In message <e1oqc0a-0006a9...@outmx08.plus.net>, Martin Wheatley
<mart...@martinwheatley.plus.com> writes
Malcolm wrote
So, iPad like devices will succeed all of the above, and we will all
be using them as they get more capable.
You have to distinguish between those things that are long term
computing trends and those which are short term fads
No one can dispute the huge sales of the Ipad. It looks great - it
is marketed brilliantly but what does it do?
It is easy to imagine people looking at it in 9 months and saying to
themselves - 'I spent a lot of money on that but what did I do with it
that I couldn't have done with the equipment I already had'
The answer in many cases will be nothing!
Hi Martin,
Great that you have entered the discussion.
With the iPad, you have missed the point I was making.
I was using the "iPad like devices" - not the iPad per se - as an
example as to the way things may well ( are ) going forward.
Douglas Adams used the idea of "The Book" as being a portable device
that one could refer to for everything you wanted to know.
That is now starting to be implemented with first the 2G mobile phones,
then 3G mobile phones; and iPad like devices.
I am not advocating that I like iPad, per se. Yet, as ever it is a
great piece of marketing - as you have conceded. But, more than that it
is indicative of another way forward in human ergonomic use of devices -
not longer keyboard and mouse ( which is the current PC de facto user
method ).
Of course, as ever, the new devices can always refer back to previous
technology; and the iPad like devices will have virtual/touch keyboards
for a while, too.
You seem to be anti-Apple ( poor Steve Jobs ) ... :-)
The cloud is not new - it failed the previous time. The thinking behind
it is not the storage of backups but the use of programs in the cloud.
That way instead of you making a one-off payment for a prog you can
use for as long as you like you end up making an annual payment to
use the prog. The companies make much more money from the prog
and have a steady income stream from it and you are tied to them.
Personally I prefer to do my own computing rather than have Microsoft
do it. The history of Microsoft in recent years is them attempting to
take over more and more of what you do and people resisting it.
You are in their hands with the cloud - they can ask what they like
since all they have to do is stop your access to their server. And
that can happen accidently anyway
martinw
The Cloud is more than that - as the concept develops it will have the
potential to take away "owing" individual versions of software on
individual devices - like computers - or on network servers, etc.
Programs and usage will be provided - more like radio and television.
No need for the user to ever have to worry about buying software, having
enough storage space, or being up to date. It will just be there.
Obviously, the provider will require a "fee" for the provision.
Providers, like Google, already give you their services for "free".
However, behind the scenes in small fractions of your time usage, along
with millions of others, they are making an income - all of the time.
Otherwise, how did they become so rich ?
Providers could just stop selling individual versions of software,
altogether. Or sell them only at quite high cost.
At same time as offering you a "free" service, through their own
provision.
Which, then, would you choose ?
--
Malcolm Cadman
_______________________________________________
QL-Users Mailing List
http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
