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Landos Mustache · Jun 22, 2006, 03:23 PM

Why is it that land phones are stuck in the early 90's? Why don't they have blu-tooth, better range and smaller? Can't they take a page from cellphones?

Why are 95% of all home theatre receivers a giant cinderblock in black or silver? Do these designers not realize we want products that look like B&O but sound good?

Why are batteries still so large at A, AAA, C and D? How is round making the best use of space? Why isn't the capacity so much better? I know this is part chicken and the egg but enough is enough, someone has to make a move.

Why are most elevators still cables and not more modern technologies like maglevs? Surly after 80 years we must have learnt a thing or two on making them faster and safer. We want turbo lifts!

Until 10 years ago TV's were pretty much the same as the day the came out. Even now CRT's are still the #1 seller.

Fridges, microwaves, toasters, same deal. Even though I have seen some really cool concepts that work for each none of them ever ship.

Obviously cost is a factor but beautiful objects sell despite the cost in most cases.

What other products are at a stand still?

PB2K · Jun 22, 2006, 03:25 PM

VCR's

RAILhead · Jun 22, 2006, 03:27 PM

This forum? Your posts?

Chuckit · Jun 22, 2006, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are most elevators still cables and not more modern technologies like maglevs? Surly after 80 years we must have learnt a thing or two on making them faster and safer. We want turbo lifts!

You are not getting me up five stories an a can kept from falling only by an easily interrupted electric current.

sek929 · Jun 22, 2006, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are batteries still so large at A, AAA, C and D? How is round making the best use of space? Why isn't the capacity so much better? I know this is part chicken and the egg but enough is enough, someone has to make a move.

AA Rechargables (NiMh) have three times the amount of charge as regular AAs.

600mAh versus 1800mAh. So in a camera that takes, say 4 AAs, that's 4800mAh difference over traditional batteries.

Basically, that means I can take 300 pictures without changing the batteries in my 4 AA Olympus. Something that would require two to three SETS of AAs.

Seems good enough for me, if I wasn't cheap I'd opt for the rechargeable battery pack for my camera. I'm not sure of the capacity of the pack, but I'm sure it's more than 4 seperate NiMh cells.

As for CRTs being popular, there is a reason. Picture quality is getting to the point of absurdity, for most people a 27-35 inch CRT nowadays has good enough picture for their needs.

Sure I can see a difference between HD and normal, but I have damn good eyes and I'm 22. People like my father have little need for HD when he can't read unless something is at arm's length.

Landos Mustache · Jun 22, 2006, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

Sure I can see a difference between HD and normal, but I have damn good eyes and I'm 22. People like my father have little need for HD when he can't read unless something is at arm's length.

I am not really talking about picture quality but more of design standpoint. Why did it take 90 years for a flat TV? Why didn't they better explore other technologies 40 years ago on making them smaller?

sek929 · Jun 22, 2006, 03:43 PM

I'm guessing they figured they could still make a sh!tload of money out of their existing technologies without having to invest in new ones?

Kevin · Jun 22, 2006, 04:00 PM

If it's not broke. Don't fix it.

olePigeon · Jun 22, 2006, 04:06 PM

I guess we can rule out Evolution AND Intelligent Design.

Railroader · Jun 22, 2006, 04:10 PM

You've clearly exposed the reason you aren't an engineer. I'll address each of your issues.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why is it that land phones are stuck in the early 90's? Why don't they have blu-tooth, better range and smaller? Can't they take a page from cellphones?

Because land lines are cheap and not being subsidized by your monthly telephone bill like a cell phone is.

Range? Because of FCC [local governing body] rules mostly.

No one really wants a small land line phone. It would be uncomfortable.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are 95% of all home theatre receivers a giant cinderblock in black or silver? Do these designers not realize we want products that look like B&O but sound good?

A big block is easier to make a heat sink for. It will make your electronics last longer if they are kept cooler. You could put a fan or other cooling system. but then they'd be getting complaints about noise from those cooling technologies.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are batteries still so large at A, AAA, C and D? How is round making the best use of space? Why isn't the capacity so much better? I know this is part chicken and the egg but enough is enough, someone has to make a move.

