What he really ought to say is, "People don't like computers." I know this may not be a popular sentiment to/.
The Palm is not an alternate computer, it's not a computer at all.
Remember when everyone wanted the latest HP calculator. They had lots of buttons, you could program them, etc... They provided all us geeks with hours of pleasure. At that point in the calculator's evolution, it was really a computer. Most people just wanted a calculator. We used to compare calculators. Remember telling others how many functions your calculator had? "Mine has memory.", "Well you can program mine.", "Oh look, that one has plug-in modules." Who even thinks about calculators anymore. Who, rather than someone without a computer would ever spend more than $30 for a calculator. (OK, some of us geeks still buy slick calculators)
The calculator is a preview of the evolution of the computer. At some point, 99% of all computer users when asked, 'Would you spend $30 to get a new faster, slicker computer?', will respond, "No!".
I'm not sure what that final device will look like. I don't know if it will have an operating system. The computer may actually spawn a number of different, more vertical products. I'm pretty sure about a few things though.
1. The final devices will be much, much more affordable.
2. They will not crash.
3. People won't give them much thought at all.
Finally, there will always be some kind of device to quench the never ending geek thirst for gadgetry. Fifty years ago we'd all be having this conversation over our ham radios.
>And this is all before the rise of the gathering >bio-tech conglomerates, soon to dominate genetic >research and try to use the Human Genome Project >to mass market the perfect human, all the while >screening their work behind talk of cancer and >aging cures. You would suck as a screenwriter. Everyone know evil bio-tech firms would never create a perfect human being. This would put them out of business. This type of conspiracy is best left to evil governments creating the perfect soldier.
Slashdot Mirror
What he really ought to say is, "People don't like computers." I know this may not be a popular sentiment to /.
The Palm is not an alternate computer, it's not a computer at all.
Remember when everyone wanted the latest HP calculator. They had lots of buttons, you could program them, etc... They provided all us geeks with hours of pleasure. At that point in the calculator's evolution, it was really a computer. Most people just wanted a calculator. We used to compare calculators. Remember telling others how many functions your calculator had? "Mine has memory.", "Well you can program mine.", "Oh look, that one has plug-in modules." Who even thinks about calculators anymore. Who, rather than someone without a computer would ever spend more than $30 for a calculator. (OK, some of us geeks still buy slick calculators)
The calculator is a preview of the evolution of the computer. At some point, 99% of all computer users when asked, 'Would you spend $30 to get a new faster, slicker computer?', will respond, "No!".
I'm not sure what that final device will look like. I don't know if it will have an operating system. The computer may actually spawn a number of different, more vertical products. I'm pretty sure about a few things though.
1. The final devices will be much, much more affordable.
2. They will not crash.
3. People won't give them much thought at all.
Finally, there will always be some kind of device to quench the never ending geek thirst for gadgetry. Fifty years ago we'd all be having this conversation over our ham radios.
>And this is all before the rise of the gathering >bio-tech conglomerates, soon to dominate genetic >research and try to use the Human Genome Project >to mass market the perfect human, all the while >screening their work behind talk of cancer and >aging cures. You would suck as a screenwriter. Everyone know evil bio-tech firms would never create a perfect human being. This would put them out of business. This type of conspiracy is best left to evil governments creating the perfect soldier.