[Boatanchors] Why modern gadgets vacuum your wallet when...

[Robert Nickels]

The notion of "planned obsolescence" originated with industrial designer 
Brooke Stevens ("the desire to own something a little newer, a little 
better, a little sooner than is necessary") -  but really got a foothold 
with Vance Packard's "The Waste Makers" published in 1960,  which 
described "the systematic attempt of business to make us into "wasteful, 
debt-ridden, permanently discontented individuals".    But, we all enjoy 
a vision of the past that is somewhat rose-tinted ;-) - just compare the 
longevity of automobiles from that era vs today.   By the time our 
parents cars had 100,000 miles on them they were actually clunkers 
whereas today a vehicle with that mileage is considered "barely 
broken-in" by many.

We all know that it's easier to get a vacuum tube or even a power 
transformer (thanks to audiophiles) to repair a 1950's radio than it is 
to get an obsolete IC from the 70's...(if anyone has  a stock of SUHL 
ICs let me know and I'll fix my Collins 651S-1).    All manufacturers 
use components that are state-of-the-art at the time in order to provide 
new and improved functionality, and it's always been that way.   "Bells 
and Whistles" are enablers of planned obsolescence (says the man who 
last year repaired his late 70s vintage microwave oven...)    I've 
always thought the Hallicrafters single conversion GC receivers were a 
great example, just trace the S20/R, S40, S-85/SX-99, S-108/SX-110, 
through the S-128/SX-130/133 to see how styling and modest updates 
sustained this basic design over a 40 year span.

More germane to ham radio I think is the concept of "perceived 
obsolescence" - which in modern terms is the reason why "everyone" must 
have a new smartphone every year, regardless of the fact that they don't 
use half the features of their present one.   When it comes to basic ham 
radio operation, a 20, 30, or even 50-year old radio will do everything 
that's needed for the casual operator as many of us prove on the air all 
the time.    Yet radio manufacturers and smartphone designers are not so 
different when it comes to creating a perception of desirability for 
owning the latest and greatest "status symbol".

73, Bob W9RAN