Round is the shape that batteries are made in. It has to do with their manufacturing process. Technologies have increased capacities exponentially recently. Lithium Polymer technology is amazing.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are most elevators still cables and not more modern technologies like maglevs? Surly after 80 years we must have learnt a thing or two on making them faster and safer. We want turbo lifts!

You want to trust your life to a switch and gravity? Cables rarely break. Switches/relays, break relatively often. It's a matter of safety

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Until 10 years ago TV's were pretty much the same as the day the came out. Even now CRT's are still the #1 seller.

CRTs have better picture quality and are cheaper to manufacture. Most people are happy at 27" screens. I know I am.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Fridges, microwaves, toasters, same deal. Even though I have seen some really cool concepts that work for each none of them ever ship.

You don't understand electricity. All of those items are heat producers. They either excite molecules or transfer heat. There's not a lot you can do with that technology

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Obviously cost is a factor but beautiful objects sell despite the cost in most cases.

What other products are at a stand still?

You watch too many SciFi movies. Come visit planet Earth circa 2006.

jokell82 · Jun 22, 2006, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why is it that land phones are stuck in the early 90's? Why don't they have blu-tooth, better range and smaller? Can't they take a page from cellphones?

Have you looked at house phones recently? They have been getting better range and are getting smaller. I dunno about bluetooth, though.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are 95% of all home theatre receivers a giant cinderblock in black or silver? Do these designers not realize we want products that look like B&O but sound good?

Because people like me would bitch about it not being the right form factor. If you notice, every receiver, dvd player, cd player, vcr, etc are the same width (unless you buy one of the el-cheapo players). That's because there is a standard size in A/V equipment so these machines can fit in a rack.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are batteries still so large at A, AAA, C and D? How is round making the best use of space? Why isn't the capacity so much better? I know this is part chicken and the egg but enough is enough, someone has to make a move.

NiMH batters have already been mentioned, but lithium batteries last even longer.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are most elevators still cables and not more modern technologies like maglevs? Surly after 80 years we must have learnt a thing or two on making them faster and safer. We want turbo lifts!

Actually, most elevators now (if under 5 stories) are hydraulic, not lifted by cables.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Until 10 years ago TV's were pretty much the same as the day the came out. Even now CRT's are still the #1 seller.

We're at the turning point in the TV market, with HD becoming more widespread and LCD and Plasma technologies catching on. The problem is that LCD and Plasma TVs aren't perfect technologies, so some people decide to go with CRTs still.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Fridges, microwaves, toasters, same deal. Even though I have seen some really cool concepts that work for each none of them ever ship.

Obviously cost is a factor but beautiful objects sell despite the cost in most cases.

I think you may not be looking too hard. There are microwaves now that have sensors in them to tell you when your food is ready, not just a timed cook. I'm sure there have been similar (in scope) technologies added to other appliances.

And you may want a beautiful fridge but most people just want one that fits in their kitchen.

Millennium · Jun 22, 2006, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why is it that land phones are stuck in the early 90's? Why don't they have blu-tooth, better range and smaller? Can't they take a page from cellphones?

Most modern land-line phones are smaller than their early-90s counterparts, and have better range. They don't have Bluetooth, but what would they use it for?

Why are 95% of all home theatre receivers a giant cinderblock in black or silver? Do these designers not realize we want products that look like B&O but sound good?

The size is actually standardized, to the point that a lot of furniture is based around it.

Why are batteries still so large at A, AAA, C and D?

Smaller sizes do exist (there's a AAAA size, in fact), but they're not yet easy to find. You can find AAAA cells inside 9-volt batteries, among other places, but this involves taking the battery apart, and that's never the best of ideas.

One of the things to keep in mind, though, is that the sizes also represent voltages. To get a battery to output the same voltage at a different size can be very difficult.

How is round making the best use of space?

Actually, if you want to be technical about it, round batteries do make the best use of space: they take up the largest volume of size for their radius. To make them flatter, you'd have to make them bigger.

Why isn't the capacity so much better?

