On Fri 14 Feb 2020 at 08:55:41 (-0600), Richard Owlett wrote: > On 02/14/2020 07:35 AM, Gene Heskett wrote: > > On Friday 14 February 2020 07:50:01 Richard Owlett wrote: > > > > > Youngsters have two foibles: > > > More is always better. > > > Glitz for its own sake. > > > <smile ;> > > > For perspective: > > > 1. although only in mid-70's, my parents would be in their 12th > > > decade. > > > 2. my father took a M.E. degree rather than E.E. as it gave him > > > more of what today would be considered a minimal BSEE degree. > > > 3. my first computers ran on 1 MHz 6502's. 2nd even had 8k ram. > > > > Whereas my first was a [… snipped all the stuff about TV control rooms …] > > > > Do one job, do it right. I needed a clock for frame code, so I wrote one, > > more accurate that either std frame or drop frame. > > > > > On 02/13/2020 09:17 PM, David Wright wrote in another thread: > > > [ https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2020/02/msg00611.html ] > > > > > > > If a device is small, it has to appeal to a mass market. > > > > > > *NO*! It's only required that engineering appeal to market. > > > E.G. In the last year there have been multiple amazing prosthetics for > > > children and small animals in the news. They were possible due to > > > advances in 3D printing. > > > > Agreed.
Sorry, I didn't realise that when you were talking about a Personal Digital Assistant you meant a plastic finger. > > > > To do that, it has to be packed with features, whether > > > > or not these are "detrimental" to *your* intended use. > > > > > > No! The inclusion of cell modem and WiFi would drive per unit cost of > > > FCC approval through the roof. > > > > Agreed again. Folks have zero clue about the complexity of dealing with > > the regulatory agencies. Is this why virtually every electronic device nowadays has some form of connectivity, either phone, wifi or BT. > Been there, done it. Back in the 70's [as a SR Eng tech] I was > involved in the measurement of RF radiated to free space and conducted > to the power line for PDP11's. > > > > > > I was surprised how much of the pinephone's functionality > > > > could be switched off, once I'd decoded the jargon in > > > > their specifications (with help). But I don't see how you > > > > can avoid having to compromise over the inclusion of those > > > > (redundant to you) functions, particularly in view of the > > > > extra cost of providing the flexibility to turn them off. > > > > > > If not there then *NO* need to turn off. ROFL > > > > Chuckle. > > We old fogies need to teach these youngsters. Laugh all you like, but that doesn't sell devices that still require wired connections to be able to use them. I think the subject line of this thread is confusing software tools and hardware. People are no longer happy to walk round with their pockets (if they have them) filled with a phone, a camera, a diary, a memo pad, a photo album, an MP3 player, a dictaphone, a calculator, a transistor radio, a street map, a paperback, a pocket chess set, not forgetting a newspaper tucked under their arm. Cheers, David.