I was thinking of upgrading my weather radio. I have a ten-year old Radio Shack 12-259, and I thought perhaps technology has advanced in the last decade. After a brief search, I discovered that not much has changed. Am I wrong in thinking this?

If you want S.A.M.E. technology, there aren't that many choices. For a portable weather radio, you basically get the Midland HH54VP2, which actually looks a lot like the Radio Shack -- same appearance, operation, and even problem (short battery life). Desktop radio weathers with S.A.M.E. include the Midland WR-300 and the Sangean CL-100. It looks like there is also a Reecom. So my questions are:

1. Why don't we have more choices?

2. Why are the dekstop radios more expensive than the portable? Are they better?