Again, you don't just have to make the capacity bigger, you have to make it bigger at the same voltage. This is surprisingly difficult, given that batteries today are still powered by chemical reactions.

Why are most elevators still cables and not more modern technologies like maglevs? Surly after 80 years we must have learnt a thing or two on making them faster and safer. We want turbo lifts!

What do we do with the old elevators, though?

Until 10 years ago TV's were pretty much the same as the day the came out. Even now CRT's are still the #1 seller.

Actually, TVs -yes, even CRTs- have advanced a surprising amount since they came out. Broadcasting standards have taken a while to catch up, but such is the way of technological standards. As for why CRTs are still the number-one seller, might I suggest that it's because they don't cost thousands of dollars? Why the heck should anyone buy a TV that they actually have to make payments on?

Kerrigan · Jun 22, 2006, 08:38 PM

I think a lot of it has to do with a change in vision. Before, everyone used to think "Wow, the future! We'll have flying cars, moon bases, and underground utopian cities"

Nowadays when you ask someone where they'll be in 30 years, most likely they picture themselves planted on their couch browsing the net, or walking around with little handheld gadgets that let their boss monitor them and send them messages. "I need you to work late. Oh and my GPS is showing that you're in front of Starbucks, what are you doing there?"

Sad but true.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Jun 22, 2006, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

The size is actually standardized, to the point that a lot of furniture is based around it.

That is a really shitty reason.

I mean a $2000 Amp is designed for a $200 shelf?

And what is wrong with wall hanging or table top?

Railroader · Jun 22, 2006, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

That is a really shitty reason.

I mean a $2000 Amp is designed for a $200 shelf?

And what is wrong with wall hanging or table top?

Where are you buying Shelves? Ikea? You buying sawdust glued together with a picture of wood adhered to it's surface?

High end audio furniture can run in the $10k to $100k range.

Actually, you're simply showing your priorities. The shelf could last 200+ years and the amp is good for about 20. To each his own I guess. I am a woodworker, so I guess my priorities are written on my sleeve.

tavilach · Jun 22, 2006, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

I think a lot of it has to do with a change in vision. Before, everyone used to think "Wow, the future! We'll have flying cars, moon bases, and underground utopian cities"

Nowadays when you ask someone where they'll be in 30 years, most likely they picture themselves planted on their couch browsing the net, or walking around with little handheld gadgets that let their boss monitor them and send them messages. "I need you to work late. Oh and my GPS is showing that you're in front of Starbucks, what are you doing there?"

Sad but true.

I predict flying cars by the end of the century, assuming we don't wipe ourselves out by then. Stacking freeways is definetely a way to deal with population growth

.

angelmb · Jun 23, 2006, 12:55 AM

Must see ad:

http://pulsar.esm.psu.edu/Faculty/Gr...tureteaser.mov

the brochure from the original PowerPC Macintoshes… in spanish but you get the idea

TheoCryst · Jun 23, 2006, 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Translated: The future is never how you imagine it

maxintosh · Jun 23, 2006, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by tavilach

Stacking freeways is definetely a way to deal with population growth

.

God I hope that's a joke.

Anyway, think of where we were 10 years ago, especially in terms of computing. It's actually pretty impressive. Heck, think of how big the iPod was and how crappy its screen was when it came out in 2001

The thing with the other things you mentioned is that they don't really have any serious issues. The designs get tweaked now and then, sure, but I think it's more of an interest. Nobody seems to care about innovating these products much and consumers don't seem to mind either.

Kr0nos · Jun 23, 2006, 01:59 AM

Supply and demand.

One of the greatest inhibitors to scientific and social progress is our constant focus on economic gain. A lot of products aren't developed because they simply aren't 'economically viable'.

Salty · Jun 23, 2006, 02:18 AM

Why don't we have awesome stuff? Cause my rents bought the absolute cheapest dishwasher they could possibly get!

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why is it that land phones are stuck in the early 90's? Why don't they have blu-tooth, better range and smaller? Can't they take a page from cellphones?

Well, that's because we don't want them any smaller. There's things like old people with small objects handling difficulties to consider. Not to mention that you don't need the added features that a cellphone might provide (no need for Internet access - you're at home, turn your computer on. No need for MP3 ringtones - you're at home, turn your stereo on. No need for video facilities - you're at home, turn your TV on).

