So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

[tonyb]

I have one. It's called the "Nest", and it's a pretty simple "left to lower, right to raise" dial. It's a digital readout though, so Lizzie might not like it. But I do.

How much did that babe set you back? Looks less complicated than this thing I have at present.

The dewy-eyed bride is wanting one of those cameras that sends live video of people at the front door, whether they announce their presence or not.

 

[HudsonHawk]

How much did that babe set you back?

The dewy-eyed bride is wanting one of those cameras that sends live video of people at the front door, whether they announce their presence or not.

I got it for free for switching power companies, but I think they run about $250 retail. Pretty steep but it's a pretty cool device. It "learns" your patterns and when you're home and when you're out and programs itself. You can check it/set it/change it from online or from your phone also.

Mrs. Hawk is wanting to set up cameras around the house as well, but that's a lot of work on my part. And she has enough trouble just trying to work the "smart" TV. I did get her a small one to point at the dogs during the day. I'm not sure why she likes that, we have the most boring dogs in the world.

 

[tonyb]

Previous owner here put up burglar bars on the back windows and sliding door off the kitchen. Looks like a jailhouse. The joke of it is that there are easier and more concealed access points to this place that have no bars. And it'll cost good money to be rid of the ones we have.

I'd rather have cameras. And dogs. And good neighbors.

 

[2jakes]

Ours blares out Christmas music all year long. I find it more insane that they come around when it is raining no matter how cold it may get

The late & great Yogi Berra probably would've said the reason was
that “4 out of 3 of these goobers were never good at math.”

 

[Fading Fast]

Ours blares out Christmas music all year long. I find it more insane that they come around when it is raining no matter how cold it may get

That's just crazy. In NYC, they all (I think) play a similar music - an odd, sappy "ice cream" truck music that sounds like the intro to a '60s kids live TV show.

 

[Fading Fast]

Now you're thinking like an engineer. The fewer parts that are involved, the less likely something is to break down (all else being equal). If you want a really simple clothes dryer, you can make your own solar/wind powered dryer. All you need is two screw-in eyes, a swivel round eye with bolt snap, some clothes line and clothes pins. Or some clothes hangers and something to hang them on.

Kidding aside, even Thomas Sowell (the economist at Stanford) complained that he had to read the manual just to learn how to work the radio in his car.

I do like my programmable thermostat, though. I love waking up and coming home to a warm house in the winter. The $25 Ace Hardware model is what I have and it's pretty intuitive to use.

I discovered Sowell in college and have read him for, now, over thirty years and believe he laments the complexity of what should be easy-to-work technology in several of his "Random Thought" columns (which are wonderful columns).

I have no problem at all with technology improvements and that, sometimes, that necessitates more complexity to operate and work on the part of the user to master it - TVs today are like that, but they truly do so much more, I don't mind. But our quite complex-to-work washer and dryer haven't shown me any superior skill set or results - but they truly are confusing to work.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

The late & great Yogi Berra probably would've said the reason was
that “4 out of 3 of these goobers were never good at math.”

The great Yogi bear probably would have said " I'm smarter than the av-er-age bear !"

 

[2jakes]

The great Yogi bear probably would have said " I'm smarter than the av-er-age bear !"

Probably paying tribute to his hero!

 

[LizzieMaine]

I have no problem at all with technology improvements and that, sometimes, that necessitates more complexity to operate and work on the part of the user to master it - TVs today are like that, but they truly do so much more, I don't mind. But our quite complex-to-work washer and dryer haven't shown me any superior skill set or results - but they truly are confusing to work.

I'm convinced that most of the fancy gadgetry that gets grafted onto appliances these days is there for no other purpose than to appeal to the monkey parts of the human brain -- that section of the psyche that is instinctively drawn to collecting shiny junk because it's shiny. They could easily manufacture a washing machine that did what it needed to do without all this complexity, but they don't, because the more doodads they stick on it the more it impresses the monkey-brains. OOOOH SHINY.

The first washing machines to have an "automatic timer" used a simple clockwork mechanism wired to a switch -- a mechanism identical under the cover to an ordinary oven timer. In fact, I used the mechanism from a disemboweled 1950s Speed Queen as my kitchen timer, until it recently succumbed to three decades of unvented cooking grease. There's no particular reason why they can't use a similar simple timing mechanism today other than "sales appeal."

 

[Fading Fast]

I'm convinced that most of the fancy gadgetry that gets grafted onto appliances these days is there for no other purpose than to appeal to the monkey parts of the human brain -- that section of the psyche that is instinctively drawn to collecting shiny junk because it's shiny. They could easily manufacture a washing machine that did what it needed to do without all this complexity, but they don't, because the more doodads they stick on it the more it impresses the monkey-brains. OOOOH SHINY.

Hence, my desire to buy a 1970s' washer dryer when this current set dies. I was in an appliance store a few months back and, I kid you not, over in the ignored corner of the washer dryer area was a (I forget the brand) nondescript, old-fashion looking (white with just a few dials and buttons, all but one analog) washer dryer for a few hundred bucks each (not the near or over $1000 that most of the others were). They looked like war-horses, square, simple and strong - not much to break down on them. I only hope they are still being made when my over-engineered precious ones finally break.

