The new 42PFL6805 LCD HDTV from Philips boasts a “green” feature that you won’t find on the screen; the set’s remote control has solar panels on the back so that it can recharge using the light available in the room. In my experience, we get a year or two from a set of batteries in [...]
Well if we want to really be green, and save some cost - maybe remote controls should be an extra cost item - an accessory. Then for all of us that use Universal remotes, we might not need to buy these "to be ignored" remotes - to only toss them later.
I understand the need for custom items on the remotes - but that could be eliminated by some industry cooperation or a very basic ~5 button (arrows and enter) as the universal interface for the menus.
We have gone through a lot of things that we thought we must have but find we don't miss. Like manuals for software, and crappy cables with our devices (how many billions of 3 wire AV cables are out there left in the box!), and fancy tool kits for our cars...etc.
I'm right with you, Steve. American consumers seem to place value on the quantity of items in the box more than the quality or utility of those items. I really like your suggestion of no remote in the box, but then customers will scream and moan that it's a conspiracy to make them buy extra stuff (and the store will come up with some $150 monstrosity as their "entry level" universal remote.) (Oh, and programming will be available at an extra fee.)
The new 42PFL6805 LCD HDTV from Philips boasts a “green” feature that you won’t find on the screen; the set’s remote control has solar panels on the back so that it can recharge using the light available in the room. In my experience, we get a year or two from a set of batteries in [...]
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I have been using these panels for a while and they are very effective.. Efficiency is good and more important solid build for long lasting