Wife leaves 20100830

[HydroDave63]

Just because technology is new, doesn't mean it is better. 

Ain't that the truth!!!

Just depends on who is doing the shopping. In 2014 one party might ask for passive solar and a breakfast nook with a good view of the sponsons and chaise lounges, or a Vice-President Nugent might want to get a couple extra Battleshort switches , just because it sounds so damn cool!

[spekkio]

Just because technology is new, doesn't mean it is better.  

I agree. Case and point: the photonics mast has lower resolution/zoom than the old school periscope. Probably would be a different story if they used modern hi-res optics, but the "new" technology in the VA is actually going on over 15 years old.

New whiz-bang systems we simply can't afford in today's budget...

It's not the new technology that's sucking the budget...When the Navy spends more than a house to replace analog equipment born from the 1970s and $8k to replace laptops that would have sold for $499 at Best Buy 6 years ago, you know there's something wrong. In fact, using outdated equipment makes things more expensive since the technology is no longer mass-produced on any kind of scale.