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Unpopular opinions: 1) Sometimes it is good with multiple standards so you can choose whatever you want (e.g. databases). 2) Sometimes it is good with enforci
by silvestrov 4y ago
Unpopular opinions:
1) Sometimes it is good with multiple standards so you can choose whatever you want (e.g. databases).
2) Sometimes it is good with enforcing a single standard. There is no value in European countries having different 220V plugs. And definitly no value in multiple 220V standards within a single country.
2b) Often it is much more valuable that everybody use the same standard than having the best standard.
3) The proper selection of #1 or #2 does not happend automatically. Sometimes it does, sometimes we have to force a selection. (Often Government does a good job here, but I assume it is too controversial for HN to praise governments).
- eimrine 4y agoI am from Ukraine and sockets for 220V is slightly different in Soviet and Euro standards. In old houses there are still Soviet ones because it is hard to redo, especially because of very often Soviet sockets use to be part of wall without easy way to disassemble and to set a new standard. But Euro standard is so good that it replaced new standard naturally because both being better and having no Soviet spare plugs and sockets. I shared this real-world story because it slightly contradicts with your message having the 220V metaphor.
- pc86 4y agoI have no experience with Soviet electrical standards but as a brainwashed American I would assume this is a bit out of an outlier, because the Euro standard is objectively better and the Soviet one is so obviously bad/flawed/worse/whatever, that you don't really have two competing standards; you have the good one that is 100% of new installs/refurbs, and the bad one that only ever gets ripped out. This is in contrast to e.g. databases where most of them are "good enough" and the decision to use one over the other is much more subjective.
- silvestrov 4y agoI don't think it contradicts because you're upgrading from one standard to another. You are not selecting to have two standards in a new house. Or if you are building two new houses, you're not building one with Soviet standard and the other house with EU standard. Your case is more like EU upgrading from Mini-USB to USB-C as the standard plug for mobile phones.
- timdaub 4y ago