rory_perrett wrote:It would appear (engaging grumpy old man mode) as with so many things its because we have the technology!!! Don't get me started on washing machines that have a zillion programmes of which you only ever need 3, etc, etc. Please can I have a phone that just makes calls, a camera that just takes pictures and a car that doesn't need a shed load of "special" tools and gadgets to fix it.
I'll second that - with the reservation that it's generally not "because we have the technology!" but "because we need 'features' to justify the price money!"
BTW I have a Nokia C1 (as basic a phone as I could find), a Nikon S640 (tiny camera with high sensitivity, fast start and excellent picture quality), and one of the last XUD Xantia's without engine ECU or EGR.
The family washing machine is 12-14 years old (new motor brushes every couple of years), the chest freezer is coming up for its 40th birthday (that's tempting fate) and the fridge was second-hand more than 25 years ago - All MADE IN BRITAIN.
I never understood why Renault boasted in their TV adverts that the then new ?Megan? had 13 computers. Why would any intelligent person buy a car with that many potentially unreliable boxes of electronics. Don't get me wrong - I've spent a working lifetime in IT - it's just that vehicle manufacturers always skimp on the design and quality of electrical/electronic components (cutting costs to the bone): compare the gold-plated connections on a £300 PC (that will live in a nice warm dry environment) with the bare copper (if you're lucky) or zinc-plated steel
on a car costing more than 20 to 100 times that!