Bang it around a bit...
I grew up in the era of Black & White TV and times when something electronic wasn't working correctly, it would require banging the side of the console to magically get things working again.Solid state technology changed all that... or did it?
I turned the computer on this morning and got an error message the power supply fan isn't working. Huh? I've got a few computers with spare parts here and could change out a fan if need be. Turning it off and on 2 more times got the same message. The computer would not boot.
I banged it a few times, opened the case and when I powered up air was coming from the power supply fan.
Fixed... just like the old days!
Comments (14)
That worked on my DVD player, several times, until the thing clapped out.
That worked on my DVD player, several times, until the thing clapped out.
We must have had an early colour model because I'm pretty sure I was still in infant school when we had it. I reckon I was 6 years old at the most, so c1973. I didn't realise we were so hip.
I have a pretty clear memory of the excitement of it being 'installed' and it switching on and off at the mere touch of a rectangular clicking push button...and being warned that if I kept doing it, it would break.
Now you come to mention it, I think the installation by the salesman involved waiting for a moment after it had been plugged in before switching it on. I can't imagine it would have been left plugged in when we went out, mind. It still must have warmed up pretty quickly, like in a matter of seconds, rather than an erratic several minutes like our old black and white one.
I'm surprised my spell check didn't flag devises.
Things heating up and cooling down often loosened solder connections, making things fail.
Corrosion was a big factor in sockets. Calling out the TV repairman to check tubes would find them actually working (I remember many appliance and 5&dime stores sold tubes and had a tester/checker) but plugging them back in often resolved the problem.
Products now have integrated circuits with chips that are soldered to the main board. Improved reliability with a low chance of failure.
Things heating up and cooling down often loosened solder connections, making things fail.
Corrosion was a big factor in sockets. Calling out the TV repairman to check tubes would find them actually working (I remember many appliance and 5&dime stores sold tubes and had a tester/checker) but plugging them back in often resolved the problem.
Products now have integrated circuits with chips that are soldered to the main board. Improved reliability with a low chance of failure.
My comparison / blog is about electronics like TV's and radios. It's a different world now.