"If you ever find yourself being harassed by a techie who insists upon criticizing you for your interest in vacuum tubes, there is an easy answer. He can be silenced with a simple question. Ask him if any early type transistors will still be manufactured and used in new products in, say, the year 2030. If he's honest, the answer will be 'no'. Then tell him that the first-ever beam power tube is still selling in the millions today, and shows no sign of becoming obsolete ... after 60 years. That should get rid of him."

¶ Friday, May 05, 2006