Digital vs Vinyl?

[CUtiger]

Except when your in a pinch and you want the part today, then you go to Fry's. For awhile, motherboards had defective capacitors that failed very early. I saw this in a enterprise setting for a major company. They fail because they are built cheap. Read up on planned obsolescence. Here is one read. http://www.tested.com/news/planned-o...t-to-last/689/

Now, if you buy the best of the best, it should last longer, but then it is no longer cheap. SSD can have failures too and hard drive failure is almost a sure thing on a long enough timeline. Anything new and modern will likely not last. Lately, it seems to be an epidemic. I go through phones like crazy. Even if I replace the original battery, the keyboard will stop working. Now in the past, computer could and did last. My sister built her first web page on a old Intel 80186 with 10MB hard drive and monochrome monitor. That computer was actually just left behind before it broke. It could have worked for 20+ years, who knows. Now days though, because stuff gets dated before you even bring it home, it is NOT build to last. Their is really no reason for manufactures to build things to last because the market as a whole will not want to use it after 5 years. They will want something new, even if what they have still works.

If you guys have computers that last 15 years, it is either because you are really lucky, or you have something that didn't have a planned obsolescence objective. I don't know of anyone building a computer that last for 15 years today. Maybe if you can get your hands on some military grade stuff, tough books, etc... Most if it will be junk in 5 years of sale. That is just the market and how it is. These 10+ year lasting computers is not the normal average for a life of a modern computer.

Planned obsolescence is old news, I would never buy an off the shelf pc either for that very reason. The good thing is over the years there have been many mother boards which don't cost an arm and a leg and have proven to be reliable for 10+ years easily. The problem is most big box computers which have quality internals are also pushed to the limit and effective cooling is generally a side thought.

Maybe its asking too much for some to roll their own but just about anybody could learn how in a week, it's extremely easy to do. The hardest part is the research of what components you need and have reputations for reliability or come from lineages that do. Tom's hardware used to be a great resource but has sold out over the past decade. A music only PC could be built incredibly cheaply if you're willing to take the plunge. Me I'll stick with NAS and a dedicated transport as I'd rather invest in a new gaming rig...

[domwilson]

I think the point that is really being missed here is that music and the enjoyment of such is an intimate and personal experience. Both analog and digital have their merits. Which is better is dependent on the end listener. I listen to both. IMHO what format you choose is up to you. There is no right or wrong. What matters is what you get out of it. If either tips your wagon, then enjoy it. What may be one mans passion may be another mans poison. The uncertainty of which is better is dependent on the imperfections of our hearing and psych.