Computers and Cars: A Maddening Experience?

Johnny writes "The nytimes has a review of the new BMW 745i iDrive system. The iDrive system combines some 270 functions, some accessable by voice, into one tactile feedback joystick mouse thingy. While maybe easier for computer junkies, the reviewer finds the interface 'maddening, especially at first' and wonders out loud what a car from Microsoft might be like, citing that the 745i offers a clue. Without a key, a floor shifter or really any buttons, this might be the future for cars, are the masses ready to wrestle with computers just to go to Wawa for milk?"

Comments

Too complicated for them?

[pinkpineapple]

It's seems to me like a good way for keeping away idiots from buying cool cars like this beamer.

PPA, the girl next door

Take out your dash and ...

[linzeal]

Take a peice of thin plastic sheeting, 2 bolts, 2 U shaped bolts, (4)two holed metal plates that the bolts will fit in, and some velcro.

Fold the plastic into a shape like a puppy tent and staple it together, take 1 metal plate per side and set it aside.

Drill holes on the side of each vent to put the U bolts in that are the same width apart plus a few cm than the puppy tent. Attach metal plate and U bolts, put dash back on.

Set puppy tent over vent and make sure it fits, now stick bolt through U bolt and through puppy tent so it rocks back and forth directing air either directly forward for when you need to defrost or directly backward when you have a/c on.

Take velcro strips and attach to the front and back edges and where they touch the dash so it does not go back and forth when you turn the a/c on high or get your escort going fast.