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are 95% of all home theatre receivers a giant cinderblock in black or silver? Do these designers not realize we want products that look like B&O but sound good?

We don't want products that look like B&O. You might do, but we don't.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Why are batteries still so large at A, AAA, C and D? How is round making the best use of space? Why isn't the capacity so much better? I know this is part chicken and the egg but enough is enough, someone has to make a move.

And again... ...old people with small objects handling difficulties. Plus, you've not considered that a constant move by manufacturers to smaller sizes will see many not-so-old items thrown on the tip because the owner can no longer get batteries in that particular size as the manufacturer has discontinued them.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Obviously cost is a factor but beautiful objects sell despite the cost in most cases.

Right. So your main drive here is that not enough products are suitable for your gay/metro tastes. You've not considered the fact that other people might actually like things the way they already are (by assuming that your choice is beautiful but the existing choices are not beautiful to other people).

Salty · Jun 23, 2006, 03:43 AM

Dude, SWG isn't metro he's gay. You can't be metro AND gay that's just silly.

Anyway, looking at some of that B&O stuff I really don't think I'd mind. Then again...

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

Dude, SWG isn't metro he's gay. You can't be metro AND gay that's just silly.

Metro and gay tastes tend to be similar (hardly a surprise, since the definition of "metro" is "bloke who is gay in everything but sexual preference").

Originally Posted by Salty

Anyway, looking at some of that B&O stuff I really don't think I'd mind. Then again...

Didn't you have a big coming out thread recently in which you expressed your preference for silver things and Ikea furniture?

Landos Mustache · Jun 23, 2006, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Right. So your main drive here is that not enough products are suitable for your gay/metro tastes. You've not considered the fact that other people might actually like things the way they already are (by assuming that your choice is beautiful but the existing choices are not beautiful to other people).

That is a really inappropriate comment. You don't see me saying current products are designed for poor, tasteless, white trash like yourself do you?

Me being gay (not metro) has nothing to do with the fact that I like well designed products.

Are you saying all Mac's are for queers?

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

That is a really inappropriate comment.

No it's not - it's valid.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

You don't see me saying current products are designed for poor, tasteless, white trash like yourself do you?

Well, that'd be inappropriate, since I'm rich, tasteless, white trash.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Me being gay (not metro) has nothing to do with the fact that I like well designed products.

Arh, but it has. The gay/metro demographic generally applies different values to their products. You think a standard stereo unit looks like a black cinder block and like B&O stuff... I think B&O stuff is overdesigned and look at a "cinder block" bit of kit and think "hmmm, that's well designed". Depends what you're into - looks or functionality.

You simply cannot say that a Quad 99 is "badly designed" unless you're using purely superficial values such as how it looks. Which is a trait that's prevalent in the gay/metro demographic.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Are you saying all Mac's are for queers?

Well, I got my Macs because of the way they do the job, not because they're pretty. Design of the case didn't come into it (since I think that most modern Mac cases are horrendous). Seems we apply different values to our decision making process. You're into looks, I'm into functionality and ease of use.

Go ask any marketeer about the difference between the gay/metro demographic and the rest of society.

Landos Mustache · Jun 23, 2006, 09:19 AM

Doofy are you the same person who has that ugly boat and wants apple to come out with computers that are in oak wood?

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Doofy are you the same person who has that ugly boat

Ugly boat? Ugly? And you call me tasteless.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

and wants apple to come out with computers that are in oak wood?

It would be true to say that I want Apple to come out with a variety of cases. Not wood.

But that's not actually because I want variety - plain old black would do me fine. I just hate silver. But if they came out with a variety of cases, I'd be happy with my black, you'd be happy with your industrial silver.

Dakar · Jun 23, 2006, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Ugly boat? Ugly? And you call me tasteless.

I think he meant the interior.

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar

I think he meant the interior.

You mean the interior which was hand-crafted by time-served Italian artisans?

Landos Mustache · Jun 23, 2006, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Ugly boat? Ugly? And you call me tasteless.

