Shake, rattle and roll . . . Cool!

MODERN TECHNOLOGY:  Manufacturers don’t build things to last like they used to.

I like my computer. I can have a good old chat with friends who live on the other side of the Atlantic – complete with a live image – and it’s great for researching things I need for work. But I positively detest the thing when it goes wrong, which is as frequent as the issue of yet another EU regulation.  

Anyway, I had a bit of trouble a couple of weeks ago when it began to cut out at inopportune times. Yes I know the term is ‘crash,’ but being firmly anchored in the pre-computer age, I prefer the term ‘cut out’ thank you. This happened with increasing regularity until it simply would not, um… reboot dammit. So I took it to my local computer shop. I have to say that I take my faulty hardware in as a last, not a first resort. Not because I have problems with the staff who are always helpful and professional but, due to my own failings, I invariably emerge from the place feeling like a prize turnip.

They use Klingon when trying to explain things to me you see, and although I nod sagely, the truth is I don’t understand a darn thing they are saying. On this occasion I was told to leave the offending beast and they would get back to me, which they did, promptly.

It’s the power supply I was told by the friendly young man. I was puzzled, everything else in the house seemed to be working perfectly and I told him so. No, the power supply he repeated.

I was getting agitated. Yes I heard what he said the first time, and I reiterated that all the lights in the house were working, as too were the TV and that other thing that burns bread whenever I use it, so how come? The power supply in the computer he pointed out patiently. But could it be fixed?  

Of course, and less than an hour later and 60 euros poorer, I had the treacherous machine back on my desk. The problem apparently, is that my computer is two years old and I must expect this sort of thing to happen.

My parents only ever owned one fridge purchased during the 50’s and although it would shake, rattle and roll in keeping with its vintage, it was still doing its job 30 years later. So why are today’s manufacturers not able to build things to last?

Well, they could of course, but when hundreds of people queue round the block for the latest model of things like Smartphones at 500 quid each, why should they.

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