Why has the fun gone out of computing?

I think there is a lot of truth to this. A LOT.

I've had numerous conversations with friends and others about this....and I think from my discussions that it can be summed up (for many) this way:

"Advancements" in technology are SUPPOSED to make things SIMPLER. "Advancements" in technology are supposed to make OUR LIVES "simpler". Instead, what we have...are a bunch of highly intelligent technology geeks....who are out to show and prove to everyone just how "smart" THEY are. Which essentially means, they aren't making things "simpler"...in many ways, they're actually making things more difficult!

With all of the "advancements" in technology...people EXPECT things to be easier. That's want they want, and that's what they're willing to pay for. But these days, we have a lot of people in the technology industry that are always trying to be "creative"....and "on the cutting edge" of technology who seemingly want to show everyone just how creative they are. And in the process, they "lose and confuse" a lot of people. And the people they are losing and confusing are the ones thinking that it's supposed to be getting EASIER...NOT more difficult!

 

Some are saying "it looks the same now as it did 3 years ago (read Apple iOS) and they want something new and freash, and it's very likely that iOS 7 will look different when it is released later this summer. Will the changes take the fun and good stuff out of iOS, hopefully not.

Microsoft made big GUI changes to Win8 and some are loving it, and others not so much.

So making big changes from one version to the next is rather risky IMO.
As it may push current users away, but at the same time new customers may find it attractive and useful, tough balance.

 

It is really amazing how differently people react to new things like Win 8. For example, today my sister brought her new laptop with Win 8 up and we had a look at it and she absolutely loves it! And she had never seen 8 prior to a few days ago. On the other hand, I, for the life of me, just can't see why she likes the Metro apps and so on. But she does. I don't... Lol..

It just goes to show that each person has a different take on things. I hope like crazy that MS will change direction and return to something more "traditional", but then again, if they don't, I will probably have to go with what they're selling sooner or later, if I plan on using Windows. For now, I am using linux.

The GUI change in Win 8 was incredibly different.. so, it's not too unreasonable to expect a lot of resistance to it. Whether it's truly a good change or an advancement or not, only time, and the market will tell.

 

Well, I think it depends on how you define "advancements"

 

"advancements" only happen rarely, the pace of technology changing is only occurring for the sake of monetary interests, not per-se for the sake of the end-user. Just look up how much stuff is actually programmed/manufactured to break as soon as the warranty period is over. Planned_obsolescence + over-supply is lowering end-user interest. People start losing the idea they use something but rather they are being (ab)used themselves.

 

Yes, I honestly think this is a pretty big factor too...

 

Pretty much, yeah. Serious computing advancements are few and far between, and have really slowed down. Advances in other sciences is where the most progress is being made. We're decades out from any more "ground breaking" (a term tossed about a bit much, IMHO) computing advancements, let alone advancements that will be in mass use.

As DOSAwaits put it, most so-called advancements in computing are for monetary gain and intentional planned obsolescence, and in my own opinion are consistently no more than "spec-bumps".

 

Groundbreaking technological advancements in computing are coming soon; completely flexible devices that change as they bend, for example.

 

What does that mean? Can you be a little more concrete? Example applications?

 

Well, I can't really speak much for the Windows world; but on Linux I've seen the desktops go from snappy, functional things that could run in 384 MB of RAM with room to spare, to bloaterific eyecandyfests that need 1+ GB just to display the snazzy translucent splash screen. That kind of puts a damper on things.

Anyway yeah, re technology:

a) When every computer you buy has an enforced shelf life of < 5 years, it's hard to be enthused about computers.

b) When the amazing technological advances of the last decade are squandered on stupid petty rubbish, it's hard to be enthused about computers.

c) When computers are serviced by debt slaves, put together by wage slaves, and made using conflict minerals mined by actual no-kidding slaves... It's hard to be enthused about computers.

tl;dr the problem isn't the technology. The problem is that humanity has no clue how to use it properly.

 

Pretty much the same for the Windows world... I guess it's universal..

I remember in the DOS days when a large application was 700KB. Those days are gone forever.

 

Forget computers and get yourself a new model for your lap.

 

You can always run DOS! I believe it's open source now too...

 

Haha.. That would be fun, but I don't think I'd be able to do much. There was a project called FreeDOS at one time, maybe that's what you're thinking of.

 

Electronic devices that you can bend and stretch into any shape, time and again.

Imagine a 52'' TV that you can carry in your pocket, for example (an extreme example, but you can imagine easier ones now).

 

Maybe you'll be around, but I'll probably be dead by the time that happens.

 

Honestly I never used DOS as my primary OS. I was first introduced to windows when I was 14 and at that time that was windows 95. I love that OS, Windows 98SE was great too. And I used my e-machine with windows 98SE for 5 years or so. Windows XP was nice because you could configure it to look like Windows 98 with the classic theme. Even with Windows 7 I was able to use the classic theme. Now with 8, I did use start8 for awhile but eventually got used to the new menu.
I think there is still fun in computing. Actually even more so! I mean, my cell phone has now 10 times more powerful CPU than what I used to run Windows 98SE back in those days. iPhone really did create a computing revolution in the smartphone market. For sure you can have more fun now computing that you did 10 years ago. As for lack of general improvement in the OS, I disagree. Windows 8 is faster than windows 7 and I wouldn't be surprised if it was faster on older hardware that Windows XP SP3.

 

Nope, it's going to happen really soon. The big companies are all investing in flexible electronics (also because their manufacturing seems to cost less). The first models of flexible smartphones are reported to be released this year. So, this revolution is already leaving the research centers..

 

The guts of Win 8 are fine.. it's the UI that I don't care for. Win 8 may actually put some fun into computing, but I still don't think it's ideal for getting serious work done.

 

Well, tell you what. I'll watch for those flexible cell phones at Best Buy soon.

 

I thought your original post was quite thoughtful...almost poetic. I thank you.

Don't pay any attention to Wild Hunter for as it's obvious to see he's always desperately trying to set himself up as the supreme authority and the "last word" on practically every subject he jumps in on. He needs to realize that there are other viewpoints just as valid as the one he tries to force with his linking here or there. Sad, really.

Later....

 

Optical fiber I'm guessing?? I'd actually like to see full 3D before I pass on

 

It must be wonderful in the world you live in. Meanwhile, back in reality there are a whole host of problems with these "soon to be released" flexible displays:http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/new...ming-but-not-as-soon-as-you-would-like-354399.

To go from "Look what we can manage to do" to mass production takes a wee bit more than rolling out a prototype at a CES show. And no matter how much blind faith you have in these wonderful tech companies and technology, money to work out the kinks (if it can be worked out), interest in development and consumer interest all play a huge part in whether something moves on from the experimenting stage to being available to purchase widely.

You're not necessarily wrong that this stuff is coming, it's feasible if the issues with plastics, glass and electronic parts are worked out. But you're dreaming with this "coming soon" stuff. Sooner or later you're going to have to realize that work in a lab doesn't mean that work will pay off or even be feasible.

 

I'm not gonna ride the guy too hard. Hell, he's just some dude on the net that may or may not be full of hot air. I might be too. It's far too easy to come across as knowledgeable and "with it" on the net. I could pretend to be an astrophysicist given enough time to Google up some whitepapers and apply the knowledge I already have in astronomy and other areas. You know what they say about opinions, lol, it doesn't matter all that much to me who knows what and who thinks they know. One thing is for certain, he has a lot of faith in tech companies and technology in general.