It would be true to say that I want Apple to come out with a variety of cases. Not wood.

But that's not actually because I want variety - plain old black would do me fine. I just hate silver. But if they came out with a variety of cases, I'd be happy with my black, you'd be happy with your industrial silver.

Ok, I remember you now. Every point you just gave on design just got thrown out the window as in your boat shots and homophobic comments on gay designs got universally blasted.

You have really expensive and tacky taste, Apple will never accommodate you.

Dakar · Jun 23, 2006, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

You mean the interior which was hand-crafted by time-served Italian artisans?

Oh gawd. This is the last argument I'd expect from you. You're telling me how something was made sways your opinion on the final appearance?

Landos Mustache · Jun 23, 2006, 09:55 AM

Oh I thought of another one.... lightbulbs.

Until 15 years ago the only real option was the old fashioned incandescent. Why did that stick for 80 years? Even now it is the most common bulb in peoples houses even though florescence are cheaper in the long run.

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by SWG

Ok, I remember you now. Every point you just gave on design just got thrown out the window as in your boat shots and homophobic comments on gay designs got universally blasted.

Go ask a marketeer. Really. Nothing homophobic about simple facts.

Did a hetero bloke start this thread whining about how things aren't pretty enough?

Originally Posted by SWG

You have really expensive and tacky taste,

Thanks. Come back when you have an education and some taste.

Originally Posted by SWG

Apple will never accommodate you.

Well, can't win 'em all. I'll have to make do with everyone else satisfying me and pissing you off.

Originally Posted by Dakar

Oh gawd. This is the last argument I'd expect from you. You're telling me how something was made sways your opinion on the final appearance?

How something is made does generally have an impact on my perception of its final appearance and functionality. This is why most wood trims on NA vehicles are complete crap while the wood trim on a Bentley or Jaguar is not. This is why my towels are hand-made Egyptian cotton, not locally-produced mass-made junk.

Time and effort put into how (say) furniture is made generally has an outcome on the final appearance and usefulness of the item. Ask Railroader about SWG's Ikea collection.

Dakar · Jun 23, 2006, 09:57 AM

Florescents give off a nasty, cold, unnatural light to me.

I'm a big fan of the Halogen

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Oh I thought of another one.... lightbulbs.

Until 15 years ago the only real option was the old fashioned incandescent. Why did that stick for 80 years? Even now it is the most common bulb in peoples houses even though florescence are cheaper in the long run.

Perhaps people don't mind paying a little extra for the warm glow of a conventional bulb rather than the cold, clinical feel of the fluorescent?

Dakar · Jun 23, 2006, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

How something is made does generally have an impact on my perception of its final appearance and functionality. This is why most wood trims on NA vehicles are complete crap while the wood trim on a Bentley or Jaguar is not. This is why my towels are hand-made Egyptian cotton, not locally-produced mass-made junk.

Time and effort put into how (say) furniture is made generally has an outcome on the final appearance and usefulness of the item. Ask Railroader about SWG's Ikea collection.

Here comes my point: If I tell you 10 world-reknown designers spent a year coming up with the designs for Apple's product line, do you care?

My guess would be no. You still won't like it.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Doofy

Perhaps people don't mind paying a little extra for the warm glow of a conventional bulb rather than the cold, clinical feel of the fluorescent?

There, we can agree on that.

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar

Here comes my point: If I tell you 10 world-reknown designers spent a year coming up with the designs for Apple's product line, do you care?

My guess would be no. You still won't like it.

The problem is actually with the designers. Let's take a look at the car industry.

In the old days, we had people like Alec Issigonis designing cars. Real independent whackos who actually had a love for the thing they were designing. And it spawned numerous design classics.

Nowadays, we have pretty much a bunch of clones designing things. They've all been to the same design colleges, all pretty much identikit copies of each other. They're now "designers", not "car designers" and have no real love for the product - instead they have a love for the abstract concept of "design" itself and they'd be just as happy designing a pair of Nikes as they would a car exterior or a computer case.

That's the problem. Design for design's sake because some clone designer sheepie needs a job.

