Anybody else not like technology?

[sasKuatch]

Like I wrote in my last post, I'm somewhat a geek, I'm a (pre) cs major, and I like messing with this stuff. But if it wouldn't be for linux, I probably wouldn't like computers. I'd be just like all the old(er) people that complain that computers think they are smarter than them.

I can't stand the fact that cars have computers in them. I miss the carbs, the simple mechanical distributor caps, etc. Now it's all so complicated you have to go to the mechanic for everything. I'm not hip with all this trendy digital camera/mp3 player/wireless networking crap either. I'm the only guy here on campus who doesn't have a cellphone glued to my head all the time and another two that I use only to talk to girls. I have an analog clock.

I don't know, I'm just disgusted with most of it. It's all so pointless. I like computers; the actual thing sitting on my desk. I can do anything with it. I just hate all this trendy techno-gadget stuff.

Thoughts.

[jghoffay]

wireless networking is expensive and slow. I do want to mount a webcam to my rear bumper and use a projection monitor onto my windsheild so i can tear off that ugly rearview mirror.

[Icarus]

Originally posted by sasKuatch
I don't know, I'm just disgusted with most of it. It's all so pointless. I like computers; the actual thing sitting on my desk. I can do anything with it. I just hate all this trendy techno-gadget stuff. I can't stand anything trendy...I still listen to late 80s early 90s rock/metal
Tesla/Motley Crue/MegaDeth/ect...ect...ect...
I drive a 2000 Jeep Wrangler and am thrilled they still look like they did 30 years ago, but am disappointed because it's a smoother ride then my old 1990 Jeep, and I also miss the old car tech...I can't fix these things anymore either!
I have a cell phone, but only because work requires I have one...

I love computers, Linux made them even more enjoyable.

Science still captivates me and also astronomy

Tech is great, it's the future...but when people start using it as a fasion statement, it is being abused and used for the wrong purpose.

Use technology for Good, not Evil! :D

[CMonster]

ah....... yeah,

I lived before PCs, and remember when they were NOT on every desktop, and when 200,000 transistors on a single chip just smaller than a dime was an incredible feat:

I am 10-years older than Intel

I work as a journey level equipment mechanic and have been employed as a professional wrench for 22-years now -I too remember a time before solid state ignition, fuel injection, computerized engine/drivetrain management, and antilock brakes... the times of simplicity. But the air is a lot cleaner now.

Computers were FOISTED on me so I decided to get with the program.... but I am all for electronic freedom so when I eventually realized the way Microsoft Big Brother was going I jumped on the GNU/Linux alternative. It sure is nice to be in charge of my own computer.

I remember running away from a boys home at 16, and lying about my age to get a job -those days are gone forever.

Technology has improved many things and brought us convienance at a price, but I fear the cost of living in our technocracy has become so high that we can never retire at a level of comfort.

So I wrote a country song about it that goes something like this:

*Technology, technology,
*Yeah, I CAN program my VCR,
*Got me all kinds of gadgetry,
*Can even talk on the phone while I'm driving my car,

*I bought cell phones, computers, DVDs, and digi-cams too,
*I got hooked up to my ISP, oh the Internet was all so new,

*Can anyone tell me God's email address?
*If you tell me it would be just fine,
*I won't spread it all over the Internet,
*Just a few close friends of mine,

*Can anyone tell me God's email address?
*You see I really need to drop Him a line,
*Wanna tell Him that this world is such a mess,
*And He better not leave me behind,

*California born and raised,
*I do my surfing from the living room arm chair,
*Though the sun is shining and beach has waves,
*You will almost never find me there,

*Can anyone tell me God's email address.....
*.......
*.....

[sasKuatch]

A fashion statement is definetely what it is now. That's a very good way to put it.

My car doesn't have power windows, power locks, catalytic converter, anything. :p
All it has is a radio, climate control, and one huge roaring 5.8L V8. And it's loud.:) It's a thing of beauty.

[nouse66]

Originally posted by sasKuatch

All it has is a radio, climate control, and one huge roaring 5.8L V8. And it's loud.:) It's a thing of beauty.

and that of course is your fashion statement.

