[Boatanchors] Re: Today's gear in 2055?

[J. Forster]

Jim Wilhite wrote:

> One has but to try to find some of the processors in ham
> equipment produced just 5 - 10 years ago today to find what
> you are speaking about in modern commercial equipment.  It
> will be gone after the lightning strike or when a voltage
> surge comes down the electrical line.
>
> Change for the better is one thing, change for the sake of
> change is not good for anyone.
>
> 73  Jim
> W5JO

Yes and no. For example, changing the tail fins on cars every year is stupid,
IMO. That's change for the sake of change.

Unfortunately, someone designing a product is not always prescient about whether
that product will be a success or not.

In the 1970s, Motorola brought out some 1/2 UART chips (A receiver in one, a
transmitter in another). I was told, over my protests and better judgment, to
design a product using one of those transmitter chips, because the manager
thought he could save $.65 per unit. He did...  for about 6 months. Then
Motorola sold the design to Nitron and the price went from about $3 to about
$25, because there was no demand for the 1/2 UARTs. The chip  wanted to use,
kept dropping in price. I was right, but the point is, only the marketplace is
the ultimate arbiter of success or failure.

Should Sony have continued to make Bateaux VCRs. Obviously not.

That's why you get orphan products. Like it or not, it will continue.

-John