Black is the new black

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Why is it that a few years ago, all gadgets were silver. Then along Apple, and all of a sudden everybody decided that white gadgets were the "In thing". Then black was introduced back into the equasion. Now you're hard pushed to buy almost any gadget that isn't black.

Tv's - were all silver at one point. Just try walking into Comet and trying to buy an LCD or plasma sccreen in any other colour than black. It's harder than you might think!

Mobile phones - Were once a horrible block of black or grey plastic, and then they went through a phase of multi-colours, and then standardised silver. Now every other phone comes in black as default

Games consoles - It seems Nintendo are now refusing to release any other coloured Wii's apart from white (A trend Apple started with the iPod), and Sony won't release any other colour PS3's apart from black - Despite BOTH companies originally tempting us with nice shiny coloured consoles before launch. Microsoft have so far given us a few nice LE's and the choice between white and black, so can't complain about them as they have made an effort to please consumer demand


It's really Tv's and mobile phones where you notice it the most though. You just get used to everything being one standard colour (Silver), which looks nice and appeals to most consumers, and then they go and standardise black as a default. Personally I am quite fond of my phone, and one of the things I like about it the most is the fact that it is silver, especially when there is also a black coloured model which looks appalling.

The thing that annoys me the most though is the fact that most companies are now marketting black as the new "Premium" colour. If they do make a product in silver, then these are usually cheaper (PS2 for example). To me, a lot of these modern gadgets look cheap and nasty in black, and I consider silver to be more of a premium colour, especially where Tv'sand mobile phones are concerned

[giacomo]

i hadnt noticed this trend, but now you mention it.. all the tvs in comet are black.. what gives? it could be worse tho. remember when computers only came in one colour? beige.

[Nine Over Seven]

i hadnt noticed this trend, but now you mention it.. all the tvs in comet are black.. what gives? it could be worse tho. remember when computers only came in one colour? beige.

Thank you for bringing up a memory long since repressed. I'm going to have trouble sleeping now

[toneeblair]

with TVs there's also an effect of black making the picture its displaying seem bolder (check out that phillips tv with the changing colours for a good example). the black surround makes the black in the picture somewhat more prominent, which considering the relative lack of contrast in LCD TVs, is a good thing.

[Craymen Edge]

The thing that annoys me the most though is the fact that most companies are now marketting black as the new "Premium" colour. If they do make a product in silver, then these are usually cheaper (PS2 for example). To me, a lot of these modern gadgets look cheap and nasty in black, and I consider silver to be more of a premium colour, especially where Tv'sand mobile phones are concerned

I don't agree, especially when "Silver" is actally just dull grey. The 'silver' PS2 looks horrendously tacky, like a chav kid got carried away with the spray paints. These things seem to go in cycles. Black was the in colour before white or grey become fashionable.

It's not the colour that most effects how good or "premium" something looks, its the material and quality of the finish.

[giacomo]

I don't agree, especially when "Silver" is actally just dull grey. The 'silver' PS2 looks horrendously tacky, like a chav kid got carried away with the spray paints. These things seem to go in cycles. Black was the in colour before white or grey become fashionable.

It's not the colour that most effects how good or "premium" something looks, its the material and quality of the finish.

i think i have to agree actually. the quality of finish on all these black and white electronics is IMO way nicer than the old silver finishes; which did look alot like cheap spray paint (and probably was).

so the timeline goes:

beige/cream/grey --> black --> silver --> white --> black

is that about right?

[rumblecat]

Yeah, that's about right. White is a nightmare though. My MacBook constantly gets fingerprints, vomit, blood etc all over it. Terrible.

[Shaolin_monkey]

Well, I loved my beige computer back in the day. I don't really care what colou a product is, so long as it works well and is value for money. If I had to express a preference I'd always go with black:

It's like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black.

[RivaOni]

At the end of the day, what does it really matter what colour it is, so long as it does its job? We used to have both a white and a pink DS Lite, but due to my white one never being played, it got traded in, do I care that if I want to play a DS game I have to play on a pink one? Not really no, it doesn't bother me whatsoever.

[rumblecat]

It's like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black.

Never get sick of it... ...it's like a black mirror...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hlynf--lsxA

[Chinzon]

I like to have all my consoles and gadgets in black where possible.. not sure why.

Especially when they're shiny like my DS - you can see yourself in....both sides.

[FatTrucker]

White is a nightmare though. My MacBook constantly gets fingerprints, vomit, blood etc all over it. Terrible.

Mate you need to knock those alternative porn sites on the head.....it will all end in tears you know.

[magical mr rich]

I thought this was going to be a racist thread...

Seriously, you have a point here. All my Technics separates that are like 20 years old now.... black. Went through being silver for years and everything is black again.

TV's... black... then silver... go to LCD/Plasma and everything is black again.

Why has no one considering bringing out different coloured face plates for TV's? Or have they and I am just retarded?

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I thought this was going to be a racist thread...

Seriously, you have a point here. All my Technics separates that are like 20 years old now.... black. Went through being silver for years and everything is black again.

TV's... black... then silver... go to LCD/Plasma and everything is black again.

Why has no one considering bringing out different coloured face plates for TV's? Or have they and I am just retarded?

Thing is, i'm looking to buy a new receiver as my old BLACK Denon one is a bit dated. I want a nice shiny silver Sony DA5200ES, but it's next to impossible to find a stockist of silver ones which seem to have been discontinued, whereas everywhere has the black versions as no one really wants them.

Everything these days is so... 80's!

[code selfish]

I don't agree, especially when "Silver" is actally just dull grey. The 'silver' PS2 looks horrendously tacky, like a chav kid got carried away with the spray paints.

I'm quite fond of my silver PS2 .