Comments on: Confusing Computing For The Common Man http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/ Information Technology aid for Windows, Linux, and OS X users, solid SysAdmin advice, troubleshooting links, job assistance, and more for technology pros. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:16:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Light & Dark http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/#comment-93490 Light & Dark Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:30:19 +0000 http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/#comment-93490 The hardware and software manufacturers (and their marketing departments) have totally lost the plot, as far as I'm concerned. Most average users now dread dealing with their computers more than their cars. as a geek who's in marketing, I just cringe when I see each new hardware/software release and the misleading marketing that goes with it. The upside is that this nonsense has opened up a terrific consulting niche for me. Macs at least are marketed more on benefits - real or perceived - while PC's are still stuck on flogging "features". manufacturers need to face reality. teh average user is far more interested in an utterly reliable 1.5 ghz machine for $500 than a flaky, annoying piece of crap with a 512 meg video card in it that still won't run the newest operating system properly. Yea, this is a hot button for me. I do agree with you. Paul The hardware and software manufacturers (and their marketing departments) have totally lost the plot, as far as I’m concerned. Most average users now dread dealing with their computers more than their cars. as a geek who’s in marketing, I just cringe when I see each new hardware/software release and the misleading marketing that goes with it.

The upside is that this nonsense has opened up a terrific consulting niche for me.

Macs at least are marketed more on benefits - real or perceived - while PC’s are still stuck on flogging “features”. manufacturers need to face reality. teh average user is far more interested in an utterly reliable 1.5 ghz machine for $500 than a flaky, annoying piece of crap with a 512 meg video card in it that still won’t run the newest operating system properly.

Yea, this is a hot button for me. I do agree with you.

Paul

]]> By: Kurt Koppang http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/#comment-93392 Kurt Koppang Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:25:27 +0000 http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/#comment-93392 I think that there is much truth in this. Most of the folks I talk to, support, workwith, etc. just want their system to work. over 70% are not gamers and just do a little net surfing, e-mail and basic correspondence. The MAC provides a consistenet interface, the menus don't change with upgrades and everything they get with the MAC works. Ubuntu is providing the same for the Linux folks. Non tech folks just want the system to work. They don't want to hunt drivers or replace equipment that works fine to get a OS upgrade that moves everything they knew how to do. It has also become nearly impossible for the average person to make even moderately informed about hardware because the names don't always denote performance ie: a 5800 thing may not be faster than a 5500 thing, or a 512MB video card may not be faster than a 256MB card. The processor naming conventions have also mad it nearly impossible for the non-tech to know performance levels. Last but not least $500.00 to $800.00 dollars for hardware upgrades for a system that cost $1000.00 dollars a year or two ago is not in the average person's budget, especially if everything is still functional. I think that there is much truth in this. Most of the folks I talk to, support, workwith, etc. just want their system to work. over 70% are not gamers and just do a little net surfing, e-mail and basic correspondence. The MAC provides a consistenet interface, the menus don’t change with upgrades and everything they get with the MAC works. Ubuntu is providing the same for the Linux folks. Non tech folks just want the system to work. They don’t want to hunt drivers or replace equipment that works fine to get a OS upgrade that moves everything they knew how to do. It has also become nearly impossible for the average person to make even moderately informed about hardware because the names don’t always denote performance ie: a 5800 thing may not be faster than a 5500 thing, or a 512MB video card may not be faster than a 256MB card. The processor naming conventions have also mad it nearly impossible for the non-tech to know performance levels. Last but not least $500.00 to $800.00 dollars for hardware upgrades for a system that cost $1000.00 dollars a year or two ago is not in the average person’s budget, especially if everything is still functional.

]]> By: Randy Allen http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/#comment-93375 Randy Allen Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:12:28 +0000 http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2007/06/05/confusing-computing-for-the-common-man/#comment-93375 I think more people are coming to Mac because it has become a great operating system. Files can no be shrared hassle free with PCs. Windows is trying hard to play catch up, but not quite making it. People have heard the Vista horror stories and want no part of it. I look to my left at my Dell Lattitude 620, dreading when I may have to pick it up, unhook it from the network and go next door and plug in. After rebooting and disabling/reenabling my network connection, cussing Bill Gates, it will finally start to work again. Make mine Mac! I hate to use the commercial line, but "they just work!" I think more people are coming to Mac because it has become a great operating system. Files can no be shrared hassle free with PCs. Windows is trying hard to play catch up, but not quite making it. People have heard the Vista horror stories and want no part of it. I look to my left at my Dell Lattitude 620, dreading when I may have to pick it up, unhook it from the network and go next door and plug in. After rebooting and disabling/reenabling my network connection, cussing Bill Gates, it will finally start to work again. Make mine Mac! I hate to use the commercial line, but “they just work!”

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