Why is all test equipement turning black?

[tszaboo]

I actually prefer the Owon, but some people say the Voltcraft looks more professional.
I think the colored rings around the BNC connectors on the Voltcraft are quite nice

I think both look awful. And it's not a cost issue, there isn't really a price difference for color additives.

Brown is a no-go in my book.

Not only the classic 80's Keithleys. I'm very fond of my two-tone brown Marconi 2022A.

I like the 90s-2000s light grey but I also like the modern Keithley color. Rohde and Swartz color scheme is great, the touch of blue makes it stand out. For me black color on plastic, sounds like a cost reduction measure. It's one of the colors you can get as standard, with UV and UL rating. When you add additives, to make your won color, maybe you need to get some testing for flammability, which costs money. The end results are meh.
Since keyboards were mentioned, this is my keyboard for my desktop. It comes with USB-C, and cherry compatible keys, replaceable keycaps and keys. None of the RGB rubbish, full key travel, and good tactile feedback. They do make good keyboards still.

[5U4GB]

Since keyboards were mentioned, this is my keyboard for my desktop. It comes with USB-C, and cherry compatible keys, replaceable keycaps and keys. None of the RGB rubbish, full key travel, and good tactile feedback. They do make good keyboards still.

Mine is a 30-year-old IBM model KB-6something.  I've got two spares still in their original boxes in case the first one dies, but never had a need for them.  Mind you it's only been 30 years.

[pdenisowski]

My first engineering job was working at Bell Northern Research on the DMS100 digital telephony switch.  Our massive lab (captive office) was nothing but brown    I was told that this color was chosen because it was "soothing" - maybe not a bad choice if you spend your entire day in a windowless room.

Though I suspect that was merely an objective-sounding justification for following the color fad of the era: the DMS-100 came out in the late 1970s, when earth tones were in fashion, like browns, oranges, and drab greens. (Just like the brown Keithley equipment I mentioned.)

As someone who spent countless hours sitting in a windowless room with the DMS - I do genuinely think those "earth tones" were more soothing / relaxing than the colors used on the (competing) 5ESS

[Aldo22]

Mine is a 30-year-old IBM model KB-6something.  I've got two spares still in their original boxes in case the first one dies, but never had a need for them.  Mind you it's only been 30 years.

My Desktop: IBM Model M, Genius GM-6000 and a Siemens Tischfernsprecher V62. 
I still use the Model M every day. There's nothing better. 

[madires]

Cherry G80-3000 in light grey, Elecom trackball (Logitech's newer trackballs are wireless only) and a fancy VoIP telphone (I need the features).

[spostma]

I would vote for matte aluminium front panels that can be cleaned, will not yellow, good ergonomic contrast.

[zike]

I would vote for matte aluminium front panels that can be cleaned, will not yellow, good ergonomic contrast.

Power Designs FTW

[David Hess]

Fluke handheld multimeters have been dark for decades. Tektronix famously used (and still uses) turquoise. Keithley used milk chocolate brown for years. 70s hifi gear was silver and wood. 80s was black. 90s was your choice of silver, black, or champagne. Early 2000s was glossy white. Broadcast/studio AV gear has been gradually getting darker for decades.

Tektronix used turquoise on their cabinets, and not areas where controls and indicators were.  I do not care what the cabinet color is, but it matters where there are controls and indicators.

I have included several Tektronix examples below showing high contrast writing with unsaturated color background areas to show control groupings.  Some interface compromises had to be made because of limited area.

In other words, your entire premise that test gear (and other electrical products) all used to be light is not even true.

But it is true that human factors engineering was better in the past, and less subject to marketing's style of the year, at least outside of consumer trash.

Me? I like the dark look. But I’m humble enough to recognize that this is simply my personal preference, and don’t try to pretend like there’s some inherent, universal technical advantage to it. (As KungFuJosh says, it can actually be advantageous for some people.)

By and large, I am not a fan of dark mode in software. But even that is situational, not absolute. (I like it for Altium’s user interface — but not for schematics. I like it for YouTube, but hate it for macOS and iOS. ::shrug:: )

I prefer high contrast and maximum visual acuity, which excludes blue and violet around fine details.  Dark front panels make my workbench darker, and typically are combined with poor contrast detailing.  Fix one or the other, or both.

I would vote for matte aluminium front panels that can be cleaned, will not yellow, good ergonomic contrast.

