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The Magic 8-Ball's Take on Tech in 2008

Posted by Zonk on from the just-as-reliable-as-the-other-articles dept.

PCWMike writes "It's that time of year again, when every website makes predictions about the future of technology. PCWorld is no exception, but tried to put a little humor into their prognostication by calling on a neutral third party: the magic 8-ball. '4. Open Software and Open Networks Will Dominate! Magic 8-Ball says: Ask again later. Open-source software meets open wireless networks, fostering an unbridled era of innovation and consumer freedom. Right? Well, maybe one day, but don't bet the bank on it in 2008.'"

3 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. The predictions by mincognito · · Score: 4, Informative

    1. The Internet Will Melt Down
    Very doubtful

    2. Social Networks Face Security, Financial Woes
    It is decidedly so

    3. DRM Is Dead, Jim
    Don't count on it

    4. Open Software and Open Networks Will Dominate
    Ask again later

    5. Everything's Going Mobile
    You may rely on it

    6. Green Is the New Black
    Outlook good

    7. Hackers Get Political
    Without a doubt

    8. Google Stumbles
    Outlook not so good

    9. Microsoft Will Buy Yahoo
    Signs point to yes

    10. Your Next Pet Will Require Batteries
    Cannot predict now

    --

    Ludwig Wittgenstein
  2. Re:Here's a prediction for you by SharpFang · · Score: 4, Informative

    Things will get worse before they get better for software. We're accepting buggier software than ever and paying more for it than ever.

    More or less. The market shows with the whole hype for "beta" that stability is not what people require from software. It doesn't have to work 'always', just 'mostly'.

    Remember that each halving the number of remaining bugs costs the same. So going from 94% uptime to 98% uptime costs the same as going from 99.5% to 99.75%. You can produce a program that works in 99.75% cases, or two that work in 94% cases each for about the same price. And with keeping the functionality rich and prices low, people will close an eye on stability.

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    45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
  3. Charles Stross by Rix · · Score: 2, Informative

    Writes some good near future sci-fi (Accelerando and Halting State). You should also check out Vernor Vinge's Rainbows End.