"Too big. We'll never fill it" we would say as we looked wide eyed at the wondrous, yet mysterious black box encased in anti-static bags, wrapped in bubble wrap, and hidden behind protective glass. It constantly amazes me now at the total disregard for these precautions, as attitudes towards the delicacy of components has changed. In comparison, the price of technology has reduced, allowing people to care less.
Earlier than that I remember our first computer, an Amstrad 6218 with an external cassette tape deck, and a small, green screen. Computer games consisted of pixelated blocks of different shades of green, and bleeps for sounds, they took around half an hour to load from a cassette, and regularly failed: Pong was a technological marvel, and space invaders was an unprecedented breakthrough in computer graphics.
Look at us now. There are mobile phones, more powerful than my laptop. We run servers with over 72GB of RAM, we have multiple terabytes of storage space, huge wide-screen, high definition monitors, and games consoles that make game worlds look like adverts for the National Trust.
As an IT specialist I have a love of all things technological. To me there are fewer things more gratifying than testing out the latest gadget, or drawling over forthcoming technology, modifying it and finding out new things it can do: It's practical and keeps the mind interested for hours.
But where does it end? Where does it cease to amaze? In a world of HD TV, just how clear can a screen become before we can no longer distinguish between one or another? How perfect can a sound system become before the human ear can no longer tell the difference?
Working within my field I would probably be well and truly flamed for even thinking these questions, let alone asking them. On giving my answers I will probably be trolled directly off of the Internet; as I firmly believe that: "It has already happened."
There are few technological releases these days that give me the old thrill of something new. Mainly because, it isn't new. It has all been done before. Occasionally a new idea will crop up, and hit us with a breath of fresh air; something that can be built on. But mostly 'new' technology is just a rehash of what has come before; just re-branded. Smaller? Probably! Faster? Maybe! Original? Doubt it!
Take the new iPad 3 or instance, it boasts a faster CPU and a better screen than iPad 2. Whoopido! Apart from that it is no different from its previous release except the extortionate price: Nothing to write home about. Yes, there are going to be people that read this entry and disagree, point out other additions, and try to justify it. That is you opinion, but essentially, it contains nothing new.
As a PC and Android guy I shudder at the mere thought of Apple products. In my opinion, they are overpriced, and overrated. Usually they are inferior to third party products due to the lack of features. We then learn later, it didn't have those features (features that have been around for years) because Apple have deemed them unnecessary or, they held them back for the next release a few months later. It's just one big, billion dollar money making scheme. One that Apple is extremely good at. Their products are of a high quality even if they are restrictive, and fans flock to own their latest gadgets.
It used to be a year, sometimes two before a new model of a certain gadget was released, now it is a matter of months. Because of this technology is out of date before it even hits the shops.
It isn't just Apple. Other companies follow similar actions, by releasing product after product, flooding the market with so many options that most people cannot differentiate between them. A year ago I bought my beloved HTC Desire HD, Android smart phone. At the time it had a spec that beat the latest iPhone hands down, and was one of the most powerful phones you could get. Within two months of my purchase, the HTC Sensation was released. Typically it was the same phone with a better processor and front facing camera; naturally I was a little disappointed.
Since then, almost every month or so, another Android phone has been released, whether it is HTC, Samsung, or another make that is only a subtle improvement on the last.
I can understand the confusion a lot of people suffer in face of technology. Deciding what they need, and what they should spend. As well as the worry that their purchase will be superseded before they have even got it home. I know a lot of people are put off by the companies drowning the market with so many products, that they simply say "sod it." They keep their reliable, old PC that is running on steam, put putting an old OS, but in the end doing what the user requires; nothing less and certainly nothing more.
So do we need these improvements?
We will always need replacement models for old products that fail. Anything new we buy will always have an advantage over the old. Be it bigger, faster, or more efficient. However these products, unless they become damaged, have a life span of five plus years, sometimes a lot more. So do we need these new releases so often?
Joe User goes and purchases a nice, shiny new tablet. It does everything he needs and much, much more. In fact it has functions, features and fire-power he will never, ever use. Three months later, the new version is out; it has more memory, a higher resolution screen, and costs more than the original did. He then buys this too, to perform the same functions as his first purchase, and then loses money on selling the original. Three months later the cycle repeats: A technology company gets another record breaking profit margin, the user believes he is getting something new and exciting, and yet another older, but perfectly working gadget is thrown on to the scrapheap, years before its time is up.
Are we really so desperate to own the latest, that we have money to throw away? Especially in the present economic climate of global unrest. Is it because we need the power and capabilities theses new versions bring? Or simply because we want to boast at having something better than our friends?
