The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007) • Hacker News Board

Re: The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007)

#181

Post by eyelovewe » Wed, Jun 16, 2021, 7:31 AM UTC

Per usual, clickbait polemics that propose absolutes cause controversy.

I realize that the comments here will largely be filled with people variously proposing that one do EVERYTHING with the iPad, and folks opposed to that. As this article is from 2007 and desktops are not extinct may I humbly suggest that a tablet device SUPPLEMENTS and COMPLEMENTS desktop and laptop computers running “full featured” operating systems (ones that allow you to manage files conveniently, for example, or configure the system as you wish it to be).

The question is not so much about processing power, but of form factors. A PCI(e) based audio interface is still superior to a USB one in latency and jitter, commodity RAM in standardized slots as an easy consumer upgrade, one can speak of the physical space required for proper USB ports if OTG and a zillion fragile dongles aren’t going to work for you.

The vast majority of content creators that I know, (including myself) use a tablet in conjunction with a traditional computer form factor. They use the tablet variously as a remote control, as an input device, and as a portable idea capturing device. It doesn’t replace a sound or video studio, it’s a welcome addition to one.

Re: The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007)

#182

Post by machello13 » Wed, Jun 16, 2021, 12:47 PM UTC

ipaddr wrote: post #170

digitalsushi wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's unfair to change the verb from use to build.

I didn't say how to build I asked how does it work. If someone knows how to use something they can explain how it works at least in their mind.

> If someone knows how to use something they can explain how it works at least in their mind

Can you explain how this squares with your other comment about how I couldn't possibly know how it works if I wasn't on the team who built it?

Re: The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007)

#183

Post by handrous » Wed, Jun 16, 2021, 1:47 PM UTC

fiftyfifty wrote: post #145

handrous wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on what you're doing and what your budget is. Shoot & edit on one device, plus an excellent drawing experience, is pretty compelling when you're talking about a device for a kid to learn on, and the main things it'll be used for are video & drawing. You don't need 2TB of built-in storage for that, either. Only way I can see that not being the option to beat, is if your goal is to learn the UI (not the conc…

Most devices these days including the iPad and things like Go Pros film in at least 720P which absolutely fills up storage space in no time at all. I started filming my kids' sporting events in HD and editing them on my laptop and I completely filled up 1 terabyte of storage on my computer in no time at all. Then I had to start playing the game of moving older stuff to external storage which totally sucks if you want…

Well yeah, for bulk video storage you could eat 2TB easily. Active files for an editing project at 1080P, especially if you're weeding through footage after each day of shooting (if you don't, you'll go nuts later), 512GB should be OK.

Re: The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007)

#184

Post by js2 » Wed, Jun 16, 2021, 4:47 PM UTC

bitwize wrote: post #171

js2 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My 15-year old daughter just recently got her first desktop. Why? Well, because instead of just consuming (which she does on her phone) or doing homework (chromebook), she wanted to do video editing, and also drawing using a Wacom tablet. She found that the non-desktop options were just not that great. My about-to-be-a-college-junior daughter has been creating for years on an iPad, and she's pretty good at it. She'…

Wacom now makes small, affordable tablet+display devices now. It's no longer "take out a second mortgage for a Cintiq" as your only option.

The school specifically recommended the $80 Intuos.

I just realized there's a program that turns your iPad into a tablet, Astropad, that seems worth a try.

Re: The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007)

#185

Post by amerine » Wed, Jun 16, 2021, 4:59 PM UTC

swiley wrote: post #91

amerine wrote: post #9

I’m 36 right now and have always made sure to have a desktop computer with accounts for each family member and it’s used all the time. I agree it’s a feature that’s disappearing, but if anything it’s because people are getting more personal computers, like a laptop or modern smart phone, than ever before.

Smartphones are not personal computers. They should be but they definitely are not.

Fair point. I guess I watch (my) kids use them enough (tossing iPads/tablets into this group too) to make me feel like they are a personal computer. But you are right. They are not.

Re: The home computer as a cultural object is physically vanishing (2007)

#186

Post by howaboutnope » Fri, Jun 18, 2021, 11:57 AM UTC

quesera wrote: post #161

howaboutnope wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So, I talked to Steve on the phone [about adding a standard pen and penholder]. I said, “Look Steve. You know, you’ve made something that is perfect for 2-year-olds and perfect for 92-year-olds. But everybody in-between learns to use tools.” -- Alan Kay Non-slave adults are the vanishing breed, the onslaught against general and self-determined computing is just one of the symptoms of that.

> Non-slave adults ... Such a poor choice of words. I loosely agree with your point, which I interpret to mean that generalized computing is endangered. But it's endangered because the alternative experience is superior for most humans exercising their free choice. It has nothing to do with slavery, or ignorance. This makes the problem much harder to solve.

It's superior in the short term, more convenient, but in the long run it will leads to those people going away, and having no means to fight back against being made to go away.