Re: vb6 bcoming irrelevant? (OT)


"Charlie" <Charlie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3C516F65-04E2-4B63-8CB0-BF09BFB0FBCF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yeah, $3500 in 1969 dollars is probably equiv to $35,000 today, so the
price
was on par with the projected price of the new Camaro due out in a few
years.

Assuming a 3.25% inflationary rate (the 10-year average floats between 3%
and 3.5%) compounded annually, $3,500 in 1969 money is $11,42879 in 2006
money. Even getting generous (3.5%) only brings it to $12,498.59. Inflation
is bad, but not 3x bad (thank goodness). So in reality, the cost of
American-made vehicles has outpaced inflation.

Interesting when compared to technology...

An IBM PC in 1980, /*reasonably equipped*/, was around $1,500
.... and the XT
.... and the AT
.... and so on through the ages including today

(Let's forget about those stripped down doorstops selling for $400. They
last about as long as disposable underwear.)

$1,500 in 1980 is (using 3.25%) $3,445 today. The fuel economy is better. I
can reach just about any corner of the globe in a second or two. The only
collisions I encounter are gracefully recovered without my knowing about it.
Insurance? A good firewall and some antivirus software - maybe some blank
CDs for backup. As for speeding tickets, it appears that speeding is
encouraged.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that last half. Now the "white box" and
component manufacturers have justification to jack up their prices by a
factor of 3:1.

In the DIY category, I have a similar story except with the range. Had to
either buy a new one or replace the four element switches. (Humorous
symptom - flip one burner on low and two run in hot++.) $25 and a couple
cans of beer later things were just fine again. Sure beats dropping $250+ on
a total replacement.

We are a disposable society though. Repairing rather than replacing is
simply not the way to promote capitalism. Sure it saves a buck but at the
expense and ruin of the manufacturers and the government in general. (The
government can't tax money if it doesn't exchange hands.)


.

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