugar

In general I would concur, but with one important exception, the 'Joyce', I.e. hIs PCW 8256 and related plug and go CPM based 'word processors'. The were an excellent revamping and repackaging of a mature technology.