Comments on: What Does it Do? http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/ Driving Innovation Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:49:53 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9454 Jake Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:21:07 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9454 All great use cases, but my guess is those came over time as you used the computer, not all at once. My parents are pretty much n00bs and generally distrustful of computing machines. Maybe over time I can ease them into some of these activities. All great use cases, but my guess is those came over time as you used the computer, not all at once. My parents are pretty much n00bs and generally distrustful of computing machines. Maybe over time I can ease them into some of these activities.

]]> By: Dan http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9453 Dan Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:52:41 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9453 Write, edit photos, edit video, design graphics, program, keep financial records, keep track of things in spreadsheets, keep track of things in a database, keep track of things in a document, create a book, make music, calculate, rip CDs, digitize vinyl albums, make dvds, keep a contact list.... Write, edit photos, edit video, design graphics, program, keep financial records, keep track of things in spreadsheets, keep track of things in a database, keep track of things in a document, create a book, make music, calculate, rip CDs, digitize vinyl albums, make dvds, keep a contact list….

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9347 Jake Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:21:07 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9347 All great use cases, but my guess is those came over time as you used the computer, not all at once. My parents are pretty much n00bs and generally distrustful of computing machines. Maybe over time I can ease them into some of these activities. All great use cases, but my guess is those came over time as you used the computer, not all at once. My parents are pretty much n00bs and generally distrustful of computing machines. Maybe over time I can ease them into some of these activities.

]]> By: Dan http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9343 Dan Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:52:41 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9343 Write, edit photos, edit video, design graphics, program, keep financial records, keep track of things in spreadsheets, keep track of things in a database, keep track of things in a document, create a book, make music, calculate, rip CDs, digitize vinyl albums, make dvds, keep a contact list.... Write, edit photos, edit video, design graphics, program, keep financial records, keep track of things in spreadsheets, keep track of things in a database, keep track of things in a document, create a book, make music, calculate, rip CDs, digitize vinyl albums, make dvds, keep a contact list….

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9336 Jake Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:22:49 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9336 Interesting combination of users. Seems again that any disconnected use comes from a work need. If wonder if your sample is indicative for netbooks, i.e. 1 in 4 people would be best suited with one. I do think the small form-factor is a deal-breaker for older people, e.g. my parents. Interesting combination of users. Seems again that any disconnected use comes from a work need. If wonder if your sample is indicative for netbooks, i.e. 1 in 4 people would be best suited with one. I do think the small form-factor is a deal-breaker for older people, e.g. my parents.

]]> By: Chris http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9335 Chris Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:24:14 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9335 My mother-in-law<br>A netbook would be perfect for her: a little web browsing and even less email.<br><br>My father<br>He writes articles / papers and he has a PDA with addresses and calendar. For him, being able to use the computer to write / edit / print and to backup his PDA were god-sends.<br><br>My Mother<br>She took a while to convince and it came down to printing the labels that go next to art in a museum. Then she eventually got used to editing on a computer (she was a trained legal secretary back in the day) and things got good.<br><br>The other thing my parents use it for is shared financial records with automatic calculations since they track every penny they find on the street.<br><br>In fact, my Mom spends a lot of time on the computer and the only internet thing she does is email.<br><br>My wife<br>iPhoto and iTunes. My mother-in-law
A netbook would be perfect for her: a little web browsing and even less email.

My father
He writes articles / papers and he has a PDA with addresses and calendar. For him, being able to use the computer to write / edit / print and to backup his PDA were god-sends.

My Mother
She took a while to convince and it came down to printing the labels that go next to art in a museum. Then she eventually got used to editing on a computer (she was a trained legal secretary back in the day) and things got good.

The other thing my parents use it for is shared financial records with automatic calculations since they track every penny they find on the street.

In fact, my Mom spends a lot of time on the computer and the only internet thing she does is email.

My wife
iPhoto and iTunes.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9329 Jake Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:28:53 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9329 I did mention they could get acquainted with it, but that didn't sound like fun to them. Turns out they're better at using it than I expected, so that's a plus.<br><br>It's a bit odd that we can't come up with a long list of what you can do with a computer, minus the internets. Makes me wonder what life would be like now w/o internets. Shudder. I did mention they could get acquainted with it, but that didn't sound like fun to them. Turns out they're better at using it than I expected, so that's a plus.

It's a bit odd that we can't come up with a long list of what you can do with a computer, minus the internets. Makes me wonder what life would be like now w/o internets. Shudder.

]]> By: Michael http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9327 Michael Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:04:05 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9327 Despite me being a sysadmin and software engineer, who you think could find umpteen+ uses for a disconnected computer, I'd be the same as your parents, with only one exception: television. If I had no internet access and didn't watch T.V. through my computer, I'd just walk away and do something else. Actually, now that I think of it, I might not even watch T.V. because I wouldn't be able to download T.V. listings. I would probably try, at first, to write some software, but without access to online documentation I'd quickly run into a wall.<br><br>Had I been in your situation, my immediate, first answer would have been: "nothing." My reluctant, second answer probably would have been: "well, you can spend time right now getting acquainted with the computer" (that's assuming they're anything like my mom who doesn't even know how to use a mouse).<br><br>No internet = do something else like hone my culinary skills or read a book or chat on the pho—oops, nevermind, I only have VoIP. Despite me being a sysadmin and software engineer, who you think could find umpteen+ uses for a disconnected computer, I'd be the same as your parents, with only one exception: television. If I had no internet access and didn't watch T.V. through my computer, I'd just walk away and do something else. Actually, now that I think of it, I might not even watch T.V. because I wouldn't be able to download T.V. listings. I would probably try, at first, to write some software, but without access to online documentation I'd quickly run into a wall.

