The future of our hobby (was Re: ImageDisk project is canceled)

[Tony Duell]

> 
> 
> Am donderdag, 29.12.05, um 13:50 Uhr (Europe/Zurich) schrieb Tony Duell:
> 
> >> This list will not convince Tony otherwise, I also tried ...
> >
> > What bothers me is whu you want to convince me otherwise.
> 
> Me, and the others probably also, are basically only pointing out that 
> there is a place for modern, non-hobbyist friendly technology too.

I don;t dispute that. I do dispute that I have to use it.

Anyther thread has been pointing out that typewriters still have uses. I 
agree. As do pens and pieces of paper. And as, of course, do woed 
processors. I use all 3 for different jobs. Well, maybe I am the only 
person here to still use a pen and paper notebook, but I've yet to find a 
portable computer that's as useful. Yes, I do use a palmtop comptuer (OK, 
an ancient one I just about understnad -- an HP95LX), but the pen and 
paper still has uses too...

When i have a problem I look at various possible solutions, and take into 
account the fact that I will have to maintain the equipment, etc. Is it 
going to be better to get some new device (with all the attendant support 
provlems, learning-to-use-it problems, etc), it is better to modify 
something I have, to make something, or to go on with what I already 
have. So far, I've not ever found a problem that's needed a 
hacker-unfriendly computer to solve it.


> There will never be a hacker-friendly mobile phone for instance. 
> Component level repair on those is impossible, even though I have the

Why? OK, I'd not want to work on the RF side (too many risks of sending 
out spurious signals), but what is the prroblem, say, with replacing 
compoentns in the control circuit. They look like normal SMDs.
 
> full schematics on mine.... Does that mean all mobile phones are bad 
> and not worth having ?

I was given one, I use it very occasionally. And to be honest, I could 
easily live without it (and I could certianly live without those idiots 
on public transport who talk about nothing-of-significance for hours on end).

> In the same line of thought, there is a place for a non-hacker friendly 
> modern PC, I do use mine as storage for all the PDF's releated to my 
> Classiccmp gear and my digital photos. Zippy response is nice to have 
> for these usage cases.


Hmmm.. Neither of those would be applicable to me. I much prefer manuals 
on paper (I can't accomodate a reasonable display _and the device being 
repaired_ on my bench at the same time, I can't take a PC to bed and read 
manuals there (yes, I do read service manuals as bedtime reading).

And I've said many times that I will consider a digital camera when it 
gives better results than my current camera. Please don't tell me how 
your camera is better than the Point-and-Shoot 35mm it replaced. I am not 
talking about that sort of camera. I am talking about a 5*4" sheet film 
camers.

And yes, I can see the point of digital cameras, this does not mean I 
want one.

> It is a case of using the right tools for the job : old machines when 
> you want to hack ,modern machine for productive use.
> 								

If you are claiming you can't do productive work with classic computers, 
then I cannot agree with you. In fact I suspect I've done more prodctive 
work with my old machines than most people have with their 
latest-and-greatest PCs.

-tony