8 Nov
2006
8 Nov
'06
2:20 p.m.
I'll dispute that rule of thumb. We are *not*
doing the same task we
used to do at all. With increased processing power came increased
expectations. There isn't a single user these days that would put up
with what we called a "user interface" in 1979 -- scrolling text,
interview style.
COuld you explain why you don't consider me to be 'a single user'?
Because I am using essentially that interface right now (OK, I've got
cursor addressing, what I don't have is windows, icons, or any of that
stuff). And yes, I've used a plain terminal without cursor addressing
(which was around long before 1979 I can assure you).
Incidentally, it's odd you picked that date. It was the year the PERQ was
announced, one of the first machines to haev only a bitmapped graphical
display with no text mode at all.
The biggest bloat is in expectations, not the hardware
or software
designed and built to meet those expectations. Just as it should be.
It's a pity the main expectations that I have -- that the machine should
work, that it shouldn't randomly crash, and that it should be able to be
kept working for as long as I want to use it -- have been totally lost.
-tony