 

[Trenchfriend]

@LizzieMaine

Luckily, there are still washing-machine basemodells available, here. Mine is such a basemodell from 2011 and costed 399 Euro. I don't know, why I should buy one of the high-end washing machines from 699 Euro upwards. They are quieter on spin-drying and what else??

 

[tonyb]

We're presently putting appliances in the mother-in-law unit in our basement, a unit that was almost ready to go when we bought this place, excepting its lack of kitchen appliances.

Got a stove and dishwasher free last week, from a friend who bought new ones (he kept the old fridge, to have in his garage to keep the beer cold). If we hadn't wanted them, he said, he would have put them on Craigslist with a zero dollar price tag. According to him, about the only people interested in buying lower-end used kitchen appliances, when the economy is doing okay, are low-rent landlords, and they want 'em only if the price is almost a giveaway anyhoo.

I gotta install the dishwasher (YouTube videos on the iPhone guide the way) and hunt down a refrigerator, which, as it turns out, can be had for a C-note or less.

Best thing about fancy new appliances is that they leave a whole lot of serviceable used ones available for people like me.

 

[tonyb]

I did a little feature story several years ago which had at its center an elderly woman, a lifelong "bachelorette," who lived in the home she grew up in. Her electric kitchen stove was the only stove she had ever had.

A good friend has done well for himself with rental property. He owns a few units. I doubt he has ever bought a new appliance. His own stove was saved from the dump.

 

[2jakes]

I love to tinker with my ’39 Ford panel.
Everything is simple & easy access.


In comparison to my “modern” Ford vehicle.
About the only simple thing is the name...
the Ford "Eddie Bauer” edition.

Now I know why the folks at Ford call it
the “Explorer”.

 

[Stearmen]

It "learns" your patterns and when you're home and when you're out and programs itself.

Well. I would give it a nervous brakedown with all my comings and goings at different times of the day!

 

[Zombie_61]

I'm convinced that most of the fancy gadgetry that gets grafted onto appliances these days is there for no other purpose than to appeal to the monkey parts of the human brain -- that section of the psyche that is instinctively drawn to collecting shiny junk because it's shiny. They could easily manufacture a washing machine that did what it needed to do without all this complexity, but they don't, because the more doodads they stick on it the more it impresses the monkey-brains. OOOOH SHINY...

When we had to replace our washing machine three or four years ago, one of the salespeople we talked to told us that he couldn't understand why the manufacturers have made them more and more complicated in recent years because most of his customers made the same comment we had: "We don't need all of that; we just want something that'll wash our clothes." The one we finally chose was the least offensive, and we'll never use 90% of it's capabilities.

On a semi-related note, at the time we couldn't find one lousy model with a flat level top. Every one we looked at had an curved top that angled downward toward the front of the machine, and I couldn't help but wonder which moron thought that was a good idea.

 

[Hercule]

Going to the store for just one thing and having it turn into a major grocery shopping trip because at the last minute everybody wants you to pick up a bunch of other things.

Any more that seems to be the case every time for us - $50+ so much for a quick trip to the store! It wouldn't be so bad if that $50 weren't for, say, three or four items.

 

[sheeplady]

I'm convinced that most of the fancy gadgetry that gets grafted onto appliances these days is there for no other purpose than to appeal to the monkey parts of the human brain -- that section of the psyche that is instinctively drawn to collecting shiny junk because it's shiny. They could easily manufacture a washing machine that did what it needed to do without all this complexity, but they don't, because the more doodads they stick on it the more it impresses the monkey-brains. OOOOH SHINY.

The first washing machines to have an "automatic timer" used a simple clockwork mechanism wired to a switch -- a mechanism identical under the cover to an ordinary oven timer. In fact, I used the mechanism from a disemboweled 1950s Speed Queen as my kitchen timer, until it recently succumbed to three decades of unvented cooking grease. There's no particular reason why they can't use a similar simple timing mechanism today other than "sales appeal."

So, a few years ago I went on search for a programmable washing machine. In my mind, such a thing should exist that allows you to program in at least the order of pre-set cycles.

In particular, I wanted a machine that washed cloth diapers. I wanted to be able to do a cold rinse and spin, hot 2- hour soak with detergent and spin, followed by three to four rinses/ spins. To do diapers the old way I had to do three cycles, basically over a 4 to 5 hour period which was really hard if I wasn't home or forgot to restart it. I'd love a machine I could just hit my pre-programmed "diaper button" and come back at the end of the day to washed diapers to throw in the dryer.

All of the technology we have and we don't have a programmable washing machine. I was willing to pay big money for this convenience too... like the cost of a years worth of disposables extra, which is *expensive.* But there's no market. Considering the number of adults I've met who can't do basic laundry, I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[swanson_eyes]

Humidity is the bane of my summer existence lately. It's a nightmare for people with long, curly hair. It makes me feel sticky all day. What's really annoying is trying to explain to someone who grew up in this climate why *this* desert-born girl hates the mugginess. Today I got "Well, you just expect it." I do expect it to happen. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

 

[Touchofevil]

Humidity is the bane of my summer existence lately. It's a nightmare for people with long, curly hair. It makes me feel sticky all day. What's really annoying is trying to explain to someone who grew up in this climate why *this* desert-born girl hates the mugginess. Today I got "Well, you just expect it." I do expect it to happen. That doesn't mean I have to like it.

There is not much to like about it. In fact, there is much more to dislike and probably nothing to like.