How long does it last!!!!

[Coolguy]

I have a old mitusbishi CDRW a, 30x6x4x(read,write, rewrite) and over the past few days it doesnt seem to be working... i then decided to try different software programs with no sucess, so i ended up buying a new cdrw anyway.. but how long does a cdrw last? ive had my mitsubishi since june 2000 and have burnt a number of cds...

[TheWizard]

Different drives last different amounts of time. It's really tough to say how long a CD-RW drive is supposed to last because each drive is placed in a different environment. I don't think any two people treat their CD-RW drive in exactly the same way; we're all different and we all treat our CD-RW drives differently. Some treat their drives better, hence they last longer, and others treat their drives poorly and they don't last as long. I'm not saying you treated your drive poorly, I'm just saying we all treat our drives differently. To make the equation even more difficult, some drives are made more durable from the start, maybe the manufacturers at Mitsubishi made your drive to last 2 years, but not much longer. Sometimes a consumer can tell by the length of the manufacturer's warranty. If the warranty is only a year long, then don't be surprised if the drive craps out on day #366. If the warranty is 3 years, then you know the manufacturer will stand behind it for the duration...provided they are still in business.

By the way, all of this applies to any item, especially an electronic device. Do you know how long your stereo is supposed to last? Probably not, but again, each person who owns a stereo treats theirs differently. And again, stereos come with varying manufacturer's warranties.

[BillyG]

Most CD-Rom drives I have used over the past years have lasted 3-5 years with normal use. I just replaced a Goldstar 2X reader that lasted 7 years in an old office computer.

The absoulute WORST thing that you can do to your computer is SMOKE around it. Heavy smoke will get inside your PC's case and cover everything with nicotine causing all kinds of problems with fans and motors. Dusty inviroments are also bad places for a computer.

[cfitz]

Do you know how long your stereo is supposed to last?

No one asked me, but.... my Sony stereo is still going strong at 17 years old, as is my Panasonic television. My Radio Shack CD player is also 17 years old, and until this autumn was working fine. It still plays some now, but tends to be finicky. I'm sure it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did if I had played it every day. Of course, I wouldn't expect a burner, with its much higher laser power levels, to last nearly that long.

The absoulute WORST thing that you can do to your computer is SMOKE around it. Heavy smoke will get inside your PC's case and cover everything with nicotine causing all kinds of problems with fans and motors.

Not to mention your lungs. Of course, I agree with BillyG on this. Have you ever seen the inside of a smoker's car?

cfitz

[TheWizard]

No one asked me, but.... my Sony stereo is still going strong at 17 years old, as is my Panasonic television. My Radio Shack CD player is also 17 years old, and until this autumn was working fine. It still plays some now, but tends to be finicky. I'm sure it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did if I had played it every day. Of course, I wouldn't expect a burner, with its much higher laser power levels, to last nearly that long.

Nothing beats old electronics, they were crafted to last a lifetime. It's true, they don't make things like they used to. I have a pair of my Dad's Sylvania speakers that are at least 25 years old, and they still rock! Speakers nowadays have that thin mesh covering which, anyone with kids will know, isn't very durable. The only thing that will rip my Dad's Sylvania speakers apart is a chainsaw.

Dusty inviroments are also bad places for a computer.

Aye, I can vouch for this. My dorm room at college was a dust trap, and it really did a number on the fan in my power supply. Eventually, the fan stopped spinning completely. Good thing I noticed before my puter heated up too much. From now on, I remove the dust with the vacuum cleaner hose. Nothing escapes suction!

[cfitz]

Nothing beats old electronics, they were crafted to last a lifetime. It's true, they don't make things like they used to. I have a pair of my Dad's Sylvania speakers that are at least 25 years old, and they still rock!

Ouch, Wizard! You are making me feel old! Remember, I bought those "old, don't make them like they used to" electronics myself when they were brand new...

Should I be using this new avatar?

cfitz

[dodecahedron]

yeah, what is that anyway, cfitz?

(btw i congratulated you on it in another thread... )

also, you can be pretty sure that 15-20 years ago when you bought that stuff, there were some people shanking their head and saying "in my day things were built better, built to last...they don't make them that way anymore..."

[cfitz]

yeah, what is that anyway, cfitz?

