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Post by leonski on Jan 22, 2020 20:49:41 GMT -5
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Post by MusicHead on Jan 22, 2020 23:02:21 GMT -5
The days of the "Think Different" Apple are long gone. They have become just another arrogant tech giant.
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Post by leonski on Jan 22, 2020 23:08:49 GMT -5
You miss the point of the article. Even well regarded SONOS is about to 'obsolete' stuff more than 6 or 8 years old by stopping updates and such. HP printers will STOP PRINTING for those who 'subscribed' to the endless ink service when they cancel, even if you still have ink. sure, Apple has an awful repair policy. But do some electronics houses do better? Can you get a late schematic for a non-proprietary amp circuit by most of the big names? www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvgggp/nikon-is-making-it-harder-to-fix-its-camerasIf this article is correct, I'm going to be very upset since I just bought a Nikon last year. |
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Post by Loop 7 on Jan 23, 2020 4:16:20 GMT -5
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Post by 405x5 on Jan 23, 2020 7:55:41 GMT -5
My daughter just had her screen and battery replaced by an “Apple Authorized” shop.
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Post by MusicHead on Jan 23, 2020 8:10:03 GMT -5
You miss the point of the article. Even well regarded SONOS is about to 'obsolete' stuff more than 6 or 8 years old by stopping updates and such. HP printers will STOP PRINTING for those who 'subscribed' to the endless ink service when they cancel, even if you still have ink. sure, Apple has an awful repair policy. But do some electronics houses do better? Can you get a late schematic for a non-proprietary amp circuit by most of the big names? www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvgggp/nikon-is-making-it-harder-to-fix-its-camerasIf this article is correct, I'm going to be very upset since I just bought a Nikon last year. I know Apple is not alone. That is why I wrote "another arrogant tech company". Google is not far behind... And it is not just with consumer. B2B is going down the drain too. At work we recently got an expensive scope probe (~$5k), now it broke and the rep from which we purchased it is telling us that because it is now obsolete the manufacturer no longer services it and cannot be repaired. |
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Post by leonski on Jan 23, 2020 13:18:15 GMT -5
Thanks for update. Yeah, I'm going nuts.
I would have thought better of Apple. Yes, I must have glossed over 'Another'. Sure is another.
Must'a been Some Scope Probe! And UnFixable!? I'd be finding a new scope and system.
I'd love to own a vintage Tektronix 60mhz dual trace......
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 23, 2020 14:55:06 GMT -5
Maybe you would and maybe you wouldn't.  But, if you really want one, they can generally be found for a song on eBay. (I would absolutely spend the extra to get one that has been properly rebuilt and refurbished... and comes with at least some sort of warranty.)
Some of those vintage Tektronix scopes used custom made selector switches which are simply irreplaceable when they do finally fail. And they have lots of mechanical selector switches, with lots of contacts, and lots of other moving parts, that can and do eventually fail. Likewise, the high quality parts they used can be extremely expensive to replace if you have to. And, even if you do manage to find a replacement, you haven't lived until you've tried to replace a selector switch with a few dozen wires coming off of it.  I've also heard that the one person left on the entire planet capable of rebuilding the high voltage power supply used to power their CRT tubes is no longer with us...
I know a guy who used to salvage and rebuilt those... And, yes, the old 535's and 545's were quite nice (although nearly impossible to lift without mechanical aid).
But they can be a real horror to fix when something goes wrong...
The real benefit is that there are lots of them available as cheap surplus... so there is a ready supply of relatively cheap replacements and parts like probes.
Thanks for update. Yeah, I'm going nuts. I would have thought better of Apple. Yes, I must have glossed over 'Another'. Sure is another. Must'a been Some Scope Probe! And UnFixable!? I'd be finding a new scope and system. I'd love to own a vintage Tektronix 60mhz dual trace...... |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 23, 2020 15:01:41 GMT -5
You would have expected better of Apple? From the folks who brought us the first modern laptop with a battery that's soldered and epoxied into place?
