These are broken

Posted on March 31, 2004 by Gene

While I’m on the subject of things that are broken, let me tell you about the trifecta of consumer electronics that reside in my bedroom.

First off is a Dish Network satellite receiver, model 6000. This box has two fans in it, which run continuously and very loudly, especially in an otherwise quiet bedroom. Do not buy one of these if you expect to get any sleep.
If you turn off the box using the button on the front rather than the remote, the fan goes off… for about 10 seconds, then it comes back on louder. Oddly, this box doesn’t turn off from the remote, it simply goes into “standby” mode. This is one option too many, and something it has in common with the second item, a DVD player from “RJ Tech.” This DVD player has a power button on the remote, but that only puts it in “standby.” There is a more traditional push button on the front that turns it off; but there is no difference between “standby” and “off” except for the next annoyance: the light. For some reason, when the player is on and playing, the bright LED over the power button is off. When you press “Power” on the remote (putting the player in “standby”), the power light comes ON.
This is also the case with the third item, a pricey Samsung HDTV. When the TV is OFF, a light illuminates next to the power button. When the TV is ON, the light is OFF.
Who is designing these monstrosities?