"I think that in a few years owning a computer is going to be like owning a telephone. People will see it as a necessary appliance. A lot of people haven't trusted computers up to now, but that’s changing."
-- Joe Klein, independent trucker from Waterloo, Ill., in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 8, 1982.
"On 30 April 1993 CERN issued a public statement stating that the three components of Web software (the basic line-mode client, the basic server and the library of common code) were put in the Public Domain [...]"
It’s just been pointed out to me that the reason Apple runs a trade-in programme for older devices is so they can reduce the size of the used market, and has fuck all to do with recycling.
@DJDarren The Verge did a documentary on this a while ago. I guarantee you will be very angry by the end of it.
Basically, back in the 1980s, there was a company called Sun Remarketing that built a business buying unsold Apple computers, refurbishing then, and supporting them.
They even went so far as to create new operating systems and upgrades for them.
Lots of people couldn't afford the latest Mac, but we're happy to buy last year's model.
Using a range of underhanded legal tactics, Apple deliberately put them out of business, resulting in thousands of working computers being deliberately dumped in a landfill.
The reason was simple: It was more profitable for Apple to dump unsold computers in a landfill and force everyone to pay full price for the latest machines.
Planned obsolescence is very much Apple's business model.
Computers and Society: Modern Perspectives by Ronald M. Baecker, 2019
Computers and Society: Modern Perspectives is a wide-ranging and comprehensive textbook that critically assesses the global technical achievements in digital technologies and how are they are applied in media; education and learning; medicine and health; free speech, democracy, and government; and war and peace.
We will have old, otherwise unsupported #computers and #smartphones for visitors to try, as well as some new ones, all running #FreeSoftware.
The oldest, Dell Latitude D600, would have become #eWaste in 2010. If it were human, today it could legally drink alcohol in the USA ... it is that old and, with a little patience, still quite usable!
"The importance of the ZX Spectrum and its role in the early history of personal computing and video gaming has left many to regard it as the most important and influential computer of the 1980s."
"A radio signal takes about 22 ½ hours to reach #Voyager 1, which is over 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth, and another 22 ½ hours for a signal to come back to Earth."
In 1977, I saw the launch of both Voyagers on television. It felt like pure sci-fi at the time. It feels fascinating now. 🌌 🔭 ✨
Anyone here have a Framework 13 laptop? I'm considering getting a Ryzen 7 base model and adding my own RAM/HD.
Right now, I have an awesome little Zepheryus g14, but it doesn't have good battery life and it's a fair few years old. I'll keep running it as my home computer but I think I need a backup on hand, as well as something I can travel with.
Be interested in hearing any current owners' thoughts.
I desperately need a piece of software to scan my windows 10 computer to see if the system or anything else is actually wrong. This computer is unbearably slow all of the sudden, with no obvious reason. Preferably something that is free because I am poor. #windows10#TechSupport#computer#computers
Looking for new #laptop to replace my #Surface Pro 6. I'm overwhelmed by the number of choices and annoyed so many devices have removed basic ports 😠
Trying to decide between the Surface Laptop 5 and Dell #XPS 13. I've seen the Surface in person and like it but reviews are poor. I've not seen the Dell but reviews are fantastic but it has few ports and apparently some quality control issues. Any thoughts? Advice? Alternatives? Thanks!
Is there a term for the concept of switching all (or as much) of your digital life to old school text based interfaces for the purpose of reducing sensory input, convenience and dopamine traps? Is there a community for that and how many useful tools are there for that? #computers#digitallife#qualityoflife#add#adhd#linux