"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 13:07:20 +0000 (UTC), "Andrew"
wrote:

I know they aren't built to last anymore ... but are models like
this just trouble...

Cheap washing machines are great - very reliable. Mainly because they
just have less in them. And when they do finally go wrong, you can
_afford_ a simple bearing or seal, rather than a mutli-speed motor or
a controller that gets BBC7.

The ones to avoid are the mid-range ones. Lots of extra features
glopped on there, particularly complicated controllers. They're also
in the most competitive and price-squeezed part of the marketplace.
You get a lot of bits for your money, but you don't get reliability.

If you're a single bloke, get a cheap simple one. If you've got
freshly hatched sprogs, get an AEG Lavamat. One machine will get
little use and die of old calendar age, the other will be run into the
ground and actually _worn_ out..

_Why_ a washing machine (or CH boiler) controller PCB has less
complexity than a Tamagotchi, yet requires more maintenance overhead
than a space shuttle, is still beyond me.
I agree Andy its the same all over when you compare how much computer
peripherals against most consumer electronics we must be barking mad to put
up with it. A case of TamIgocher!

MikeS