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The assumption that markets are mostly competitive is deeply flawed. Markets are controlled, managed and monopolized more often than not, via strategies like c
by photochemsyn 4y ago
The assumption that markets are mostly competitive is deeply flawed. Markets are controlled, managed and monopolized more often than not, via strategies like control of chokepoints (computer chip production is a case example), interlocking boards of directors of major corporations, government subsidies for specific industries (and import tariffs as well), etc.
Case example: acceptable cell phones could be produced today that would last for 20 years using the same internal structure, with decent audio/video capabilities and memory storage, if they were designed to be easily repairable, i.e. if the components that are likely to wear out could be easily replaced (battery, touchscreen, etc.). The operating systems could be locked-in to a standard format, or OS upgrades could be made backwards-compatible.
Major phone manufacturers really are not interested in making such devices, because new sales would fall:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmd9a5/tim-cook-to-investors-people-bought-fewer-new-iphones-because-they-repaired-their-old-ones https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmd9a5/tim-cook-to-investors...
Where is the competitive market providing the long-lived alternatives?
- olalonde 4y agoThe smartphone manufacturing industry is super competitive. Many of the largest phone manufacturers didn't exist a decade ago. I guess you got a billion dollar startup idea in your hands, go ahead and create that phone company. Personally, my hunch is that you're not the first to have this idea and a phone like the one you described is either not commercially viable and/or there isn't real demand for a phone that lasts 20 years.
- lob_it 4y agoAre you sure smartphones are even relevant anymore? They seemed to have devolved into doing everything mediocre and are much like a dildo/toothbrush hybrid without clear instructions. Dialtone 2.0 sounds like a winner already. The seperation of data and dialtone. And with influencer marketing, its like celebs decades ago harping about the health benefits of eating a placenta... Are you eating placentas to maintain health? All those vitamins and minerals... Yummy :/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/expert-answers/eating-the-placenta/faq-20380880 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-deliv... Just because they invented it/said it, doesn't make it a good idea/product. Product evolution is already well documented. The 1767 invention of carbonated water/soda water did not make large strides until 1886 and did not get HFCS until 1981-1984. https://www.thoughtco.com/18th-century-timeline-1992474 https://www.thoughtco.com/18th-century-timeline-1992474 https://thepopularlist.com/inventions-of-the-19th-century/ https://thepopularlist.com/inventions-of-the-19th-century/ https://www.motherjones.com/food/2019/07/the-secret-history-of-why-soda-companies-switched-from-sugar-to-high-fructose-corn-syrup/ https://www.motherjones.com/food/2019/07/the-secret-history-...
- fleddr 4y agoThe point of a free market participant is to escape it.