I got a one of those fancy magic keyboards for that one fancy tablet a little bit ago. Wasn't cheap. However, I upgraded to the new model, and since this one is 11" instead of 10.9", the damn thing doesn't fit. Wankers.
25 thoughts on “April 25, 2025: Planned Obsolescence”
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.1" different? You don't have sandpaper or a grinding wheel?
I finally got around to replacing the Santa Fe I wrecked several months ago. On Monday I picked up a 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring. Onyx black exterior, saddle brown leather interior. A tad over 127,000 miles. A Florida car so there's no hint of rust and it is in great condition bumper to bumper. The only flaws I could find were one heated seat switch that looks like it got overheated and the surface melted a bit. I've got that part ordered and on the way. The other issue is that the leather steering wheel is cracking and peeling. According to the internet that's a common problem on these vehicles. My options are to replace the wheel for about $300 (more than $1,000 through the dealer), have it professionally repaired for about $200, or buy a good lace-up leather wheel cover for about $100 and install it myself. I am leaning toward the latter, I've seen some videos and it's not a difficult job, it just takes time and some patience and I have at least one of those things. The other minor complaint is that the stereo does not have CarPlay, although it has a navigation system and Bluetooth phone integration and all that so not a big deal. Subaru made CarPlay a standard feature in all their vehicles starting in 2019.
I have a 2017 forester that I really like. Low miles, but had to replace the entire ac system this month. Bummer about living in Satan’s mouth for 8 months a year.
I’ve looked at replacing the head unit to get car play functionality and a better screen - but I really can’t be bothered and with our current administration I’m sure I’ll be sufficiently priced out of electronics in the near future.
I’ve contemplated installing a portable CarPlay screen in the ‘08 Outback because it has a single-piece center stack where the climate controls are integrated with the radio/CD changer. This car is fantastic in so many ways (a modern Volvo 240 in many respects), and this might be one of two things holding it back from feeling like a modern vehicle. (The other is the 4-speed automatic.) Before buying the Toyota I’d only ever experienced CarPlay in a rental, and would have said that dual zone climate control was the single in-cabin feature I would upgrade to buy. I think CarPlay is now on that list — I would never consider a car that only has the proprietary system developed by the automaker (ahem, swastikar).
Enjoy the Subaru! They have their quirks (mine now uses Rotella diesel synthetic), but they’re dependable, honest cars that are pretty robust and well-engineered.
Our 2015 Forester just hit 100k about a week ago (it's amazing how the miles don't add up like when the Mrs had a 40 mile a day commute). It has been the most problem free vehicle we have ever owned, other than for some strange reason the headlights need to be replaced about every year.
Had a 2004 Forester and loved it for 12 years, then donated it to a niece. Couldn’t get a better car for chomping thru New Wingland slush in our driveway.
Thinking about getting another one for out here in Scandia - a friend said to get an older car ‘cause they have less stuff that can go wrong...
We might be needing a new vehicle if they total the van from the hail damage and, since no one other than Chrysler appears to make minivans anymore, I've been checking on other options. Could you guys please talk to my wife about Foresters because I found some for sale and, while not quite as roomy as a minivan, would be 1000000% preferred by me over some shitty SUV.
(oh, forgot to add she immediately said no when I suggested one. No idea what her hang up with Subarus is.)
Bummer. We have a Crosstrek as well. Haven’t had any issues (other than my ac unit…).
Speaking of roomy ‘like’ a minivan, I went from a 2015 Outback to a 2019 Ascent. The Ascent was my wife’s car before she upgraded to a Volvo XC60 Recharge, so I inherited it. I really enjoy the Ascent. Drives like an Outback but with a ton more space. Big cargo area, seating for seven - third row seating is really only good for kids & small(er) people - but it’s there. This far: 88,000 miles, no major issues other than the gas mileage (I average 23 city/hwy mpg). Highly recommended.
It has consistently ranked highly in Consumer Reports since I bought one in 2011. 15+ years of excellence so far. I've been waiting for a true electric version before replacing my car.
Welcome back López.
Good timing on the planned obsolescence post! Google just told me that my Nest thermostat needs to be replaced because they can not possibly continue to send it security updates. (I'm sure such expenses would break them financially.) I would protest and install a dumb thermostat, but I like the "you're away" detection too much, and I like the ability to turn the heat back on from my phone an hour before we arrive home from being away.
Maybe there is a semi-smart, won't send your movement patterns to a server version of a thermostat?
(In case it's not obvious, I bought a Nest thermostat before Nest was bought by Google.)
(psst -- Ecobee3 Lite)
you can find them cheaper with a quick search -- we actually got ours for $99 with a rebate from the power company; we have one on each floor with two sensors apiece, so the home/away works well. we even had one email me on vacation a couple years ago to tell me that it wasn't able to cool, and I was able to contact HVAC to get coolant added.
Thanks for the recommendation. Will definitely look into Ecobee!
Ecobee is a Generac company, so thank you.
No, thank you
To be fair, I don't have anything to do with the Ecobee products. I did get myself one with a nice employee discount, though.
Mrs Runner and I enjoyed a nice Detroit-style pizza here in Ann Arbor tonight. Yum. Mrs Runner still prefers the NY-style we can get back home, but what does she know?
Detroit-style is my favorite. Tavern-style cracker crust comes in second.
Welcome to Minnesota sports, Luke Keaschall.
Awoooooo. Ant had no FTs tonight.
Again, I found myself checking the score even after the game, which I watched, had ended. The Lakers do weird things to me, man.
I'm too frickin stressed out right now so I had to avoid watching. I'm glad they're up 2-1, but I wish they were playing anyone other than the Lakers.
Back in mid-January, I bought tickets to a Friday night concert at the Entry scheduled for late April. Cosmic convergence had me downtown last night. Almost nixed the attendance between parking concerns and crowds, but I took the plunge. It was crazy busy traffic, but awesome energy downtown and between the Twins and Wolves games, crowded as hell. Fortunately, the headliner didn’t go on until after 10pm and by the time he wrapped it up, both games were done and people were moving out to the bars. Being disinterested in the bars near Target Center and First Ave & willing to walk a mile, I had ramp parking for $9 and no issues navigating out of the city to get home.