MONEY and lousy rotten government.
The cost of accessories like desk chargers, quick chargers and car chargers add up. With each compeating corporation working so hard to run the other out of business the ones who are ultimatly paying for it are you and me.
You'll have to look to a modern progressive country for that kind of invention. You won't find it here in what is increasingly a bannana republic. We still have cars with 1970's mileage.
Posted by mparke at November 5, 2007 03:14 AMI got an interesting present from my wife recently. It's a camping lantern that's rechargeable (you turn a crank, you charge it). It also has an AM-FM radio.
And it also has a cell-phone recharging capacity. My kids think that's pretty cool.
Posted by Danton at November 5, 2007 06:56 AMProprietary chargers are a way to try to get brand loyalty in a market where profit margins on the actual phones are RAZR-thin. Once you've shelled out for a charger, and maybe another for the car, and a headset, you have a significant investment. If you have to replace the phone, you now have an incentive to buy the same brand again.
Danton, those turn the crank gadgets are fun!
I have one with Cheney dressed as an organ-grinder and when you turn the crank, a little bush-chimp takes a crap on the constitution.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 5, 2007 11:28 AMMatt Yglesias prettymuch hits the nail on the head on the Eliot Spitzer NYS drivers license kerfluffle.
Posted by snark at November 5, 2007 12:01 PM