Tektronix did a lot of that in the past, as shown below.  I think they had a screen printing process which was combined with aluminum anodization to make essentially indestructible front panels.

The markings on their buttons and skirts is another matter, but they still held up well enough.

[5U4GB]

My Desktop: IBM Model M, Genius GM-6000 and a SIemens Tischfernsprecher V62. 
I still use the Model M every day. There's nothing better. 

Problem with the original Model M is that it's missing a pile of extra keys that you can remap for macros and other functions. This is why I have a KB-6something, it's got the solidity of the Model M (if not the full-on buckling springs) but also all the extra keys.

[Psi]

Another reason I like black test gear is the coloured LED backlight behind switches/buttons and text looks really nice contrasted with black.

[tautech]

Another reason I like black test gear is the coloured LED backlight behind switches/buttons and text looks really nice contrasted with black.

Maybe we need upgrade you to a 12bit SDS3034X HD ?

Barely any different to your SDS2104X Plus (cough) SDS2504X Plus to drive. 

[Psi]

Maybe we need upgrade you to a 12bit SDS3034X HD ?
Barely any different to your SDS2104X Plus (cough) SDS2504X Plus to drive. 

hehe, it's still a SDS2104X,  I've not had a need for 500mhz... yet.

[Aldo22]

I still use the Model M every day. There's nothing better. 

Problem with the original Model M is that it's missing a pile of extra keys that you can remap for macros and other functions. This is why I have a KB-6something, it's got the solidity of the Model M (if not the full-on buckling springs) but also all the extra keys.

But that's precisely the point, and that's what makes the Model M what it is.
Perhaps the only computer peripheral that, after decades, is still better than most new devices.

The Model M's design has been widely described as reliable, and the design has not changed significantly over time.[33] Thanks to the M's design, including its heavy steel backplate and strong plastic frame, many early Model M Keyboards are still functional four decades past release.

The Model M's buckling spring key design specification[34] gives it a unique feel and sound. Unlike more common and lower-end rubber dome designs, buckling springs give users a notable tactile and auditory feedback. Because of its more defined touch, some users report they can type faster and more accurately on the Model M than on other keyboards.[35][36] Additionally, many model M enthusiasts believe that tactile-feedback keyboards like the Model M reduce stress on the hands, preventing or even reversing repetitive strain injury.[37] Significant pressure is required to press the keys, and a pronounced sound results to help typists previously trained on typewriters who had become accustomed to that level of feedback.[1] This resulted in the Model M sometimes being referred to as the "clicky keyboard."[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard

[chilternview]

My Desktop: IBM Model M, Genius GM-6000 and a SIemens Tischfernsprecher V62. 
I still use the Model M every day. There's nothing better. 

I used to like those too. Now I have a Das keyboard, it's black which does show dust more than cream/beige. But it has the Cherry MX keys with excellent tactile feedback and 'click'!

[David Hess]

Another reason I like black test gear is the coloured LED backlight behind switches/buttons and text looks really nice contrasted with black.

Your photo brings up another thing I object to in modern interface design.  Who thought it was a good idea to use grey on grey?  Was there some need to *lower* contrast of their writing?  Was high contrast causing eyes to bleed?

That is a style over human factors engineering decision.  There is no way marketing was not involved.

Recent graphical user interfaces have been doing the same thing.

[David Hess]

My Desktop: IBM Model M, Genius GM-6000 and a SIemens Tischfernsprecher V62. 
I still use the Model M every day. There's nothing better. 

I used to like those too. Now I have a Das keyboard, it's black which does show dust more than cream/beige. But it has the Cherry MX keys with excellent tactile feedback and 'click'!

I had a Logitech G413 keyboard which uses their Logitech Romer-G Tactile mechanical switches, but after a couple years some of the switches failed.  I replaced it with a Keychron C2 that has comparable Gateron G Pro brown switches, which at least are replaceable.

In retrospect I prefer the light colored keycaps on the Keychron C2 to the all black Logitech keycaps; they are just easier to see when needed, with or without the backlighting on each keyboard, not that I need to see them.

[Psi]

Another reason I like black test gear is the coloured LED backlight behind switches/buttons and text looks really nice contrasted with black.

Your photo brings up another thing I object to in modern interface design.  Who thought it was a good idea to use grey on grey?  Was there some need to *lower* contrast of their writing?  Was high contrast causing eyes to bleed?

That is a style over human factors engineering decision.  There is no way marketing was not involved.

Recent graphical user interfaces have been doing the same thing.

