UK hooked on 'essential' gadgets

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 01 Feb 2011, 20:53

kenneal wrote:
vtsnowedin wrote: Unlike your new computer widgets it is not obsolete the day you buy it.
Could be if the fashion changed from gold plated to chrome that day. There are, unfortunately, many people in the UK who would change all the taps on that basis; they'd probably change the whole bathroom suite and kitchen as well. Some people have too much money and not enough sense.

If they had too much money and wanted to spend it that wouldnt really be a problem, but they don't, they borrow money to change the taps then default on the payments.

the mad cyclist · Post by **the mad cyclist** » 01 Feb 2011, 21:36

Catweazle wrote:My favourite gadgets.............are my chainsaws and shotguns.

I wonder if that caused a flag to go up somewhere?

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 01 Feb 2011, 23:32

the mad cyclist wrote:
Catweazle wrote:My favourite gadgets.............are my chainsaws and shotguns.
I wonder if that caused a flag to go up somewhere?

I expect it did

, but the authorities don't need to monitor forums, all my details are on the increasingly detailed licences they have issued me over the last 25 years.

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 01 Feb 2011, 23:54

I had to buy a new toaster recently, funny thing is my last toaster was plastic, cost me £20- 10 years ago. Now I got a stainless steel toaster and it cost me £20-. Tell me that isn't progress?

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 02 Feb 2011, 00:54

No, it's just changing fashion. Your last one was probably made in the UK or Europe while the new one was made in China or Vietnam. Hence lower cost.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 02 Feb 2011, 10:13

kenneal wrote:
vtsnowedin wrote: Unlike your new computer widgets it is not obsolete the day you buy it.
Could be if the fashion changed from gold plated to chrome that day. There are, unfortunately, many people in the UK who would change all the taps on that basis; they'd probably change the whole bathroom suite and kitchen as well. Some people have too much money and not enough sense.

Taps are usualy the main cost.
My 3 piece bathroom suite was £310.
An equivilant Bath tap with shower is £150 in B&Q, an eqivilant sink tap is £80.

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 02 Feb 2011, 13:15

DominicJ wrote:
kenneal wrote:
vtsnowedin wrote: Unlike your new computer widgets it is not obsolete the day you buy it.
Could be if the fashion changed from gold plated to chrome that day. There are, unfortunately, many people in the UK who would change all the taps on that basis; they'd probably change the whole bathroom suite and kitchen as well. Some people have too much money and not enough sense.
Taps are usualy the main cost.
My 3 piece bathroom suite was £310.
An equivilant Bath tap with shower is £150 in B&Q, an eqivilant sink tap is £80.

Your thinking only of the parts on your side of the city water meter. Being out of town a bit the whole system is mine to enjoy and fix when broken. A few years ago I had to replace 900 feet of rusted out galvanized pipe running between the house and the spring. When it was first installed over a hundred years ago the land was a close grazed sheep pasture and they used a horse plow to cut as deep a furrow as possible then dug down with a mattock arm length deep for the princely sum of a dollar a rod. (16.5 feet). Today that pasture is a second growth hardwood forest with maple trees up to two feet in diameter. I had to rent a "Ditch-Witch" trencher and cut my way through tree roots and stumps. The side slope was so steep that the trencher would tip over if it wasn't belayed off a tree and I had to move dirt repeatedly to level up a road in front of the trencher. All the while there is three then young children down at the house with no running water. Mother was with me holding the tag end of the belaying rope or helping shovel. It was a very long three days.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 02 Feb 2011, 13:30

We recently spent an unmentionable amount of money upgrading the bathroom and downstairs loo.

The main functional improvements? better taps and dual flush loos. The bath is a bit smaller still (needs less water) and has lost the side handles (which recalcitrant daughters used to cling to when it was time to yank 'em out).

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 02 Feb 2011, 15:33

RalphW wrote:We recently spent an unmentionable amount of money upgrading the bathroom and downstairs loo.

The main functional improvements? better taps and dual flush loos. The bath is a bit smaller still (needs less water) and has lost the side handles (which recalcitrant daughters used to cling to when it was time to yank 'em out).

Are they at the stage yet where they are too old to yank out of the tub? Some of mine like to soak chin deep in bubbles while reading a book with an occasional toe up to the tap to run in hot water to keep the temp. as steamy as the novel. You go through prodigious amounts of hot water that way.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 03 Feb 2011, 01:13

vtsnowedin wrote: You go through prodigious amounts of hot water that way.

Turn the hot water supply off. Or even better put a coin meter on it and make them pay. They'll learn the cost of their behaviour then before they leave home, at which point they will learn the hard way.

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 03 Feb 2011, 03:49

kenneal wrote:
vtsnowedin wrote: You go through prodigious amounts of hot water that way.
Turn the hot water supply off. Or even better put a coin meter on it and make them pay. They'll learn the cost of their behaviour then before they leave home, at which point they will learn the hard way.

No NO NO you can't treat them that way. They are delicate creatures and must be treated with kid gloves. I must not upset them unduly. One day I will be old and I will expect them to support me "In the manner to which I have grown accustomed"

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 26 Nov 2015, 15:38

The latest must-have (sorry "mediated social touch product").

Tired of having to meet people in person to hold hands? You need a Frebble.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 26 Nov 2015, 17:54

There should be a double Carbon tax on that sort of crap!

AutomaticEarth · Post by **AutomaticEarth** » 26 Nov 2015, 18:10

emordnilap wrote:The latest must-have (sorry "mediated social touch product").

Tired of having to meet people in person to hold hands? You need a Frebble.

Bloody hell, this really is 'Peak Gadget'....

Snail · Post by **Snail** » 27 Nov 2015, 17:01

The raspberry pi zero is just out and costs £4 or £5.99 as a magazine freebie. Tho' it seems its sold out everywhere.

Is it a gadget or useless or a bad development - I haven't decided.

The power of capitalism.

I might get one to try and make some sort of low-energy solar computer using speech output rather than a monitor. Or do something with it anyway. Or maybe not.