I'm afraid I don't have the answers; I am just waiting now for the next generation of Android smart phones to be released!
Whose for Ice Cream Sandwich? Or Shall we just wait for Jelly Bean?
Earlier than that I remember our first computer, an Amstrad 6218 with an external cassette tape deck, and a small, green screen. Computer games consisted of pixelated blocks of different shades of green, and bleeps for sounds, they took around half an hour to load from a cassette, and regularly failed: Pong was a technological marvel, and space invaders was an unprecedented breakthrough in computer graphics.
Look at us now. There are mobile phones, more powerful than my laptop. We run servers with over 72GB of RAM, we have multiple terabytes of storage space, huge wide-screen, high definition monitors, and games consoles that make game worlds look like adverts for the National Trust.
As an IT specialist I have a love of all things technological. To me there are fewer things more gratifying than testing out the latest gadget, or drawling over forthcoming technology, modifying it and finding out new things it can do: It's practical and keeps the mind interested for hours.
But where does it end? Where does it cease to amaze? In a world of HD TV, just how clear can a screen become before we can no longer distinguish between one or another? How perfect can a sound system become before the human ear can no longer tell the difference?
Working within my field I would probably be well and truly flamed for even thinking these questions, let alone asking them. On giving my answers I will probably be trolled directly off of the Internet; as I firmly believe that: "It has already happened."
There are few technological releases these days that give me the old thrill of something new. Mainly because, it isn't new. It has all been done before. Occasionally a new idea will crop up, and hit us with a breath of fresh air; something that can be built on. But mostly 'new' technology is just a rehash of what has come before; just re-branded. Smaller? Probably! Faster? Maybe! Original? Doubt it!
Take the new iPad 3 or instance, it boasts a faster CPU and a better screen than iPad 2. Whoopido! Apart from that it is no different from its previous release except the extortionate price: Nothing to write home about. Yes, there are going to be people that read this entry and disagree, point out other additions, and try to justify it. That is you opinion, but essentially, it contains nothing new.
As a PC and Android guy I shudder at the mere thought of Apple products. In my opinion, they are overpriced, and overrated. Usually they are inferior to third party products due to the lack of features. We then learn later, it didn't have those features (features that have been around for years) because Apple have deemed them unnecessary or, they held them back for the next release a few months later. It's just one big, billion dollar money making scheme. One that Apple is extremely good at. Their products are of a high quality even if they are restrictive, and fans flock to own their latest gadgets.
It used to be a year, sometimes two before a new model of a certain gadget was released, now it is a matter of months. Because of this technology is out of date before it even hits the shops.
It isn't just Apple. Other companies follow similar actions, by releasing product after product, flooding the market with so many options that most people cannot differentiate between them. A year ago I bought my beloved HTC Desire HD, Android smart phone. At the time it had a spec that beat the latest iPhone hands down, and was one of the most powerful phones you could get. Within two months of my purchase, the HTC Sensation was released. Typically it was the same phone with a better processor and front facing camera; naturally I was a little disappointed.
Since then, almost every month or so, another Android phone has been released, whether it is HTC, Samsung, or another make that is only a subtle improvement on the last.
I can understand the confusion a lot of people suffer in face of technology. Deciding what they need, and what they should spend. As well as the worry that their purchase will be superseded before they have even got it home. I know a lot of people are put off by the companies drowning the market with so many products, that they simply say "sod it." They keep their reliable, old PC that is running on steam, put putting an old OS, but in the end doing what the user requires; nothing less and certainly nothing more.
 |
| The Amstrad 6128, who would have thought we would require more? |
We will always need replacement models for old products that fail. Anything new we buy will always have an advantage over the old. Be it bigger, faster, or more efficient. However these products, unless they become damaged, have a life span of five plus years, sometimes a lot more. So do we need these new releases so often?
Joe User goes and purchases a nice, shiny new tablet. It does everything he needs and much, much more. In fact it has functions, features and fire-power he will never, ever use. Three months later, the new version is out; it has more memory, a higher resolution screen, and costs more than the original did. He then buys this too, to perform the same functions as his first purchase, and then loses money on selling the original. Three months later the cycle repeats: A technology company gets another record breaking profit margin, the user believes he is getting something new and exciting, and yet another older, but perfectly working gadget is thrown on to the scrapheap, years before its time is up.
Are we really so desperate to own the latest, that we have money to throw away? Especially in the present economic climate of global unrest. Is it because we need the power and capabilities theses new versions bring? Or simply because we want to boast at having something better than our friends?
 |
| I've arrived! |
Whose for Ice Cream Sandwich? Or Shall we just wait for Jelly Bean?
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