Diesel or Petrol?

In January 2012, a litre of petrol cost Rs 25 more than a litre of diesel. This wide gap, which was steadily increasing, prompted many car buyers to choose diesel cars over petrol ones. But since last September, the gap between petrol and diesel prices started shrinking and is now down to around Rs 13.

Also, with the slowdown in the auto industry, many car-makers have been offering discounts and freebies to entice car buyers. So should you now go for petrol cars instead? No, suggest our calculations based on enquiries with car dealers. Diesel cars continue to be easier on the pocket, despite diesel becoming dearer and petrol becoming cheaper. Here’s why.

LOWER RUNNING COST

Let’s play the devil’s advocate and list the disadvantages of diesel cars. They involve a higher initial capital outlay (up to Rs 1,50,000 or more depending on the models) compared with petrol cars. Diesel vehicles also involve higher maintenance costs, insurance and interest expense on the loan taken to buy the vehicle. And, of course, the slowly rising prices of diesel itself.

But despite the reduction in the price gap, diesel is still around 20 per cent cheaper than petrol – a litre of diesel costs Rs 52.9 in Chennai compared with Rs 65.9 for petrol. A diesel car also offers better mileage, around 3-4 km more than its petrol variant.

This combination of lower fuel cost and better mileage translates into substantial savings. This more than makes up for the higher initial capital outlay on diesel cars. Diesel cars also have better resale value – our enquiries with dealers indicate that they depreciate less than their petrol variants. Rising consumer preferences for diesel vehicles also raises the resale value. This blunts much of the disadvantage diesel car buyers suffer on account of higher initial cost. In short, diesel cars make economic sense from a total cost perspective (see table).

We have considered the comparative cumulative cost difference after a period of three years, which is the minimum car holding period for most people. Contrary to popular perception, our calculations show that diesel cars have an edge even when vehicle usage is low (around 20 km a day) to moderate (around 40 km a day). As usage increases, diesel cars offer greater cost advantage.

ADVANTAGE TO REMAIN

The gap between diesel and petrol prices has shrunk due to a sharp rise in diesel price last September and the monthly 50 paise hikes initiated since the beginning of this year. On the other hand, the price of petrol – a deregulated fuel – has moderated in recent months with cooling global crude oil prices.

But the scope for the gap shrinking further is limited. Currently, the notional loss on diesel suffered by oil companies is around Rs 3, the limit to which diesel price could possibly be hiked.

Even if this is done (while keeping petrol price constant), the gap will remain at a significant Rs 10 and diesel will still be more than 15 per cent cheaper than petrol. At this level too, calculations indicate that diesel cars would be economical.

Our enquiries with dealers suggest that on some car models, discounts are being offered only on diesel variants. The increased customer demand for diesel cars last year seems to have led to a situation of over-production and stocking up at the dealers’ end. Discounts strengthen the case in favour of diesel cars.

It also helps that improvements in technology have helped diesel cars these days provide a good driving experience.

Source- http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/

Worth it??

We've been watching Apple and Samsung hammer each other for what feels like eons over who ripped off whom. And now the jury is in (shockingly soon): Samsung just lost almost everything.

The case, which has centered over a panoply of patents relating to both hardware and software design, should settle one major argument once and for all: did Samsung rip off Apple's design when it started churning out touch devices of its own? Does Apple own the right to tech features that've become completely ubiquitous, like icon grids and black rectangles? The repercussions here are mammoth—this decision could literally and profoundly change the way our gadgets look for years and years to come.

Apple has contended that the entire mobile industry had nothing but messes of buttons and switches before Steve Jobs descended with the iPhone—after which point a unadorned glass face with rounded, bouncy icons became the de facto standard for pretty much every phone and tablet, for the rest of time. Samsung says they came up with this stuff on its own before the iPhone ever dropped. Apple, of course, claims the opposite.

Keep in mind that probably everything below will be appealed, so this is by no means over. As much as we wish it were.

Update: According to The Verge, reporting from the courtroom, an enormous swath of Samsung's devices have been found to illegally rip off Apple's software interface ideas (namely bounce-back scrolling and gestures):

Continuum, Droid Charge, Exhibit 4G, Galasy Ace, Prevail, S 4G, S II, Galaxy Tab, The Gem, Indulge, Infuse 4G, Mesmerie, Nexus S 4G, Replenish and Vibrant

Captivate, continuum, droid charge, fascinate, Galaxy Prevail, Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S II, i9100, Galaxy s 2 Tmobile, Tab, Tab 10.1, Gem, Indulge, Infuse, Nexus S 4G

The list goes on. Virtually every Samsung device in question has been found to infringe on Apple patents. Very, very few exceptions. This is a landslide for Apple so far.

Update 2: Another giant blow to Samsung & mdash; the following devices have been found to infringe upon Apple's "front trade dress"—meaning the way it looks:

Fascinate, Galaxy S, S 4G, S 2 ATT, S2 i9100, S2 Tmobile, S 2 Epic 4G touch, Skyrocket, Showcase, Infuse 4G, Mesmerize, and Vibrant.

Update 3: The Galaxy Tab gets off clean for design! Major points for Samsung.

Update 4: Samsung willingly infringed upon multiple Apple patents, the jury says. That's very bad. Intentional intellectual property theft. Big loss for Sammy.

Update 5: Another trouncing for Samsung: the company didn't prove that a single one of Apple's contested patents is invalid. This will have big consequences when it comes time to hand out punishment.

Update 6: Samsung hit with over $1 BILLION in damages, paid to Apple. Hoo boy! That's enough to buy an Instagram, with cash left over. $1,051,855,000, to be exact.

Update 7: Jury says Apple violated zero Samsung patents, and owes Apple nothing so far. Welp. Remember that part in Starship Troopers, when all of the bugs kill all the humans? This is like that, and Samsung is the humans. The question now: where will Apple's legal team be dining tonight? A giant lake filled with molten gold?

Update 8: Samsung's statement, according to CNET:

"Today's verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer. It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices. It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies. Consumers have the right to choices, and they know what they are buying when they purchase Samsung products. This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple's claims. Samsung will continue to innovate and offer choices for the consumer."

Update 9: Samsung scored a 0.24% discount on the bill they owe Apple because of a jury screw up. The bill is now... wait for it, wait for it: $1,049,343,540.

Update 10: Apple and Samsung get a schedule for post-trial filings, with a hearing set for September 20th.

Apple didn't win literally every single possible victory, but almost all of them. Here they are, in the blue jersey. The gentleman in white makes Android phones.

But like we said, this isn't over. The extent to which this will change the look and feel of every non-Apple tablet and phone hasn't been decided yet, nor are we sure just how badly this gut-punch from Apple will bruise Samsung specifically. But if you need it boiled down: horrible day for Samsung, great day for Apple.

- Sam Biddle

Source: Gizmodo India

Things 'a second' is capable of showing!

Beauty lies in the eyes of a viewer...but what if the scenery doesnt even stay for 2 seconds..........watch some of these best entries(in the embedded video below) to the 'One second film festival', showing a second may be the smallest unit of time for an ordinary individual, but is enough to a thousand words....

Seconds Of Beauty - 1st round compilation from The Beauty Of A Second.