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Re: Anticipating the future
Dan, I don't disagree with your with your thesis concerning
computers exactly, seriously doubt that computers overall
will ever mature, although certain segments of the market
may; but would like to tie in the automobile fins of
yesterday and the computers of today. In fact the fins were
a pure design gimmick, designed purely to sell cars; and it
worked. I could argue that Macs today are taking a similar
tack (and I like Macs, program them, think MS makes at best
mediocre software), selling on style. Now it so happens that
Macs are extremely powerful and wonderful computers, aside
from the styling. That is, Apple is not designing just for
style as GM was; but also designing for function. This is good.
As to cars today, I don't see that our population is any
more resistant to advertising. The young people I've had
working for me were all more or less obsessed with their
cars, wanting another type of car, modifying the stereo
system, generally drooling. They are truly emotionally
involved. I'd suggest that the adult population is also
extremely vulnerable. No? Maybe you can tell me why SUV's
and pickup trucks are such a big deal (might add, much more
so here in Texas than anywhere on the East coast I've been
lately). Still selling like gangbusters, even given their
safety record and the cost of gas.
I think Judy's right about appliances, what a bunch of
crummy designers, particularly those making refrigerators.
Granted, automated defrosting is good, real good; but it
does cost us electricity to do this (although they do seem
to be more efficient to operate overall). That is, they are
extraordinarily expensive, ugly, disfunctional, difficult to
clean, feel cheap, and there's almost no choice of color or style.
Since MS and Intel have won the first couple of rounds, it's
highly likely that computers will get cheaper, in all
respects. The only reason for hope is that the battle will
probably never end; although we may have to suffer through
decades of inferior quality from time to time.
Pam
FDanB@aol.com wrote:
>
> Judy said:
>
> >Consider the possibility that THIS is the golden
> >age of computer equipment.
> >Which is to say, "mature" computers will, I promise, be junkier than now,
> >the softwear sloppier, the "manuals" dumber, and tech support will be 12
> >year-olds who know less than you do (well that's now, but even worse).
> >Also, they will be so full of useless features, ie., sales gimmicks, they
> >will be actually harder to use.
>
> Hi Judy,
>... would be the
> automobile. (Now please don't launch into some stereotypical New Yorker
> rant about not needing or liking cars. Ha!) Ever notice how few cars you
> see broken down along the road compared to 20 years ago? It's because
> this is another product that's near maturity. On the down side, the
> romanticism of the auto has diminished. As a youth, I'd wait anxiously
> for the new models each fall, eager to first spy the taller fin or new
> retractable hard-top. Kids today don't share that same anticipation for
> the wind-tunnel designed clones that all ride and perform superbly, but
> similarly. You just watch: computers will take the same path.
>
> While writing this, my wife, Jill, is making Bromoils that she contact
> printed from desktop digital negatives (using Epson Glossy Film)! She's
> thrilled to find a way to use "flawed" (but wonderful) negatives to make
> prints that finally capture the mood and tones she always envisioned for
> her images. This certainly isn't to say that if the Mac hiccoughs and
> says it can't see the printer that there isn't an element of frustration.
> But heck, going into the darkroom to find your Dektol looking like
> day-old coffee isn't a thrill either!
>
> To suggest that computers will be more hassle in the future is something
> I wouldn't have anticipated coming from you Judy, You're usually so on
> target with your observations. :-)
>
> Dan
>
> www.danburkholder.com
--
Pamela G. Niedermayer
Pinehill Softworks Inc.
1221 S. Congress Ave., #1225
Austin, TX 78704
512-416-1141
512-416-1440 fax
http://www.pinehill.com