Slashdot Mirror
The Twelve Most Tarnished Brands In Tech
harrymcc writes "Polaroid, Netscape, CompuServe, Westinghouse, Heathkit — these were once among the most respected names in the technology business. They're still around, but what's happened to them is just plain sad. I took a look at the tragic fates of a dozen mighty brands that have, in one way or another, fallen on hard times."
Or how about Hyades1. Once the recipient of such moderations as "+5. Insightful" and "+5, Informative" the brand is now associated with failing to RTFA.
Your mind is clear / The things that you fear / Will fade with how much you / Believe what you hear
Slashdot might I propose?
my very first computer (as an adult) was a Packard Bell I still get a misty when I think of it.
I've always been more of an Officer Jenny guy.
Two Words: Carly Fiornia
I hope she becomes Gov of California. She'll probably try and merge with Hawaii and then half the state will fall into the ocean.
Or how about Hyades1. Once the recipient of such moderations as "+5. Insightful" and "+5, Informative" the brand is now associated with failing to RTFA.
Or how about darkpixel2k? The brand is associated with cheap and inferior knockoffs of existing jokes.
There's no place like
The first thing that comes to my mind is huge bloated printer drivers that are constantly updating.
What? I thought customers and admins *loved* their 2 MB printer drivers to come bundled with the .NET framework and constant reminders to buy ink when levels dropped below 75%...
There's no place like
...as the GNAA. Those guys used to be everywhere.
Libertarians somehow believe that private businesses should be stronger than governments but weaker than individuals.
Perhaps due to no effort whatsoever made to maintain the brand, it is associated almost exclusively with one book least popular among techies.
Now the name is associated with blatantly pirated versions of books. If its current incarnation ever eeks out a profit it will certainly be sued by the entire publishing industry.
Packard Bell is the only computer that I can honestly say I once used a hammer and cold chisel to fix.
A client wanted to install a CD drive in his PB and while the plastic case had an extra drive slot, the metal frame had a spot-welded plate covering the bay, for reasons unknown to me. The drive worked fine once it was installed, but I remember hoping the computer's owner didn't come in while I was beating that plate off. His reaction would probably not have been positive.
If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
ever since they canceled the battery club card, things went downhill. fast.
--
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
Packaged Hell, as we used to call them. You too can own your own little hell; how they could cram so much pain into such a small package defied belief.
Unfortunately, after a long period of thrusting its way into new markets, it sadly shrivelled into a limp entity that was incapable of further market penetration.