Landos Mustache · Jun 23, 2006, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Perhaps people don't mind paying a little extra for the warm glow of a conventional bulb rather than the cold, clinical feel of the fluorescent?

You're not getting the point. Why did it take 80 years before we were given options?

I don't like traditional fluorescence either but the later models that are like standard bulbs are pretty good.

Halogen are also nice but they eat up power and get very very hot and heat a room.

Just not LED lighting is starting to take off.

Doofy · Jun 23, 2006, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

You're not getting the point. Why did it take 80 years before we were given options?

I dunno. Why did we have to wait until 1900ish to be able to buy cars? Why did we have to wait until 1980ish before we could buy CDs? Why can't we all have hover-cars like Luke had in Ep IV?

Dakar · Jun 23, 2006, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

The problem is actually with the designers. Let's take a look at the car industry.

In the old days, we had people like Alec Issigonis designing cars. Real independent whackos who actually had a love for the thing they were designing. And it spawned numerous design classics.

Nowadays, we have pretty much a bunch of clones designing things. They've all been to the same design colleges, all pretty much identikit copies of each other. They're now "designers", not "car designers" and have no real love for the product - instead they have a love for the abstract concept of "design" itself and they'd be just as happy designing a pair of Nikes as they would a car exterior or a computer case.

That's the problem. Design for design's sake because some clone designer sheepie needs a job.

I can only agree with you analogy to a certain level. With lower-end products, yes, there tends to be more homogeny and perhaps disinterest, but at higher levels (such as car manufacturers), the fault lies with the companies, for either being too conservative or too cheap.

You say everything looks the same today and is unoriginal. I say if it looks just like yesterday thats not any more original.

osiris · Jun 23, 2006, 10:21 AM

I suppose it depends on where you are in the world. Spend a couple of weeks in Tokyo and you'll feel different about the current state of technological evolution. The US is years behind - maybe because of marketing/supply/demand and/or controlled markets, I don't know, but it is.

Kr0nos · Jun 23, 2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Just not LED lighting is starting to take off.

Let me take a guess, – it's too expensive to produce.

Landos Mustache · Jun 23, 2006, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Kr0nos

Let me take a guess, – it's too expensive to produce.

Nope, they just got them bright enough to work well.

Here in toronto they are replacing ALL traffic lights with them over the past couple years.

Eug Wanker · Jun 23, 2006, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

You want to trust your life to a switch and gravity? Cables rarely break. Switches/relays, break relatively often. It's a matter of safety

It would be cool to use a cable as before, but also use magnets for the guides, to reduce noise and vibrations.

CRTs have better picture quality and are cheaper to manufacture. Most people are happy at 27" screens. I know I am.

I am so looking forward to that 46" SED screen in 2008... Hopefully it won't cost me my firstborn.

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Fridges, microwaves, toasters, same deal. Even though I have seen some really cool concepts that work for each none of them ever ship.

Some local shops sell some really cool looking toasters... that cost $100-300. So I bought a partially stainless steel OK looking toaster for $20 instead. I know people who have fridges that look like their cupboards. ie. The fridges are designed specifically to match the kitchen.

So, the stuff is out there... if you're willing to pay for it.

Millennium · Jun 23, 2006, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Landos Mustache

Nope, they just got them bright enough to work well.

Here in toronto they are replacing ALL traffic lights with them over the past couple years.

They've got LEDs bright enough to use in spotlights, yes. Note that traffic lights work with a combination of parabolic mirrors and Fresnel lenses to achieve the effect that they do. Effectively they work as spotlights, albeit not very bright ones: the goal is to be seen, not to illuminate other objects.

It's going to be a while, however, before they can cram enough bright LEDs into a package that can beat incandescent or fluourescent in terms of light output for diffuse lights like table lamps. The current crop of LED bulbs do indeed use very little energy, but they don't yet put out 100 lumens, which is what a 15-watt incandescent does. Most homes use bulbs with wattages between 25 and 100 watts, which output a range between 200 and 1700 lumens. So although LED bulbs are certainly very efficient, they don't yet put out enough light to use in the home. That will probably change in a few years, but the technology just isn't there yet.