Power supply... do you pay for design?

[mortos360]

I guess most people here don't care much about the look of an PS as long as it meets its specs.. but I am curious.. how important is the look of an PS to you?

Since this Agilent offer with the free DMM, I was looking around a bit for PSs.. and its incredible how ugly most of them are...
It seems to me that companies that produce cheaper gear just don't care about the design of the product.
Imagine a 200-300 Euro PS that looks like Agilent E3631A... that would probably sell like crazy.. not?
Maybe thats just me... maybe most people out there just don't care that much about the design of an product... I really don't know...

Btw.. if anyone wants to make me happy.. send me a Rigol DP1308A or a Agilent E3631A!!! 

[Bored@Work]

I guess most people here don't care much about the look of an PS as long as it meets its specs.. but I am curious.. how important is the look of an PS to you?

I give a flying fart through a rolling doughnut about design. I care about specs, usability and functions. So called "modern design" tends to get in the way of this. It is often directed at posers who care more about showing off with bling bling. Good design is rare, and I rather deal with no design than the typical bad design.

[c4757p]

I give a flying fart through a rolling doughnut about design.

Oh, dear. What a visual.

[T4P]

Function > Appearance ... For that reason i don't like blingyblingy DMMs or computers 

[radian]

I do care about appearance of my equipment and I will pay a good premium for something that looks reasonably professional.

[Fsck]

function >>> appearance

Nice rectangular, blockish, and sturdy devices are perfect. Easily stacked, packed and transported.

I've got an e3630a sitting on top of an e3620a sitting on top of a fluke 8842a sitting on top of a keithley 220.

[pickle9000]

Of course specs are critical but I see no reason you can't have nice cleanly designed gear. It should be functional and easy to operate, looks help in that case. I want my programmable power supply to have a knob so I can adjust it quickly (not a bunch of buttons). I want current and voltage displayed (and a large readable dislay). I don't want a bunch of weird colours, strange case styles or other things to distract me from the function of the unit.

[mikes]

Function over form.

Both Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry, while famous for their designs, had problems making a building that didn't leak in the rain, one of its primary functions.

[pickle9000]

Oddly enough most cheap power supplies have the same problem (leaks) in the form of electrolytics.

[TimNJ]

I appreciate form where the form itself actually contributes to the function.

It should have a good front panel layout, clearly labeled controls, proper means of control (use a button where a button is needed, and a pot where a pot is needed), an easy to read display if there is one, and a solid, robust enclosure.

As far as so called "bling" no, but then again, I'm not sure I've seen much equipment that has looked "blingy" to me. Maybe you guys have some examples?

It doesn't have to be fancy colors, but even if it's specs are good, if it is a hassle to use because the interface is confusing and scrambled, then no.

[T4P]

I appreciate form where the form itself actually contributes to the function.

It should have a good front panel layout, clearly labeled controls, proper means of control (use a button where a button is needed, and a pot where a pot is needed), an easy to read display if there is one, and a solid, robust enclosure.

As far as so called "bling" no, but then again, I'm not sure I've seen much equipment that has looked "blingy" to me. Maybe you guys have some examples?

It doesn't have to be fancy colors, but even if it's specs are good, if it is a hassle to use because the interface is confusing and scrambled, then no.

Hakko FX series? They look straight out of a fisher-price catalogue .. But it still is to some extent at least we done away with black square boxes. Bad thing is that you can't stack them 

[Rasz]

Imagine a 200-300 Euro PS that looks like Agilent E3631A... that would probably sell like crazy.. not?

add "power factor correction adjustment" wooden knob  and market it for Audiophiles.

[Joules]

You can pay dearly for poor design thats for sure.

[snipersquad100]

Have you seen  the Rigol power supply's in this video http://youtu.be/7pLDNZzukIE. If they were spunk I would swallow.

[snipersquad100]

don't add the full stop.  http://youtu.be/7pLDNZzukIE

[mortos360]

Have you seen  the Rigol power supply's in this video http://youtu.be/7pLDNZzukIE. If they were spunk I would swallow.

Yeah I know that video.. love the PS ^^