las wrote:
>
> Shawn Lin wrote:
>
> > True, but are computer illiterates techno-savvy enough to want to buy MD
> > equipment in the first place? I know many computer illiterates (usually
> > parents of my friends, people in their 50's), and they stick to old
> > audio media, like LP's and cassettes. They have enough trouble adapting
> > to CD.
>
> As someone "in their 50's", it seems to me that by some coincidence, most of your
> friends must have parents that are retarded! Most of the people I know in their
> 50's own and know how to use computers. Many of my blue collar patients (you know
> the guys who go hunting and fishing or work on their trucks <G>) are always
> telling me about stuff they did on their computer.
No, I believe it is more "indifference" than retardation.
Perhaps most of the people you know are interested in technology and
computers. My 63-year old father (a neurologist) definitely falls into
this group, he's more into computers than I am. He has to have the
newest and fastest machines with the biggest FD Trinitron monitors just
to surf the web. He has to have a Casio E-125 Pocket PC PDA just to
read E-books, and he also has a Palm IIIxe to run his medical
calculator. My dad HAS purchased an MD portable for dictation (although
I think he returned it). He's got DVD players, all his VCRs are Hi-Fi,
and he's been into computers since the Apple //e was current. He speaks
of other doctor friends and associates that he knows that are also
equally into technology and computers. However, my mom and stepdad are
the opposite. My mom has no interest in computers. Her life is dancing
and cosmetics. Computers and technology are boring to her. My stepdad
is the same way. He finally broke down and had me find him a computer
to buy. He's tried to use it, but finds it frustrating and boring. He
doesn't have the patience to sit down and learn it. He bought "Windows
for Dummies" and hasn't bothered to read it. He'd rather be riding his
Harley and working out at the gym. He has no desire to switch to CD's
from his trusty cassettes. If you were to tell him he's retarded for
being voluntarily technologically deprived, he'd probably beat you into
a pulp. I have a couple friends whose parents own and enjoy using
computers, but most of my friends grew up in what you'd probably
consider a blue collar home, and their parents couldn't care less about
computers. Even my girlfriend and her brother bought their mom a
computer a few years back. She enjoyed email for a few months at the
most before getting bored of it and using the computer as a place to
stack things.
> Almost all of the white collar workers not only own computers but use them at work
> every day. Most of the kids I know in their teens can only copy cassettes because
> they have dual decks and all they have to do is push one button. They could never
> copy a CD to an MD having to use two separate units.
You must know some disadvantaged teens! Granted, I'm 6 years out of my
teens, but all my peers use CD-RW drives for audio. Yes, I've TRIED to
sell them on MD. I used to be a big MD freak, but they just didn't
care. CD-RW is easier for them.
> Getting back the people in their 50's, unless they are not into music at all, I
> don't know anyone who doesn't listen to CDs. Don't forget, when CDs came out,
> these people were in their 30's and you were about 5 years old. We introduced the
> CD to you! We were in our 30's when CDs came out.
I could have a whole list of people who don't listen to CD's!
Only reason my mom has a few CD's is because I gave her a Sony stereo
with 5-CD changer for her birthday. Then my sister bought her several
CDs. My mom still uses mostly cassettes. I don't think my stepdad has
ever touched a CD. He uses cassettes in his truck.
> The reason that kids in their 20's know a lot about computers is that their
> parents (who were in their late 20's or mid thirties at the time) bought a
> computer so their kids have been exposed to computers since they were born.
This was the case with me, but I consider myself advantaged for growing
up the spoiled son of a technology-loving doctor. However, for one of
my good friends whose parents DO use computers, it was the opposite. He
was into computers, and through his enthusiasm for computers, he managed
to get his parents slightly interested. I have another friend whose dad
loved computers as well, and bought one for the family (although this
kid was already 16 at the time, not just being born). My other friends
didn't have computers when growing up. They bought their own computers
probably 2 or 3 years ago due to my influence. To this day, their
parents still don't use computers and couldn't care less to. My
girlfriend also had never had a computer before until we hooked up. Her
granddad often tells me, "I don't understand how you can like those
things"!
> If any of these parents don't know how to use computers it's because you kids
> never let us get near them. We usually have to buy a notebook computer which we
> have to hide from you in order to get near a computer.
Not true, believe it or not, a lot of people in your age group don't
care to have anything to do with computers. Not that this bothers me.
No law says people have to be interested in computers.
> Maybe you should start looking for some new friends. If most of your friends
> parents don't use computers and still listen to records, how smart could your
> friends be? Although there are exceptions, stupid people tend to have stupid
> kids. Something to do with genetics.
Ridiculous. A load of BS. My girlfriend is quite intelligent. She
uses computers all the time. Her mom used a computer for awhile, but
lost interest. She DOES still listen to records. To say my girlfriend
(and my friends for that matter) are not intelligent because their
parents lack interest in technology is short-sighted, not to mention
insensitive and untrue.
Is there some rule that says lack of interest in technology and
computers equates to stupidity or retardation? I'm sure a lot of people
would disagree fiercely with you.
> I'll bet your parents use computers and listen to CDs. If they aren't into MD,
> that's your fault.
With the exception of my dad, if we just consider my mom and stepdad,
this is a bet you would lose.
I was once a poster child for MD. The fact that they aren't into it
isn't my fault, it's theirs. They lacked interest in it, not me. Even
my friends who DO use computers, CD-RW drives, and install their own car
stereos, download MP3's from Napster daily... none of them are into MD.
I had even GIVEN an MD deck to my best guy friend. Yes, FREE. He
accepted it, bought a 5-pk Sony MD's, kept it for 2 years. When he
moved out of his mom's house, he gave it back. Not interested he said.
Only used it once. Gave me the MD's. He'd only opened one, and
recorded/titled one song. On the other hand, the first requirement of
the new PC he was building was that it MUST have a CD-RW drive. Sorry
Larry, we may love MD, but it's not for everyone. Like Rick has said
before, MD is just an audio format, not a religion. However, even with
religion, we all don't believe the same. Maybe for those of us on the
list, MD's benefits are well worth the cost in hardware and the time
required to make our own recordings. But for many others, the benefits
are just not enough to bother with.
Shawn
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