On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect"
for their "innovation" and promises, but they fall flat
on their face with basic technology, and an on-off
switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the
two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-03-12 01:20:43 +0000, super70s said:

On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect"
for their "innovation" and promises, but they fall flat
on their face with basic technology, and an on-off
switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.

The only real on-off switches TVs have these days is at the wall socket. :-)

They have supposed on-off swicthes (usually on the remote, occasionally
also on the TV) are actually "standby mode" switches that do not turn
the TV completely off. It's a silly system, especially since fire
departments have for years been saying to NOT leave appliances in
"standby" mode.

It's the same with most mobile phones and tablets - there is no actual
*off* switch, which is why when you plug them in to recharge, the
screen lights up (usually briefly) to show how much charge they
currently have.

All appliances and devices should have a proper off switch. All cars
should have proper door handles using a real key. All cars should have
proper key-ignition systems.



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:41:07 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:

On 2026-03-12 01:20:43 +0000, super70s said:

On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect"
for their "innovation" and promises, but they fall flat
on their face with basic technology, and an on-off
switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the
two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't
particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.

The only real on-off switches TVs have these days is at the wall socket. :-)

They have supposed on-off swicthes (usually on the remote, occasionally
also on the TV) are actually "standby mode" switches that do not turn
the TV completely off. It's a silly system, especially since fire >departments have for years been saying to NOT leave appliances in
"standby" mode.

It's the same with most mobile phones and tablets - there is no actual
*off* switch, which is why when you plug them in to recharge, the
screen lights up (usually briefly) to show how much charge they
currently have.

Agreed. Only solution that works now and is easy to use is to run the appliances to a power strip so that you can easily power down all
connected devices.

All appliances and devices should have a proper off switch. All cars
should have proper door handles using a real key. All cars should have >proper key-ignition systems.

The Tesla door design scares me. Apparently if the battery dies you
can't use the normal door handles to open the door. Instead you have
to use one that is hidden away. Not a huge problem if there's not an
emergency but in an emergency are you going to be able to find the
hidden door handle?

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-03-12 5:42 a.m., shawn wrote:

On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:41:07 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:

On 2026-03-12 01:20:43 +0000, super70s said:

On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect"
for their "innovation" and promises, but they fall flat
on their face with basic technology, and an on-off
switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the
two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't
particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.

The only real on-off switches TVs have these days is at the wall socket. :-)

They have supposed on-off swicthes (usually on the remote, occasionally
also on the TV) are actually "standby mode" switches that do not turn
the TV completely off. It's a silly system, especially since fire
departments have for years been saying to NOT leave appliances in
"standby" mode.

It's the same with most mobile phones and tablets - there is no actual
*off* switch, which is why when you plug them in to recharge, the
screen lights up (usually briefly) to show how much charge they
currently have.

Agreed. Only solution that works now and is easy to use is to run the appliances to a power strip so that you can easily power down all
connected devices.

All appliances and devices should have a proper off switch. All cars
should have proper door handles using a real key. All cars should have
proper key-ignition systems.

The Tesla door design scares me. Apparently if the battery dies you
can't use the normal door handles to open the door. Instead you have
to use one that is hidden away. Not a huge problem if there's not an emergency but in an emergency are you going to be able to find the
hidden door handle?

Especially if it's an emergency and it's not your car but you are merely
a passenger in it and unfamiliar with Teslas. Many years ago, when I
didn't have a car, I would occasionally hitchhike, usually within town
but sometimes even to get from one town to another. I remember
struggling to find the door handle for whichever vehicle I was riding in
on several occasions. I never had an emergency during any of those rides
but I can certainly imagine the vehicle having an accident, after-dark,
and needing to get out quickly with no light source handy to help me
find the handle. I know hitchhiking is pretty rare these days but simply getting a lift from a friend is pretty much the same experience: you're
in an unfamiliar car and can struggle to find seat belts and door
handles, especially in the dark.

--
Rhino

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mar 12, 2026 at 2:42:25 AM PDT, "shawn" <nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:

On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:41:07 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:

On 2026-03-12 01:20:43 +0000, super70s said:

On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect"
for their "innovation" and promises, but they fall flat
on their face with basic technology, and an on-off
switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the
two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't
particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.

The only real on-off switches TVs have these days is at the wall socket. :-)

They have supposed on-off swicthes (usually on the remote, occasionally
also on the TV) are actually "standby mode" switches that do not turn
the TV completely off. It's a silly system, especially since fire
departments have for years been saying to NOT leave appliances in
"standby" mode.

It's the same with most mobile phones and tablets - there is no actual
*off* switch, which is why when you plug them in to recharge, the
screen lights up (usually briefly) to show how much charge they
currently have.

Agreed. Only solution that works now and is easy to use is to run the appliances to a power strip so that you can easily power down all
connected devices.

All appliances and devices should have a proper off switch. All cars
should have proper door handles using a real key. All cars should have
proper key-ignition systems.

The Tesla door design scares me. Apparently if the battery dies you
can't use the normal door handles to open the door. Instead you have
to use one that is hidden away. Not a huge problem if there's not an emergency but in an emergency are you going to be able to find the
hidden door handle?

