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Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

thehangedman.com

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Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#11

Post by kurthr »

jimhi wrote: post #3

Holy cow - this guy still does not own a computer. From: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/g... "Berry, who is now eighty-four, does not own a computer or a cell phone, and his landline is not connected to an answering machine. We corresponded by mail for a year"

Well, at least only the truly old school Nigerian snail mail scams will get to him!

Seriously, if you have parents going into their 70s and 80s you need to really start limiting exposure to scams or the ability to send them money. Otherwise, you won't know until it's too late, their bank account is empty, and their CC are maxed out on cash advances. Also, immediately contact the IRS and Social Security, because they've probably redirected returns and payments to their accounts.

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#12

Post by UncleOxidant »

goatsneez wrote: post #2

I liked the read despite its predictable, unoriginal, oft-repeated decry of technology with respect to its (perceived) environmental burden. There are several replies by Berry's contemporaries which vocalize their disagreement with his position and his justification. With the distance in time to this piece, I think the point to add to the discussion is that a key implicit assumption of Berry (and in fact even to his…

> The assumption that the default mode of civilization is prosperity for all.

First off, I'm not sure where you're getting that from reading this article, but maybe I'm missing something.

Secondly, Berry is a Christian so of course he believes that there can be enough for all - this is (at least used to be) a central tenet of Christianity. Christ said: "25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."

Berry is coming from the worldview that God created a world of great abundance and that if we share, there is enough for all.

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#13

Post by julienb_sea »

I'm amused at the mix of condescension and vehement beliefs contained in this essay. There is some irony as his beloved typewriter is a consumer-good technological invention which happens to be his "established" tool. There are legitimate critiques in the piece, especially around repairability, supporting the local community.

Blanket disregarding the reality of technological advancement and the prosperity it can bring is an ideologically extreme position. Billions of people can grow far beyond their circumstances of birth with access to inexpensive cellphones. We can be thankful that consumers and technologists pressed onwards with their efforts despite the dramatic moral take presented by the author.

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#14

Post by uncomputation »

> I disbelieve, and therefore strongly resent, the assertion that I or anybody else could write better or more easily with a computer than with a pencil.

I can’t speak to writing, which I actually do find much easier on a computer since I can backspace, rearrange, spell-check, but there is certainly truth to reading. I find reading to “stick” longer in my brain when off of hard paper than a screen, most likely something to do with the physical location of the words.

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#15

Post by dbtc »

phendrenad2 wrote: post #4

I don't own a computer. I have a pocket tablet that shows me the newspaper (and makes phonecalls). I have a screen on my desk that plays old Nintendo games. I have a typewriter which I use to write computer code. But I have no interest in owning a computer.

your pocket tablet is a computer

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#16

Post by goosedragons »

UncleOxidant wrote: post #6

> My wife types my work on a Royal standard typewriter bought new in 1956 and as good now as it was then. This was written in the late 80s, but I'd guess they're still using that typewriter over 60 years after it's purchase. Not saying I completely agree with his whole essay, but there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era. > But the cost would not be just mone- tary. It…

Most eReaders use Linux. Kobo still provides software updates for models reaching all the way back to 2011. For something like an English novel Epub 3 is backwards compatible enough that it'll still work fine enough even on something like a Sony PRS-505 that only does Epub 2. And there's loads of tools like Calibre to back convert files if need be.

Really the battery is the only problem but some models do still have 3rd party replacements available.

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#17

Post by deanCommie »

UncleOxidant wrote: post #6

> My wife types my work on a Royal standard typewriter bought new in 1956 and as good now as it was then. This was written in the late 80s, but I'd guess they're still using that typewriter over 60 years after it's purchase. Not saying I completely agree with his whole essay, but there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era. > But the cost would not be just mone- tary. It…

> there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era.

George R R Martin works in Wordstar 4.0 from 1987:

https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/14/5716232/george-r-r-martin...

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#18

Post by stanski »

goosedragons wrote: post #16
UncleOxidant wrote: post #6

> My wife types my work on a Royal standard typewriter bought new in 1956 and as good now as it was then. This was written in the late 80s, but I'd guess they're still using that typewriter over 60 years after it's purchase. Not saying I completely agree with his whole essay, but there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era. > But the cost would not be just mone- tary. It…

Most eReaders use Linux. Kobo still provides software updates for models reaching all the way back to 2011. For something like an English novel Epub 3 is backwards compatible enough that it'll still work fine enough even on something like a Sony PRS-505 that only does Epub 2. And there's loads of tools like Calibre to back convert files if need be. Really the battery is the only problem but some models do still have…

"All the way back to 2011" made me chuckle. Practically ancient times!

Re: Why I am not going to buy a computer (1987) [pdf]

#20

Post by formerkrogemp »

deanCommie wrote: post #17
UncleOxidant wrote: post #6

> My wife types my work on a Royal standard typewriter bought new in 1956 and as good now as it was then. This was written in the late 80s, but I'd guess they're still using that typewriter over 60 years after it's purchase. Not saying I completely agree with his whole essay, but there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era. > But the cost would not be just mone- tary. It…

> there's not a lot of computing equipment still in use (or considered usable) from that era. George R R Martin works in Wordstar 4.0 from 1987: https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/14/5716232/george-r-r-martin...

I suppose that's why he never finishes anything.
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