What do I need all this speed for?
I believe the market for computer speeds is slowing down.
My reason? The frontiers of computer technology has pushed so far, that people are able to keep up. It is other devices that have advanced.
My first computer was a Mac, in 1990, circa 1988 technology. That was fine, as I was in college and used it for simplified games, word processing, and some spreadsheet technology. These were the days before email, and viruses were passed between discs - although people did get them. I was able to use that computer for about four years, and the hard drive very crashed within two weeks of my final projects. After I got back from Russia, I was never able to get it going again. So I gave it away. I still have the hard drive, though.
For four years, I lived at home (a common problem of my generation), so for two years, we used my father's pre-pentium machine. Then I got a P1 in August 1996 (I moved out in 1998). During that time, computer technology moved very rapidly.
So much so that by 2001, I could no longer handle the new software (or hardware). Yet in 1996, when I got it, it had 133 MB - still pretty far in that year.
So in late 2001, I purchased this machine - with 1.8 GB. And 256 MB RAM. And a big hard drive. While it is not the top of the line, however, I can still pretty much purchase all the software I need to run it. In fact, even though I have increased it's capacity in the last month - by adding DSL and a digital camera (I am a bit behind the times), I still am sufficient for what I need.
The computer makers have pushed the limits out so far, that the latest devices still have yet to catch up. It will be awhile before they catch up.
The next machine I will get may be a laptop. However, I expect that I will be able to utilize this desktop over the next 2-3 years, for the software I use does currently meet my needs. At this time I need nothing fancy (well, what is considered fancy in our day-and-age, as the computers sitting in bedrooms today have functions that would have been impossible to duplicate a generation ago). I suspect that many Americans, who may be technologically fatigued for the time being, may be the same.
My reason? The frontiers of computer technology has pushed so far, that people are able to keep up. It is other devices that have advanced.
My first computer was a Mac, in 1990, circa 1988 technology. That was fine, as I was in college and used it for simplified games, word processing, and some spreadsheet technology. These were the days before email, and viruses were passed between discs - although people did get them. I was able to use that computer for about four years, and the hard drive very crashed within two weeks of my final projects. After I got back from Russia, I was never able to get it going again. So I gave it away. I still have the hard drive, though.
For four years, I lived at home (a common problem of my generation), so for two years, we used my father's pre-pentium machine. Then I got a P1 in August 1996 (I moved out in 1998). During that time, computer technology moved very rapidly.
So much so that by 2001, I could no longer handle the new software (or hardware). Yet in 1996, when I got it, it had 133 MB - still pretty far in that year.
So in late 2001, I purchased this machine - with 1.8 GB. And 256 MB RAM. And a big hard drive. While it is not the top of the line, however, I can still pretty much purchase all the software I need to run it. In fact, even though I have increased it's capacity in the last month - by adding DSL and a digital camera (I am a bit behind the times), I still am sufficient for what I need.
The computer makers have pushed the limits out so far, that the latest devices still have yet to catch up. It will be awhile before they catch up.
The next machine I will get may be a laptop. However, I expect that I will be able to utilize this desktop over the next 2-3 years, for the software I use does currently meet my needs. At this time I need nothing fancy (well, what is considered fancy in our day-and-age, as the computers sitting in bedrooms today have functions that would have been impossible to duplicate a generation ago). I suspect that many Americans, who may be technologically fatigued for the time being, may be the same.
posted by EricMatthew at 7:38 PM
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