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Computer De-Evolution: Awesome Features We've Lost
jfruhlinger writes "If you listened to tech marketing departments, you'd believe that advances in computers have been a nonstop march upwards. But is that really true? What about all the great features early hackers had in the '70s and '80s that are now hard to find or lost forever, like clicky keyboards and customizable screen height? This article looks at much beloved features that lost the evolutionary war."
You miss Turbo Pascal? Commodore 64's flat, unprotected memory model? Clicky keyboards with the CTRL key where tab is now, because it's somehow impossible to hit one handed CTRL keystroke combinations with it in the lower left corner?
Was this written by Andy Rooney's sysadmin?
de-evolution may not have a meaning, but devolution has a meaning: gradually becoming an early 80s band that wore red conical pyramid hats and liked to whip it, whip it good
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Bring back the Turbo button!
proper on/off switches on PSU's not the stupid rocker switches (or even worse no switch at all)
I can understand not liking a complete lack of a switch, but what are you looking for in a power supply if not a simple rocker switch? What, do you want an oversized knife switch with electricity arcing all around it so you can shout "IT'S ALIVE! ALIVE!!! AAAAH HA HA HA!" whenever you need to flip it? Because... well, okay, I want that, too, come to think of it...
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
I have a Das Keyboard. I'd recommend going with the Unicomp or Model M. The click is good, but it's not as sturdy as it should be. I can easily twist the entire frame with my hands, and I wouldn't even think of assailing an intruder with it.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
They're slightly more stoned than a punk switch, and less reliable than a blues switch.
-dZ.
Carol vs. Ghost
A destructive button like that should be isolated from other controls.
Apple innovated a reset key adjacent to the Return/Enter key (Apple ][). Type, type, type, *BEEP* NOOOoooooooo!
I just tried this, but now all I can see is the side of my monitor. Not Recommended.
Brawndo: It's what plants crave!