And who popularized phones that cost more than actual computers? Yet still seem to think you should plan to buy a new one every year or two?
You are a very charitable individual...  (Personally it's exactly what I would expect from them.)
Thanks for update. Yeah, I'm going nuts. I would have thought better of Apple. Yes, I must have glossed over 'Another'. Sure is another. Must'a been Some Scope Probe! And UnFixable!? I'd be finding a new scope and system. I'd love to own a vintage Tektronix 60mhz dual trace...... |
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Post by leonski on Jan 23, 2020 16:34:03 GMT -5
Yes, indeed. I would never buy a 'working' scope. They plugged it in and no smoke came out. Unit had been used for 20 years in a production environment.
When I first started work, not only did reliability have a Crown DC300 amp to run a vibration table! but the boss had his OWN SCOPE which was a vacuum tube Tektronix with
plug-in modules. NOT TO BE TOUCHED or UNPLUGGED.
The place I worked made Low Frequency quartz oscillators of a tuning fork design.
And Yes, I've replaced a stepper switch which makes most Tektronix stuff look like a kids project. Switch was on an Extrion Implanter and was used to keep the end station in-sequence.
I think it was an exertion DF4 model. Maximum acceleration voltage was 160kev or 200kev.
We also had a GE XRay machine. And later I helped build the hydrogen reduction furnace used to clean packages. We had our own Catalytic Cracker to dissassociat Amonia and recover the
hydrogen!. My boss spent his entire career on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
I'll use my current phone until it ceases to function. Thank you very much!
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DYohn
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Posts: 18,485
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Post by DYohn on Jan 23, 2020 19:24:25 GMT -5
I honestly cannot remember the last time I had to have something repaired. Oh wait, a channel on my Butler amp stopped working three years ago. The factory fixed it gratis in about a week. I've never had a phone break. I've used Motorola flip phones until the iPhone came out, and I've used only iPhones since.
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Post by vcautokid on Jan 24, 2020 2:41:36 GMT -5
I have an old Razr that has the Carbon Fiber Back on it that still works. Holds a charge and everything. Would I still enjoy using it? Nah, I'll stick with my S10. As far as Apple, I divorced from them years ago. Though phone is really cool, my reception of their polices are even cooler. Everyone will get along with their preference,but Apple will never gain my trust again. Not to mention the guy who saved Apple is now killing Apple. Where is the innovation? Their super duper MAC is a joke. Can build one of a PC that will spank that over priced ingot for half if not less. Then fix an Apple computer or technology? No thanks. I am happy to watch. But I will never pay Apple a dime!
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Post by leonski on Jan 27, 2020 21:06:23 GMT -5
I honestly cannot remember the last time I had to have something repaired. Oh wait, a channel on my Butler amp stopped working three years ago. The factory fixed it gratis in about a week. I've never had a phone break. I've used Motorola flip phones until the iPhone came out, and I've used only iPhones since. I used a LG FlipPhone until Captain Kirk called and wanted it back........ |
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Post by audiobill on Jan 29, 2020 5:12:09 GMT -5
You would have expected better of Apple? From the folks who brought us the first modern laptop with a battery that's soldered and epoxied into place?
And who popularized phones that cost more than actual computers? Yet still seem to think you should plan to buy a new one every year or two?
You are a very charitable individual... (Personally it's exactly what I would expect from them.)
Thanks for update. Yeah, I'm going nuts. I would have thought better of Apple. Yes, I must have glossed over 'Another'. Sure is another. Must'a been Some Scope Probe! And UnFixable!? I'd be finding a new scope and system. I'd love to own a vintage Tektronix 60mhz dual trace...... Keith, with all the RMC-1 issues, not so sure I'd be bashing anyone...... |
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cawgijoe
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"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
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Post by cawgijoe on Feb 24, 2020 8:26:55 GMT -5
Our family has never had a phone fail whether Samsung or Apple. They have slowed down after four years or more which I fully expect. I had the battery replaced in my Iphone 7 a year ago because they were doing it for $35.I have no issue with Apple, they make a high quality product.