Or is someone else who doesn't even own a Tesla going to be able to find it if you're inside unconscious after a wreck?



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-03-12 09:42:25 +0000, shawn said:

On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:41:07 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:

On 2026-03-12 01:20:43 +0000, super70s said:

On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect" for their
"innovation" and promises, but they fall flat on their face with basic >>>> technology, and an on-off switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the
two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't
particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.

The only real on-off switches TVs have these days is at the wall socket. :-)

They have supposed on-off swicthes (usually on the remote, occasionally
also on the TV) are actually "standby mode" switches that do not turn
the TV completely off. It's a silly system, especially since fire
departments have for years been saying to NOT leave appliances in
"standby" mode.

It's the same with most mobile phones and tablets - there is no actual
*off* switch, which is why when you plug them in to recharge, the
screen lights up (usually briefly) to show how much charge they
currently have.

Agreed. Only solution that works now and is easy to use is to run the appliances to a power strip so that you can easily power down all
connected devices.

That's what we do.

Our TV, Sky box, and DVD player are all plugged into a power strip and
they are all turned off with the one wall socket switch every night
when we go to bed and on again in the morning (time depends on when
someone wants to watch something or when the first show is scheduled to
be recorded).

Similarly my desktop computer, display, printer, and external powered
drives are all plugged into a power strip so they all get turned off
via the one wall socket switch. The only part that is in a separate
wall socket is the modem/router since that is also needed for other
devices and the landline phone.

All appliances and devices should have a proper off switch. All cars
should have proper door handles using a real key. All cars should have
proper key-ignition systems.

The Tesla door design scares me. Apparently if the battery dies you
can't use the normal door handles to open the door. Instead you have to
use one that is hidden away. Not a huge problem if there's not an
emergency but in an emergency are you going to be able to find the
hidden door handle?

There are many cars with similarly stupid electronic door handles these days.

A recent new law change in China that means from 1 January 2027, all
new cars must have mechanical (not electronic) door handles both inside
and outside. Since many car makers are either in China or are trying to
sell their cars in China, that could have the effect of getting rid of
the silly electronic handles worldwide.



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-03-12, Pluted Pup <plutedpup@outlook.com> wrote:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

My TV is so old it uses vacuum tubes instead of transistors and
only displays black & white.

--
Roger Blake

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-03-14 04:19:55 +0000, Roger Blake said:

On 2026-03-12, Pluted Pup <plutedpup@outlook.com> wrote:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

My TV is so old it uses vacuum tubes instead of transistors and only displays black & white.

Vacuum tubes have made a slight comeback in audio equipment, so they
might get used in expensive niche TV products too (unlikely though).
:-)


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-03-14 04:22:12 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

On 3/11/26 10:41 PM, Your Name wrote:

On 2026-03-12 01:20:43 +0000, super70s said:

On 2026-03-12 00:54:36 +0000, Pluted Pup said:

My TV is SO old...

How OLD is it?

My TV is so old, it has an on-off switch!!!

Man, that is old, like what the cavemen had.

Really now, the "tech" sector demands so much "respect"
for their "innovation" and promises, but they fall flat
on their face with basic technology, and an on-off
switch is basic technology.

? I have three flatscreen TVs all purchased at some point during the
two-year COVID scare and they all have on-off switches. They aren't
particularly convenient like an old CRT, but they have on-off switches.

The only real on-off switches TVs have these days is at the wall socket.? :-)

They have supposed on-off swicthes (usually on the remote, occasionally
also on the TV) are actually "standby mode" switches that do not turn
the TV completely off. It's a silly system, especially since fire
departments have for years been saying to NOT leave appliances in
"standby" mode.

Couldn't a hard on-off switch be controllable by a remote control? Mechanical switches can be controlled by remote control, and not
necessarily software required.

If the TV (or any other device) is actually *off*, then it has no power
to receive nor react to the remote control's signal. That's one reason
why so many devices no longer actually turn off copmpletely.

I remember seeing an amplifier for a stereo system that the remote
control changed volume by physically turning the knob; I don't see why
that can't be used to control other switches as well, such as the power switch.

I'd be pleased to have easily controlled hard on-off switches on the
front of every device. Good news about that is I have hard on-off
switches on both newly bought Tascam CD Player and my Arcam amplifier,
which even has an always on display of the volume level on the front
panel, something conspicuously missing from every other device I have
seen.

It's the same with most mobile phones and tablets - there is no actual
*off* switch, which is why when you plug them in to recharge, the
screen lights up (usually briefly) to show how much charge they
currently have.

Hard on-off switches are needed for consumer security, like turning off cameras, microphones, etc., on computers, phones, cars, TVs, etc., a
user controlled function, not merely the insecure software switch.

All appliances and devices should have a proper off switch. All cars
should have proper door handles using a real key. All cars should have
proper key-ignition systems.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Roger Blake <rogblake@iname.invalid> wrote:

My TV is so old it uses vacuum tubes instead of transistors and
only displays black & white.

It's the only way to watch 4K.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)