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Re: Anticipating the future

I don't think the computer/digital industry is likely to become "mature" any
time soon. The industry has truly discovered a money machine with the
present system of releasing everything in drips and drabs. I can't believe
that Nikon didn't know how to make the D 1 camera two years ago, or that
Adobe couldn't have released PhotoShop 5.5 at the time 5.0 was released (or
4.0 for that matter). So the present system works very well for the industry
and I don't think the  industry will let it go any time soon.

As for the future of film, I can't predict the future and wouldn't try to.
However, everyone seems to talk about "film" without distinguishing among
the different kinds of film and the different uses to which it is put. I can
see color transparency film disappearing before color negative film (because
the market for transparency is largely a professional market that is
gobbling up digital stuff) and color negative film before black and white
(since so few people use black and white anyhow and those that do are less
likely to be enticed by digital than  the mass market of color negative
users).  Graphic arts type films might be the first to go since the graphic
arts industry has become so computerized.  But who knows, I certainly don't.
My point is just that I think it's not entirely accurate in the context of
"film" disappearing to speak of "film" as though it all was the same.
-----Original Message-----
From: FDanB@aol.com <FDanB@aol.com>
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Date: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 11:32 PM
Subject: Re: Anticipating the future


>That's all true Judy.
>
>The unfortunate truth is that we're locked on a hamster wheel of
>learning, becoming almost proficient...and then facing an upgrade of some
>sort. It's very frustrating and draining of both time and finances.
>
>But all this digital stuff is in its infancy. Eventually (the sooner the
>better) the computers and software will become "mature products" like
>refrigerators (you don't get a new one of those every year because the
>door shelves are a tad deeper on the new model). Until then, your options
>are to bear with it or ignore all the excitement and possibilities.
>
>Best advice: buy smart, learn new stuff only if it's really important,
>use a Mac. Ha!
>
>Dan
>
>You said in your message...
>
>>I cannot possibly calculate how much money I've
>>spent on digital equipment, hard and soft, since that time -- and the pace
>>picks up. This past year, for instance $2000 for one scanner (that has yet
>>to work, but that's another story).
>