Hardware Insights Forum

How many times have you, realising that any modern [insert device here] is built like crap, swapped it out for an old model to save yourself any further frustration???

I've done it once so far (that I can recall). The modern-style trouble-maker was a "JVC" (and I used those quote marks on purpose) XV-N380B DVD player, which froze up mid-playback and could no longer read any disc I tried. It's probably the laser that failed. The replacement is a Panasonic DVD-RV31 that I found on eBay (so yeah, eBay is good for something)...which according to the back of the unit, was made in Japan , and also uses the C8-type power inlet, in contrast to the penny-pinching fixed cords on so many devices including the XV-N380B.

Is it actually much more expensive to use a removable power cord? I've always wondered.

I doubt it. It's actually common to have the cord plugged into the PSU PCB inside the device with a header/socket combination, which would of course just be replaced by the inlet to use the IEC-type cords. Using a fixed cord requires a retainer where it exits the unit, which is not needed with a removable cord. I would be surprised if the difference is more than, what, 25¢??? At that rate there's hardly an excuse.

While this sounds like a good idea, I haven't really found myself doing this because I don't really buy new products unless I have to. I'd rather not waste my money on that crap just to have to do away with it and bring back that which I already knew was working fine.