I have definitely noticed some deviation with what's considered 'artistically pleasing' and what's functionally usable and useful.

There used to be more user interface design skills mixed in with graphics and design.
But I think when graphical design became its own degree it separated from the technical usability side of things. Which made sense at that point in time because the courses were mostly for people to work making signs, logos and advertising material and for that usability isn't needed more than simply readability.
But then graphics and design graduates started getting hired to do webpages, software and pretty equipment front panels.

[cruff]

The transparency fad in GUI design needs to be stamped out or at least made optional. My aging eyes need high contrast these days.

[KungFuJosh]

There used to be more user interface design skills mixed in with graphics and design.
But I think when graphical design became its own degree it separated from the technical usability side of things. Which made sense at that point in time because the courses were mostly for people to work making signs, logos and advertising material and for that usability isn't needed more than simply readability.
But then graphics and design graduates started getting hired to do webpages, software and pretty equipment front panels.

No offense, but that's a lot of nonsense. You can't blame graphic designers when manufacturers get cheap on UI/UX budgeting.

Design teams always need to include everything from the technical side, to the graphics, to the user experience and workflow. Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't have their priorities right, or just don't care.

[Psi]

There used to be more user interface design skills mixed in with graphics and design.
But I think when graphical design became its own degree it separated from the technical usability side of things. Which made sense at that point in time because the courses were mostly for people to work making signs, logos and advertising material and for that usability isn't needed more than simply readability.
But then graphics and design graduates started getting hired to do webpages, software and pretty equipment front panels.

No offense, but that's a lot of nonsense. You can't blame graphic designers when manufacturers get cheap on UI/UX budgeting.

Design teams always need to include everything from the technical side, to the graphics, to the user experience and workflow. Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't have their priorities right, or just don't care.

I was not blaming graphic designers at all. Graphic designers are awesome. I was saying they get hired to do jobs they were not trained for. That isn't their fault, they don't know what they don't know.

As you said, the manufacturer is to blame.
They hired the graphic designer and got a pretty interface but didn't understand that they also needed to hire a UI/UX designer too.

Or maybe they knew that and were just trying to save money. 
If you skip the UI/UX designer you get lots of sales because it looks pretty, but you get no long term loyalty because everyone hates using it.
If you skip the graphic designer you don't get many sales but those you do get are quire loyal because it's a good tool.
With everyone focused on short term gains it's no wonder the UI/UX get skipped.
Also a UI/UX designer costs more than a graphic designer.

The only blame on graphic designers is if they put UI/UX in their CV but have no actual experience with it. Then I think it's fair to blame them. Especially if a company hires them based on them being both good at graphics and UI/UX.

[rteodor]

I'd like to ask, why is everybody here so against black ? Personally I do not care too much on the case color, white or black its all the same. What would be nice, it would be to for all the equipment to be the same color. R&S colors would be nice

A bit older MSO has quite low brightness (and not too pleasant resolution either) so I think black is a bit better in that case. MHO for example is much brighter and sharp and could go white. Is its shitty glossy display that I despise.

Other than that, would a white tinySA look better ? Maybe in an aluminum case...?

[tautech]

................
The only blame on graphic designers is if they put UI/UX in their CV but have no actual experience with it. Then I think it's fair to blame them. Especially if a company hires them based on them being both good at graphics and UI/UX.

No it's not.
Those that hire them is whom should bear the blame.

I mean to say that anyone involved with any part of instrument design should instead be heavily influenced by those that use them.
Recent explorations by Siglent into new GUI's are SDS5000X HD and SDG3000X which both are quite different to what we've become used to and I do wonder what sent them down this road. 

Trying to match the competition and/or the types of GUI in handheld devices is hardly a good choice for TE IMHO when instead they should be sticking to their knitting.

[Psi]

................
The only blame on graphic designers is if they put UI/UX in their CV but have no actual experience with it. Then I think it's fair to blame them. Especially if a company hires them based on them being both good at graphics and UI/UX.

No it's not.
Those that hire them is whom should bear the blame.

The person who hires them does bear some of the blame yes. They should be checking references and confirming skills. But someone who lies on their CV to get the job also bears blame for intentional deception.

[Doctorandus_P]

This topic reminds me of



Also note that the cartoon guy is a sort of famous figure used as intermezzo in between German TV advertisements.

[Messtechniker]

Why does nobody maintain the black style by issuing the certificates or the the manuals on black paper with a gray white font? Would be quite innovative. Or not?