-=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- (c) WidthPadding Industries 1987 0|642|0 -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=- -=+=-
SoCoder -> Blogs Home -> Blogs

 
Mog
Created : 19 April 2010
Edited : 19 April 2010
System : Windows

Why are things so expensive?!?!
I've been playing around with PSPDisp, which is a display server for PSP that allows you to peek at a desktop and control it remotely using well, your PSP.

So i had the idea of using Dualview on my video card to use it as a small 480x272 monitor (for whatever reason- besides the point), but lo and behold, you have to have something in the head port for it to recognize a device.

Fired up google, found this thing: -- A VGA Terminator. Just a simple 15-pin female jack with 3 75ohm resistors inside bridging the RGB channels to ground. Know how much it costs? 21 USD.

Fuck that. I went to an electronics store, and picked up the materials- know how much it costs? 2.88 USD.

I know people can gripe about 'well, i don't know what i'm doing' or 'i'm too busy', but is it really worth paying the extra 20 dollars to save yourself the effort of reading a quick guide to how this stuff works? I put this thing together in 5 mins, and it works just fine.

Seriously, why must it cost so much for something so damned simple?!

 

Comments
Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 01:49
Jayenkai
 		Because "normal" people are out to earn as much money as is humanly possible in as short amount of time as they can.

.. "Normal" people piss me off..
Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 14:23
Tikihead
 		@ Jay - sounds like Capitalism
Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 16:18
Stealth
 		These aren't in high demand and therefore manufacturing costs are high.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 18:37
Mog
 		And thus Supply and Demand breaks down in such a scenario. Why should manufacturing costs be so high? The raw material is very low cost - Although since demand is low, you have to make up the bulk by selling high.

Stupid system... Just do it yourself.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010, 19:57
mindstorm8191
 		I think this is a situation I refer to as 'convenience fee'. Sure, you could build your own soluton, but that's a lot of work. They just want to offer you a simpler / quicker solution.

It seems thats how gas stations still sell so much inside the stores.
Wednesday, 21 April 2010, 22:49
Stealth
 		Manufacturing costs are generally extremely small anyways. It costs Coke very little to make a bottle of soda (about $0.10), but they sell it for a lot ($1.00).
Thursday, 22 April 2010, 05:32
Mog
 		Like mindstorm said, there's that stupid element of 'convenience', but still- is it really worth paying 2x, 3x, or even 10x more than the damned thing is worth, just to save a hassle?

In this case, would it have been convenient anyways? I would have had to wait on shipping. Sure, their presentation is heaps better than mine, but my solution worked. I guess it's like cooking a steak. Yourself, it's fairly reasonable in price but you have to do it yourself, versus a restaurant which will charge you much more but all you have to do is sit and demand food.