That's old Grandpa Simpson from the animated FOX television show The Simpsons. Do they show that in Israel?

http://www.thesimpsons.com/bios/bios_fa ... andpa.html
(a page under http://www.thesimpsons.com )

also, you can be pretty sure that 15-20 years ago when you bought that stuff, there were some people shanking their head and saying "in my day things were built better, built to last...they don't make them that way anymore..."

I know, but that's the part that makes me feel old: I am now a relic from the "they don't make them like that anymore" days ??!?!!?!

cfitz

[Coolguy]

yeah i suppose my cd burner has lasted long considering i burnt a number of things on it..

[Coyote]

Someone mentioned a Radio Shack CD player. I have one of their first portable CD players. It has a METAL top cover, and their is a battery pack which slides onto the player. 2AA batteries on each side of the player. It sucks up battery life. About 2-2 1/2 hours for 4AA batteries. I don't ever use it anymore, it's sitting away in the closet.

I also have those old Realistic Mach II speakers that Radio Shack used to have. I'm still using them and they sound great. They have a liquid cooled midrange and tweeter. Both have an adjustable frequency bias. Solid wood cabinet, 15" woofer! The tweeter apparently can go up to 40KHz lol. These things are probably 15-17 years old.

[BillyG]

I also have those old Realistic Mach II speakers that Radio Shack used to have. I'm still using them and they sound great. They have a liquid cooled midrange and tweeter. Both have an adjustable frequency bias. Solid wood cabinet, 15" woofer! The tweeter apparently can go up to 40KHz lol. These things are probably 15-17 years old.

A lot of people put down Radio Shack but the audio gear they made under the Realistic name in the 70's and 80's was excellent - big HEAVY stereo recievers with lots of switches for tape monitor bass/treble low/high and mono/stereo FM. Big fat power transistors too - none of this microchip stuff.

I picked up a Realistic STA-90 reciever about year ago, I think it dates from 1976-8 and despite some scratches on the wood top and a few lights out it works perfectlly. Im using it with a pair of mid-80's Technics speakers in my guest bedroom. I bought it at a Goodwill thrift store for 5 DOLLARS, they thought it was junk that didnt work and just wanted it out of there, so I snagged it. The thing must wiegh 30 pounds, but its built tough like army gear. I think it puts out about 40-50 watts of power.

Now Im looking for a reel-to-reel deck from the same era, my uncle has a bunch of old tapes of his band he wants me to copy to CD-R.

[TheWizard]

I wish I had the opportunity to buy more "old" electronics. It gets my goat when I buy a new mini-stereo (Aiwa, in case anyone cares) and things start going wrong with it after 2 years. I'd much rather have an older stereo that I know will stand the test of time. The only hindrance is that an old amplifier, for example, won't support all the new media types. Try connecting a amplifier from the 1970's to a home theater system complete with DVD and surround sound...it just won't work.

I also like some of the amenities that come with new electronics: for example, digital displays. It makes radio surfing so much easier.

[BillyG]

. The only hindrance is that an old amplifier, for example, won't support all the new media types. Try connecting a amplifier from the 1970's to a home theater system complete with DVD and surround sound...it just won't work.

No it wont - but my Realistic has "Quadplex" which gives it a fake 4-channel effect I really bought the reciever because I needed a pre-amp for a turntable into my PC without having to unplug my main rig, and its worked fine for a backup stereo.



How's that for old skool 70's retro! (ka-chunk!) The 8-Tracker was another cheap thrift store find. I'm also running a Technics 5 Disc changer (above the 8-track) and with a really old Technics SL-01 turntable for LP's.

[TheWizard]

You not only have an 8-track player, but you also have 8-track cassettes! I'm impressed! I thought they were practically eliminated from society.

[BillyG]

You not only have an 8-track player, but you also have 8-track cassettes! I'm impressed! I thought they were practically eliminated from society.

They stopped making them in the Mid 80's but they have a cult following who still collect them - 70's Punk Rock like the Sex Pistols and Ramones, anything Beatles-related, and 80's 8-tracks by U2, Prince and Madonna that were released by music clubs only are very collectable, some paying more than $100 for them in mint condition on e-bay.

Im not much of a collector (I have about 40 of them), a lot of times I buy them just to check out an old album and see if I like it. Some thrift stores are selling them for as little as 25-to-10 cents. Its a good way to get music cheap (besides downloading it!)

Check out http://www.8trackheaven.com/ and http://home.attbi.com/~dkgibson3/tracks/


Not my collection...wow