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> Then again, I would prefer there WAS Bluetooth and it broadcasted a notice, and a reflective LCD would be fine too. Why use a simple circuit that is definite

by jpc0 3y ago

> Then again, I would prefer there WAS Bluetooth and it broadcasted a notice, and a reflective LCD would be fine too. Why use a simple circuit that is definitely going to work when you can implement a complex software based solution to do the same thing? Honestly there are times a status LED is really useful for quick troubleshooting, I don't want to find some weird menu on a PC of have to get a shell on a server to see whether network came up on a device, if that device even is a PC, it could be an IOT device that the literal only way to even control it is through the very network you are connecting and also receives it's power over said network cable. Sometimes utilitarian is exactly what you need, I don't need a fancy screen on my washing machine or dishwasher, it's a utility item I need to know it's doing what I told it and that is that. People are quick to complain that their new fangled fridges and washing machines and light switches and dishwashers don't last longer than the warranty yet they are exactly like you and don't see how something simple and reliable is significantly more cost effective than a fancy one that has Bluetooth radios and screens and software that goes out of date.

eternityforest 3y ago
But appliances don't break because of the Bluetooth. At worst a badly designed smart circuit generally needs a reboot or factory reset, it doesn't break in the way that is expensive or takes more that a few minutes all that often. A 4 bar LCD battery indicator is rock solid, it just isn't as good in the pr9 grade stuff you need to see at a distance. New washers and stuff seem to break because mechanical parts wear out, and some new power tools do in fact have Bluetooth, so you know right away when it's charged and how much is left, on things like battery generator alternatives.
- just-ok 3y ago
  Needing a smartphone to figure out if your power tool is charging is moronic and a complete waste of human resources in the engineering involved.
  - eternityforest 3y ago
    You don't need one, it's just a convenience feature in addition to the other indicators, alongside other Bluetooth features like anti theft. Also that stuff is not always done by the same people doing more meaningful things. I could easily build a Bluetooth charger. I could probably teach a beginner to design that kind of thing in months. I couldn't do the same for a solar inverter that was any better than existing stuff though. I couldn't figure out the DSP involved in making a better pacemaker. I'm not a mechanical engineer, so I couldn't do anything to make the physical part of a tool better, except by adding more software self protection for it. If I worked at a tool company, what could I be doing instead of Bluetooth?
    - justsomehnguy 3y ago
      > it's just a convenience feature in addition to the other indicators, alongside other Bluetooth features like anti theft. Which adds cost, complexity and failure modes. Thanks what you are not working at a tool company.
      - eternityforest 3y ago
        Theft is a lot more likely of a failure mode than Bluetooth.
        justsomehnguy 3y ago
        Ah, then let's add BT to everything: flash drives, pens, women hygiene pads and, of course, sandwiches sold on the beaches. Right? Nobody needs BT in the power tools to prevent theft. No amount of BT would help you to retrive the stolen goods (see all those stories when police don't give a fuck for all these AirTags). Please, get a life.
        eternityforest 3y ago
        I would love it if flash drives had Bluetooth. What else are we supposed to do now that phones don't have expandable storage anymore? In DeWalt's case, they are shut off if you get out of BT range. I would imagine it just slightly deters crackheads, or perhaps it helps fight organized retail theft gangs which are apparently a problem for tool companies. Occasionally police do care about airtags. It's better than nothing. Better than trying to defend your property with force, when the criminal is going to be far better at fighting than me, because it's part of their profession. It's a cheap extra deterrent that makes their job a little harder.
JohnFen 3y ago
> Honestly there are times a status LED is really useful for quick troubleshooting, I 100% agree. Status LEDs are often really useful and important. They just shouldn't be blue, and shouldn't be bright.
- jpc0 3y ago
  I agree with the entire premise of the article. They shouldn't be blue and they shouldn't be bright, I do like to have them though.

by jpc0 3y ago

eternityforest 3y ago

But appliances don't break because of the Bluetooth. At worst a badly designed smart circuit generally needs a reboot or factory reset, it doesn't break in the way that is expensive or takes more that a few minutes all that often. A 4 bar LCD battery indicator is rock solid, it just isn't as good in the pr9 grade stuff you need to see at a distance. New washers and stuff seem to break because mechanical parts wear out, and some new power tools do in fact have Bluetooth, so you know right away when it's charged and how much is left, on things like battery generator alternatives.

just-ok 3y ago
Needing a smartphone to figure out if your power tool is charging is moronic and a complete waste of human resources in the engineering involved.
- eternityforest 3y ago
  You don't need one, it's just a convenience feature in addition to the other indicators, alongside other Bluetooth features like anti theft. Also that stuff is not always done by the same people doing more meaningful things. I could easily build a Bluetooth charger. I could probably teach a beginner to design that kind of thing in months. I couldn't do the same for a solar inverter that was any better than existing stuff though. I couldn't figure out the DSP involved in making a better pacemaker. I'm not a mechanical engineer, so I couldn't do anything to make the physical part of a tool better, except by adding more software self protection for it. If I worked at a tool company, what could I be doing instead of Bluetooth?
  - justsomehnguy 3y ago
    > it's just a convenience feature in addition to the other indicators, alongside other Bluetooth features like anti theft. Which adds cost, complexity and failure modes. Thanks what you are not working at a tool company.
    - eternityforest 3y ago
      Theft is a lot more likely of a failure mode than Bluetooth.
      - justsomehnguy 3y ago
        Ah, then let's add BT to everything: flash drives, pens, women hygiene pads and, of course, sandwiches sold on the beaches. Right? Nobody needs BT in the power tools to prevent theft. No amount of BT would help you to retrive the stolen goods (see all those stories when police don't give a fuck for all these AirTags). Please, get a life.
        eternityforest 3y ago
        I would love it if flash drives had Bluetooth. What else are we supposed to do now that phones don't have expandable storage anymore? In DeWalt's case, they are shut off if you get out of BT range. I would imagine it just slightly deters crackheads, or perhaps it helps fight organized retail theft gangs which are apparently a problem for tool companies. Occasionally police do care about airtags. It's better than nothing. Better than trying to defend your property with force, when the criminal is going to be far better at fighting than me, because it's part of their profession. It's a cheap extra deterrent that makes their job a little harder.

JohnFen 3y ago

> Honestly there are times a status LED is really useful for quick troubleshooting, I 100% agree. Status LEDs are often really useful and important. They just shouldn't be blue, and shouldn't be bright.

jpc0 3y ago
I agree with the entire premise of the article. They shouldn't be blue and they shouldn't be bright, I do like to have them though.