Standards

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Standards - pros and cons

Advantages of standards

More choice from a variety of manufacturers

Lower prices and better technical development

Not limited to one manufacturer

Can be purchased from many retail outlets

Able to compare equipment performance from different manufacturers

Devices will work together

Can be mended or serviced by a number of companies

Easy to find alternative equipment

Disadvantages of no standards

Once you have purchased your equipment you are limited to that manufacturer for peripherals and other hardware and software

You have to go to a specialist retail outlet to purchase the equipment and peripherals. They are not so easily available as equipment which follows the standards

You cannot sensibly compare equipment as they use different standards

There is a lack of price competition which can result in higher prices

There may be less encouragement for technical development due to fewer competitors