[ozdream]

Originally posted by sasKuatch
I don't know, I'm just disgusted with most of it. It's all so pointless. I like computers; the actual thing sitting on my desk. I can do anything with it. I just hate all this trendy techno-gadget stuff.

Thoughts.


Look at the Digital narrow band trunking radio systems like the one the failed during 9/11 and was a direct cause of the death of many fire fighters / police ect.

The more “Tech” they put into some systems to make them “better” the more they fail and with disastrous consequences.

I am a Amateur radio operator (hence my rant about radio) related tech stuff but at the end of the day us “low tech” radio types are the first people the get called to provide emergency communications when the multi million dollar “state of the art” systems fail.

I still have a analogue stereo tuner I wear a analogue watch and prefer to listen to short wave radio then “HQ” digital radio.

We have “in general” become far to reliant on technology as you said about cells phones if you dare say you do not have a cell phone you are looked at as “poor” or a “weirdo” same with email “What you do not have an email address?”

Here in Canada the government relies heavily on the web many government documents are only available on the web or you have to pay for them, I have heard all to often from government people “you can get the info from our web page”.

Well that’s my way off topic thoughts……

[Sepero]

I am totally against tech as a fashion statement. On the other hand, I am totally for tech as a means of efficiency. So, I'm looking foward to getting one of these hybrid cars eventually. :D
(btw, I'm currently driving an little beat-up '90 chevy cavalier)

[sasKuatch]

I do have a cell phone, but I have a pathetic little plan with neither coverage nor minutes. As you might imagine, I don't spend much time on it.

I can't stand watching TechTV anymore. It's the same old thing. OoooHh! This mp3 player has 5 more megs than the other one! This digital camera has so many megapixels more than that one. Too much hype. How is a digital camera better than a regular one? If you print your pictures, they'll be faded useless in a few decades, and CD-R's lose their data after 70 or 100 years (~).

And my vehicle *is* a fashion statement, but one that everybody who has a car can afford. It's not anything fancy, expensive or exclusive. It's got 100k+ miles and it's not new or shiny or anything, just cool. My other car, an '86 Taurus had over 172k miles. My mom drives that one again.

[hard candy]

What is this? The "mossback" thread? :)

I can wake to music instead of a loud irritating buzz in the morning. I'm grateful for that. My first car was a 1956 Plymouth station wagon (a woody), I used to hate that they recommended to change the plugs every three months. And trying to keep the carburator tuned up was a pain. Now I just have to change the plugs and rotor once a year. What a relief.
And just five years ago a fancy office suite was a big deal on my Dell computer. Now I can listen to international radio stations, make music, watch art shows in Bonn, Gernmany, play complicated and challenging games, all on my newfangled computer with broadband.
I'd have to say technology has been a blessing for me. The times I resent other people using technology are the times I'm unhappy with myself for some reason.

[CaptainPinko]

i want MORE technology. i don't use a qwerty because its too old. i want to get a sparc or ppc because the x86 architecture is a relic. CLI? i find todays desktops primistve. i want mouse gestures and 3d desktops and newer technolgy everywhere, self-healing computers, and more. innovation is the only thing keeping computers interesting.

[chatins]

If you have been using a mozilla based browser you wouldn't have the popup problem.

I have a feeling the OP is using -->Windows<--. Try adaware for those popups

[Sepero]

Originally posted by CaptainPinko
i want mouse gestures and 3d desktops
Expect these featues in Longhorn.Originally posted by CaptainPinko
self-healing computersExpect these features in GNU/Linux.
(Actually, GNU/Linux just won't break in the first place ;))

[sasKuatch]

Originally posted by hard candy
What is this? The "mossback" thread? :)

I can wake to music instead of a loud irritating buzz in the morning. I'm grateful for that. My first car was a 1956 Plymouth station wagon (a woody), I used to hate that they recommended to change the plugs every three months. And trying to keep the carburator tuned up was a pain. Now I just have to change the plugs and rotor once a year. What a relief.
And just five years ago a fancy office suite was a big deal on my Dell computer. Now I can listen to international radio stations, make music, watch art shows in Bonn, Gernmany, play complicated and challenging games, all on my newfangled computer with broadband.
I'd have to say technology has been a blessing for me. The times I resent other people using technology are the times I'm unhappy with myself for some reason.

