World Affairs Board - View Single Post - Seeing Inflation Only in the Prices That Go Up

gunnut · 05-09-2008, 12:45 PM

I've been saying that for years. People don't complain when the price drops. People don't even notice.

I can build a desktop computer for $2000 that has more computing power than a Cray super computer from 1990 that cost half a mil. No one notices that.

In 1990, for $16000, we could buy a Mitsubishi Eclipse or Toyota Celica or Nissan 240SX. But today, for $16000, we could buy a bigger car with more power with anti-lock brakes and 6 airbags. All were luxury items in 1990 and only available on fairly expensive cars. Let's not even talk about DVD players in cars and GPS systems.

Back then, 27" TVs were pretty much the standard. Anything larger would require front projection TV. Those were huge and the quality wasn't all that great. Now people come over and laugh at my 27" tube TV. Everyone has 40" HD LCD TV. Something unheard of just 5 years ago.

Yeah gas was cheaper back then. But I wouldn't trade it for all the new stuff we have today.

05-09-2008, 12:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
gunnut *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-27-06 Location: DPRK, Democratik People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 9,143 Country:	I've been saying that for years. People don't complain when the price drops. People don't even notice. I can build a desktop computer for $2000 that has more computing power than a Cray super computer from 1990 that cost half a mil. No one notices that. In 1990, for $16000, we could buy a Mitsubishi Eclipse or Toyota Celica or Nissan 240SX. But today, for $16000, we could buy a bigger car with more power with anti-lock brakes and 6 airbags. All were luxury items in 1990 and only available on fairly expensive cars. Let's not even talk about DVD players in cars and GPS systems. Back then, 27" TVs were pretty much the standard. Anything larger would require front projection TV. Those were huge and the quality wasn't all that great. Now people come over and laugh at my 27" tube TV. Everyone has 40" HD LCD TV. Something unheard of just 5 years ago. Yeah gas was cheaper back then. But I wouldn't trade it for all the new stuff we have today. __________________ "Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.