civilized ku # 471 ~ an update, update, update, update, update ....
Friday, April 16, 2010 at 10:48AM 
Plattsburgh Shoe Hospital ~ Plattsburgh, NY • click to embiggenThe self-proclaimed Apple tech guy, "edski", took offense at my response to his helping-hand suggestions, re: the iPad and its various and (IMO) onerous requirements ...
I find your response to my post remarkably myopic and unnecessarily cruel, self serving and hurtful. I said nothing that was not true (from my experience) and only offered a helping hand to someone who was struggling I thought. But now I can see I was wrong and that you don't need or want any help.
To be perfectly clear, I appreciate the time and effort edski made in making his comment but to be perfectly blunt about it, his helping-hand suggestions were helpful only if one is content to live within the paradigm of his it's-just-a-fact-of-life world of hardware and software planned obsolescence. However, I, for one, am not.
I have little interest in the world of disposal "high tech" stuff. Again, to be perfectly blunt, I have great distain for it, especially when I am essentially forced to participate in it just to keep my "high tech" stuff from becoming little more than has-been paperweights.
Reader Comments (4)
Mark, I'm glad you've made some attempt at an apology to "edski". I suggest your frustation with Apple products (+ the rest) should be directed at the manufacturers, not towards people who try to make all of the disparate bits of techno hang together.
The reality is that most manufacturers (of which Apple is a classic) use BS hype to attract customers than use proprietory technology to then lock them in. I'm quite sure GM engine parts are not interchangeable with Ford engine parts.
The other point to realise (and I'm surprised that you don't seem to realise) is that a technical expert (as edski claims to be) would know how to avoid most problems in his field of expertise. And if they do find a problem they can readily figure it out / obtain a solution.
Case in point is the Epson printer problem. I have no personal knowledge of this problem but reading this blog it seems that an upgrade to the Apple OS inadvertantly disrupted printing. Again reading this blog, many Apple users found this a PITA but the solution - once determined - was simple and effective. A true Apple / Epson techo would experience this problem as just a minor hiccup and not worth commenting on.
You might have "little interest in the world of disposable high tech stuff" but guess what - it's reality ;-).
And as long as we keep "bending over" it will stay a reality
Or you could opt out of the computer world. Pen and paper never need upgrading, nor photographic film, nor vinyl records. The universe of technology does not come with entitlements. It is the way it is today, it will likely be different tomorrow. If one dislikes it enough, if it is frustrating enough, one can simply step away from it, in as far as choosing to own your own computer and software. Or one could join the free software, open standards crowd, where upgrades are not required, but you have far fewer choices and you better know how to program (and have time for it). Or one could start their own computer company and do it differently. Or simply abandon Apple and go with Microsoft or Unix. But at home I use Apple and at work I use Windows, and let me tell you that if Apple is imperfect then Windows is crap.
Throughout my career I've heard colleagues complain about the companies they work for. In my mind, as long as it is someone else's company and not your own then you have to accept things as they are (or work productively within the organization to change them), and only until you start your own company or be your own boss things will never be exactly what we want.
I also believe that many people take technology for granted. I'm a user experience designer by trade and familiar with the back end of things. It sometimes boggles my mind that it works at all. I know some brilliant, incredibly resourceful people who tie it all together and make things work. It requires an immense amount of time and effort.
One more thing... up to know the focus has been on technology for technologies sake. But basically it's up running now and ingrained into our everyday lives. The new focus will indeed be on the user experience, meaning taking into account the way people naturally work and play. Adapting technology for them, not the other way around.
I'm not sure what you think about the iPad, but give me a Wacom pen for one and it would make an incredible note taking and sketching device. I could draw as I naturally do with pen and paper, but have the ability to easily archive and share my work. This to me is moving the technology closer to how I actually live my life as a human being with millions of years of natural evolution, not the past 100 years of rapid technological growth and human adaptation.
Phew!
A Wacom pen for the Ipad… I would love that.