This is interesting. I never said I don't like computers. If it wouldn't be for linux, I probably wouldn't, because I'd be forced into the trendy world of MSN that I I see everybody using.

The buzzer, that's your problem, I use synthesized nature sounds:D

Agreed, new plugs are good. But I miss the days when you could just bend something back into shape or wipe it clean. Can you fix the the computer in your car? I'm surprised the Linux community isn't up in arms about this.

International radio? My grandma' listened to Voice of America on her tube radio in the 1970's, in Romania.

Agreed, games are good.

"The times I resent other people using technology are the times I'm unhappy with myself for some reason." This is interesting. Maybe I should reemphasize the word trendy. I don't like trendy, useless technology that makes us dumber and will clutter landfills in several months.

[sasKuatch]

Originally posted by CaptainPinko
i want MORE technology. i don't use a qwerty because its too old. i want to get a sparc or ppc because the x86 architecture is a relic. CLI? i find todays desktops primistve. i want mouse gestures and 3d desktops and newer technolgy everywhere, self-healing computers, and more. innovation is the only thing keeping computers interesting.

That's cool I guess. Can you type faster with a dvorak? If not, it's pretty pointless. For how little I type, it wouldn't be worth my time to relearn. I don't want to go through that experience again.

You all have good points, and I agree with you all 100% that technology is great for improving things. When it's used right.

Let me give you one more example. My vehicle had a catalytic converter. It broke into little tiny piece and clogged up the exhaust pipe, making it run horrible. Top speed: 45 mph. With the help of my neighbor mechanic we ripped it off and welded on a simple dual exhaust system. Two pipes with two mufflers; as low tech as you can get exhaust-wise, and now it runs much better than it ever would with any modern "improvement."

Like my Python book says: "Optimize only when there is a clear need to optimize" or something like that.

[sclebo05]

just a comment on PC technology in general. when i first started building systems in high school, they were 386's and were 'cutting edge'. here we are in 2003, you open up a computer and its exactly the same. we have made speed improvements and went from ISA to PCI bus, etc, but computers really haven't evolved that far. i wish there would be a large jump to something REALLY good. serial ata - now that's different than 386 technology!

[sasKuatch]

*Sigh* yes, that would be nice. However, software as it stands now doesn't really take advantage of the primitve computers we have now. Remember the days when new games would barely run on anything? Today even the most modest system lets you crank up the details and muddles along happily.

In case you people are wondering, yes, I'm bored; sneezing my eyes out and blowing my nose raw. And my throat hurts bad.:(

[bandwidth_pig]

Originally posted by CaptainPinko
i want MORE technology. i don't use a qwerty because its too old. i want to get a sparc or ppc because the x86 architecture is a relic. CLI? i find todays desktops primistve. i want mouse gestures and 3d desktops and newer technolgy everywhere, self-healing computers, and more. innovation is the only thing keeping computers interesting.

The thought of self healing computers is not as good as it sounds in my opinion. Think of all the people who make a living fixing computers. If they healed themselves, people wouldn't have work. I read a interesting article off slashdot a few weeks back regarding robots. The author had made some pretty dissapointing predictions. Here...check it out:

http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/07/24/1227209&mode=thread&tid=126

This is where I start to not like technology. Too much greed.

[Sepero]

Originally posted by bandwidth_pig
The thought of self healing computers is not as good as it sounds in my opinion.

Robots don't need sleep, vacations or holiday pay. Companies save money... in return, YOU save money!
Originally posted by bandwidth_pig
Think of all the people who make a living fixing computers.
Oh, so because there are less jobs involving _repairing_ technology, then there are going to be less tech jobs in general? Give me a break! If anything, technology can then devote more time towards innovating. Then maybe we would have serial ata...
Originally posted by bandwidth_pig
This is where I start to not like technology. Too much greed.
So are you for or against Micosoft? They are greedy, but with their flawed software, they also provide LOTS of pc repair jobs.

Think about it...