RANT: I am tired of things (other than my PC) crashing

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:54 pm

I can understand a PC crashing. A PC is a complicated thing running an OS with millions (billions?) of lines of code. But with almost every electronic device nowadays having a small processor running it.

WTF is so hard about writing code that doesn't crash on these small, simple devices? Why can't this crap be more reliable?

My Zune locks up.

My wife's iPod crashes.

My phone once in a while becomes unresponsive for 15 seconds.

My DVR locks up.

My DVD hangs.

My car's blue tooth speaker locks up.

Both my car's computer thermostats sometimes lock up blowing hot air on a hot day until you restart the car.

My PDA locks up.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:17 pm

Sounds about right.

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:15 pm

Aren't those lock ups kinda what keeps you in business? I mean if they could make the simple things flawless it would only be a matter of time before the PC was too right?

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:23 pm

dadx2mj wrote:Aren't those lock ups kinda what keeps you in business? I mean if they could make the simple things flawless it would only be a matter of time before the PC was too right?

hehehehehe couldn't of said it better !

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:22 am

How about my 1 yr old, costly, energy efficient GE Powervent water heater that fails to restart by itself intermittently (has no pilot light, self igniting) but then does A-OK after a re-boot (turn power switch on/off) and can then work fine for anywhere from a day to weeks w/o another re-boot

It gives a code too but it's like remove burner assembly and clean the element. Otherwise no other info to be found.

Most modern devices are great when everything's working as designed but can suck when anything isn't quite 100%

FP, as for your car (at least the AC part), there might be a cure for that. Check with your dealer.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:41 am

Evil: Ya, I forgot to mention it last time I took it in to see if there was a factory notice on it - maybe a firmware upgrade. If there isn't, it happens so rarely (may 3 times in a year so far) that I doubt they can do jack about it. As a tech myself I understand how hard it is to diagnose an intermittent.

Funny thing is not only does my Toyota Camry do it, but so does my wife's Cadillac Escalade.

And once in a blue moon (it's maybe happened twice in 4 years) you turn on the Escalade and the whole dash display is scrambled and you have to turn it off and restart it.

Err · Post by **Err** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:44 am

FlyingPenguin wrote:Evil: Ya, I forgot to mention it last time I took it in to see if there was a factory notice on it - maybe a firmware upgrade. If there isn't, it happens so rarely (may 3 times in a year so far) that I doubt they can do jack about it. As a tech myself I understand how hard it is to diagnose an intermittent.

Funny thing is not only does my Toyota Camry do it, but so does my wife's Cadillac Escalade.

And once in a blue moon (it's maybe happened twice in 4 years) you turn on the Escalade and the whole dash display is scrambled and you have to turn it off and restart it.

That's strange that two different makes of vehicles would have the same symptoms. I wonder if something in your house is interfering with them.

Key Keeper · Post by **Key Keeper** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:54 pm

FlyingPenguin wrote:Evil: Ya, I forgot to mention it last time I took it in to see if there was a factory notice on it - maybe a firmware upgrade. If there isn't, it happens so rarely (may 3 times in a year so far) that I doubt they can do jack about it. As a tech myself I understand how hard it is to diagnose an intermittent.

Funny thing is not only does my Toyota Camry do it, but so does my wife's Cadillac Escalade.

And once in a blue moon (it's maybe happened twice in 4 years) you turn on the Escalade and the whole dash display is scrambled and you have to turn it off and restart it.

My avalanche does same thing. None of the gauges respond and stereo/onstar go nutz-o as well. Shut off the ignition, and fire it back up and all is back to normal. I should have bought a truck with less gadgets, seems the more features you get, the more problems your asking for.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:02 pm

I totally know what you mean. Couple more examples:

I've had a couple car stereos completely lock up if you are too quick with the buttons. I have another that is hard drive based that you pretty much have to baby simple stuff like changing to the next track.

I have a simple friggen wireless outdoor thermometer that will lock up on a weekly basis (probably the wireless part). Have to reboot that all the time.

My Cadillac's transmission occasionally just decides to not work (engine running full throttle, but it's like it's in neutral). The manual for the car even tells you that if this happens to turn the ignition off & back on again. Oh great, I'm in the middle of the intersection & I really want to reboot the transmission control module in front of 20 people.

Key Keeper · Post by **Key Keeper** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:27 pm

What year caddy? If its got a northstar v8 and a 4T80E transmission, might just need a set of shift solenoids, Tony should know this one :-) Ive replaced a bunch of them that were causing that problem when I was in the transmission business.