Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: What Tech Products Were Built To Last?

Posted by Soulskill on from the not-my-sister's-smartphone dept.

itwbennett writes: "When you think about tech products these days, you probably think 'refresh cycle' more than 'built to last.' But there are plenty of tech products that put up with hard, daily use year after year. Here's a few to get you started: Logitech MX510 mouse, Brother black & white laser printer, Casio G-Shock watch, Alvin Draf-Tec Retrac mechanical pencil, Sony Dream Machine alarm clock. What's your longest-lasting, hardest-working device?"

2 of 702 comments (clear)

  1. LaserJet II and LaserJet 3 by sphealey · · Score: 5, Informative

    HP LaserJet II and LaserJet 3 - worked reliably for 20 years and probably quite a few of them still in use.

    sPh

    Admittedly as noted above no high-tech product can yet match the longevity of a well-built plumbing system - some of them are over 2000 years old and still functioning as designed, while most major cities still depend on water and plumbing infrastructure build 1880-1920.

  2. Re:Anything built before 2001 by darkwing_bmf · · Score: 5, Informative

    We always get a false impression of the reliability and quality of old stuff, because the stuff that sucked and broke got thrown out years ago, and the only things that we still encounter are the ones that were well made. It's true with old houses, old cars, old furniture, pretty much everything. I'm sure there's a law for this phenomenon with some pompous dude's name on it but it's a well established and discussed phenomenon.

    I believe the term you are looking for is Survivorship bias.