Commentary for June 6th, 2003.
The future of computing.
Right now I am plunking at my Zaurus, writing on my free time a work, thinking about how far computers have come. I am not even thirty yet, but I have seen the evolution of computers from eight bit machines with 64K of RAM, to the beasts you can get now that are 3000 times faster, with 4000 times more memory. Yet, the irony is that today’s machines don’t do all that much more productive work that than the computers of my childhood. We still use most of our computing time to create paper, documents, play games, and a few other basic tasks.I think the computer industry needs to step back and re-evaluate what people really need.
Cheap, reliable, easy to use computers to do the mundane tasks that computers have always done with a few of the extras needed to make the computer more fun.A case in point are my in-laws. My wife and I build our own computers, so when they needed a computer, we built them one. Sadly, we actually lost money just in the parts, not to mention providing lifetime technical support. It cost too much for us to build, and the ‘lowest’ machine you can build now is till about 10 times more computer than they will ever need.We need a $200, easy to use computer. They don’t make it.Why?
1) There is little profit in selling a $200 computer (Just ask Handspring and e-machines about that).
2) The cost of Windows licensing with useful applications is much more than the computer is worth.
The closest thing we have to the perfect machine are the Linux loaded machines at Walmart. It avoids the problems of licensing, and any low markup or loss can easily be absorbed by Walmart.
Can they make 200 computers and make a profit? Sure they can, if they put older, but more robust parts inside. Who needs 2Ghz to write an e-mail? Build a 800Mhz machine, with integrated everything, and you can do it. If I had the capital, I would do it right now, a computer for the masses. Everyone deserves a computer of their own, and they should not have to rely on the questionable handouts from a company that shall remain nameless. It won’t solve world hunger, but it will go a long way to computing equality.
That is all,
David N.