I did have an Emotiva XPA-5 fail after 7 years, kept going into protect mode on different channels intermittently. After much trouble shooting with Emotiva's help and the Forum, I ended up trading it in to Emotiva (thank you) and purchased a new XPA-5 Gen 3. It's working great.
I had to repair a cold solder joint in my Thiel SCS3 center channel a few years ago which caused the speaker to cut out. Easy repair with my good EE friend. Better than new!
Can't think of anything else needing repair at the moment...knock on wood!!
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 24, 2020 9:06:07 GMT -5
I guess that the age of disposable electronics is finally here to stay. I've adapted by using Apple's "upgrade your iPhone every year" program. I can justify the expense since it's my business number. But what I like the best about the plan is that it includes free no-questions-asked replacement if your phone is stolen, lost, or damaged. So even if I'm in Timbucktoo on business, if I break my phone, I can get one locally, restore it from my iCloud backup, and be running again quickly. I consider it an insurance policy. I've never needed it, but it's a comfort to know it's there if I do.
Audio gear doesn't pay the bills, so if it breaks (and I can't fix it myself), then it's replaced.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2020 12:01:57 GMT -5
I guess that the age of disposable electronics is finally here to stay. I've adapted by using Apple's "upgrade your iPhone every year" program. I can justify the expense since it's my business number. But what I like the best about the plan is that it includes free no-questions-asked replacement if your phone is stolen, lost, or damaged. So even if I'm in Timbucktoo on business, if I break my phone, I can get one locally, restore it from my iCloud backup, and be running again quickly. I consider it an insurance policy. I've never needed it, but it's a comfort to know it's there if I do. Audio gear doesn't pay the bills, so if it breaks (and I can't fix it myself), then it's replaced. A friend and I a hunting went, We spied three maidens in a tent, They being three, we being two, I bucked one and Tim bucked two |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2020 14:12:46 GMT -5
The price of replacement parts makes repairing many products nonsensical. PC printers are the worst. The printhead of my Epson printer ($129) had ink dried up, replacement head- $99, while cleaning it is hit or miss and a pita to disassemble. I really like the software, function & ease-of-use. Once had an all-in-one $700 HP (b&w) that had a known software glitch & HP did nothing, just came out with a new model- exactly the same but better firm/soft ware. Just paid $370 for a built-in oven control panel consisting of a small touch panel glued to a metal panel.  Electronics has improved greatly due to lower operating voltage (heat) & improved component manufacturing; most failures are mechanical. I used my Denon AVR-5700 for 17+ years until the electrolytic capacitors started failing. |
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Post by leonski on Feb 24, 2020 23:25:51 GMT -5
Just spent some some good coin on a new CAMERA. A Nikon Z6, so you can do the math.
People and reviewers were not completely sold on the autofocus capabilities and a few other featuers.
Nikon has treated its customers pretty good with firmware updates for the new generation of Mirrorless cameras.
Within a couple months, FW Version 1.6 was issued and improvements noted by all, including the original reviewers. But that wasn't IT....
Over the next couple months? FW Version 2.0 came out which improved eye autofocus, where the camera grabs the subjects EYE and focuses on that.
Next came FW Version 2.2 which added support for CFExpress memory which is the fastest camera memory currently available.
Now? FW Version 3.0 is out and while fine-tuning some of the features and 'buttons', ALSO adds more support for CFExpress memory AND a setting for thos
who photograph PETS with a feature that will grab the EYES of your cat or dog and lock focus on THEM.
This is Camera Death Match. DSLR sales have dropped a LOT over the last decade or more. And year-over-year to boot for EVERY pair of years. Sony just took
over 2nd place, behind Canon while Nikon dropped to 3rd. The 3 or 4 'also rans' are still struggling for market share.
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