Re: FUN Electronic Kits, EICO, Heathkit, Allied, etc. (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:10:11 EDT
From: Mddeming@xxxxxxx
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: FUN Electronic Kits, EICO, Heathkit, Allied, etc. (fwd)

 

Hi Gary,
 
Some of the answers below:
 
Matt D
 
In a message dated 10/30/07 9:13:08 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007  06:52:24 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
From: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: Tesla list  <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: FUN Electronic Kits, EICO, Heathkit,  Allied, etc.


Q. Why is there no FUN electronic kits available any  more?

A1. Litigation. It is becoming illegal and/or courting  bankruptcy in the US 
to manufacture or sell anything with  which any idiot can find any way to hurt 
themselves.
 
A2. Dumbing down of America. 90% of all products say on them "No user  
serviceable parts inside", so why would you need or want to know?
 
A3. Integrated circuits - The insides of almost any electronic device  
consists of inscrutable black plastic rectangles and other parts so  tiny most can't 
be manipulated or assembled by humans, especially young  ones.  



    A4. Production methods - Fifty years ago, one  assembled a kit in pretty 
much the same way that the device would be built  at a factory. A kit was 
therefore essentially, a box of parts and  instructions that one would need at 
each work station on the assembly line. Kits  require a very different design so 
that they can be assembled by humans  with "primitive" tools, and thus have to 
be relatively simple.
 
 



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