High definition TVs are becoming some of the worst culprits for our 'standby nation'.
We all know (or should do, by now) that electricity is wasted by leaving electrical appliances on standby. And yet, according to a recent article in the Independent, some manufacturers have been putting aesthetics ahead of environmental concern:
"According to some television manufacturers, the on/off switch is an undesirable feature that spoils the line of flat-screen or wall-mounted televisions."
What rubbish! You don't have to stick a big button on the front or side of a TV. Why not use a near-flat touch button (as found on, for example, my Apple Powerbook G4). Put it on the side of the TV and it'd be near-invisible.
"As well as pure aesthetics, there's an argument that hi-tech digital TVs also require system and software updates that need the TV to be in stand-by mode rather than off."
This is also tosh! When my computer gets software updates, it either does so when I ask it to, or it checks at a set time every day. However, if the computer is off at the time, it simply checks the next time it's turned on.
Anyway, the number of times a TV or set top box requires a firmware or software update should be minimal. And if the TV is off, who cares what version of software it's running?
Sky are the amongst the worst offenders. Yeah, yeah, they've added energy-saving functionality to their Sky+ and Sky HD boxes, but given that set top boxes are mini PCs, they shouldn't lose all their settings if the power shuts off. Having to leave a device permanently in standby mode because it isn't better designed is a poor excuse. My decade-old VCR (yes I still have one) doesn't lose all its settings if I turn its power off. Neither does my Freeview box. Or my iPod. What's the deal with STBs?
Come on. The humble on/off switch has never been more important.