Had I been in your situation, my immediate, first answer would have been: “nothing.” My reluctant, second answer probably would have been: “well, you can spend time right now getting acquainted with the computer” (that's assuming they're anything like my mom who doesn't even know how to use a mouse).

No internet = do something else like hone my culinary skills or read a book or chat on the pho—oops, nevermind, I only have VoIP.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9249 Jake Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:35:31 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9249 In college, I did the same, carrying papers around on floppy disks. I'm with you on the cassette covers, did that too, and yes, it's a bit OCD. I embrace that :)<br><br>I guess kids are a good use case for netbooks, but it sounds like you'd be happy with a net-based OS. No need for anything fancy that could break the intertubes. In college, I did the same, carrying papers around on floppy disks. I'm with you on the cassette covers, did that too, and yes, it's a bit OCD. I embrace that :)

I guess kids are a good use case for netbooks, but it sounds like you'd be happy with a net-based OS. No need for anything fancy that could break the intertubes.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9248 Jake Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:32:49 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9248 Sometimes it's fun to be in a corner. Sometimes it's fun to be in a corner.

]]> By: Matt Rasmussen http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9241 Matt Rasmussen Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:14:49 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9241 Pre-interweb computers for me were about storing lists of information and school papers/assignments. While in college, I briefly worked at a graphic design company so a second draw for me to computers were about the cool visual things you could do. In high school, I would photocopy, cut and paste my own cassette covers to make bootlegs look realistic (although they were only black, white and shades of gray.) Now it could all be done on a computer. Sounds really OCD now...<br><br>I've been thinking about getting a net-top pc for my kids so they don't crash our "real" pc with quicken, taxes, photos, and my wife's business documents on it. They only use the web and iTunes. Why risk real documents when it could all be deleted with the click of a link that says "you just won prizes or cash"? I'm not interested in getting them a laptop though because I don't trust them wandering around the house with it and not dropping it. We go through tv remotes and cordless phones too quickly. :( Pre-interweb computers for me were about storing lists of information and school papers/assignments. While in college, I briefly worked at a graphic design company so a second draw for me to computers were about the cool visual things you could do. In high school, I would photocopy, cut and paste my own cassette covers to make bootlegs look realistic (although they were only black, white and shades of gray.) Now it could all be done on a computer. Sounds really OCD now…

I've been thinking about getting a net-top pc for my kids so they don't crash our “real” pc with quicken, taxes, photos, and my wife's business documents on it. They only use the web and iTunes. Why risk real documents when it could all be deleted with the click of a link that says “you just won prizes or cash”? I'm not interested in getting them a laptop though because I don't trust them wandering around the house with it and not dropping it. We go through tv remotes and cordless phones too quickly. :(

]]> By: jpiwowar http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9239 jpiwowar Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:27:44 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9239 Yup, I had to wrack my brain to come up w/ those three examples. Even though I'm in a geek-and-nerd household and my social circles also trend that way, it's pretty clear that our usage patterns are the corner case. :-) Yup, I had to wrack my brain to come up w/ those three examples. Even though I'm in a geek-and-nerd household and my social circles also trend that way, it's pretty clear that our usage patterns are the corner case. :-)

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9236 Jake Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:12:24 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9236 Weird, right? When I got my first laptop, I spent a lot of time in Office, but that seems very antiquated now. Without a real need for a computer, it's pretty well useless without connectivity. Funny shift. Weird, right? When I got my first laptop, I spent a lot of time in Office, but that seems very antiquated now. Without a real need for a computer, it's pretty well useless without connectivity. Funny shift.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9235 Jake Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:10:44 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9235 Yeah, it's a funny little exercise, especially when you're trying to answer that question for a brand-new computer user.<br><br>We're having issues with our host. We'll likely be switching soon. Sorry about that. I guess Feedburner polling happens via another process, kinda cool. Yeah, it's a funny little exercise, especially when you're trying to answer that question for a brand-new computer user.

We're having issues with our host. We'll likely be switching soon. Sorry about that. I guess Feedburner polling happens via another process, kinda cool.

]]> By: Floyd http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9234 Floyd Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:42:15 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9234 Hmmm...went through a similar experience recently sending my youngest son off to college. It's all about the tubes for him: Facebook, iTunes, YouTube. Set him up with a new netbook. He's happy so long as he connects. Without the tubes, he sees the netbook as a paperweight.<br><br>Never thought the connection thing would be such a big deal when I was teaching myself Lotus 1-2-3 macros all those years ago...who'da thunk it? Hmmm…went through a similar experience recently sending my youngest son off to college. It's all about the tubes for him: Facebook, iTunes, YouTube. Set him up with a new netbook. He's happy so long as he connects. Without the tubes, he sees the netbook as a paperweight.

Never thought the connection thing would be such a big deal when I was teaching myself Lotus 1-2-3 macros all those years ago…who'da thunk it?

]]> By: Jim http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9233 Jim Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:05:16 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9233 Years ago we set up a Red Hat box, and as it was on a PC with a WinModem, we couldn't get it online. All sources of help help were online, so after playing for a while, we got rid of it, being scared by it being so new and different to what we were used to.<br><br>On the PC, I mess about with Flash a bit, but am always on the web getting answers to things I'm stuck on, so without the web, it'd be a frustrating exercise, as I'm always getting stuck.<br><br>BTW, your site was down for most of my working day again in the UK again - I tried q. a few times to access it. Still, I can view your content via the Email Subscriptions even if your site is down. Years ago we set up a Red Hat box, and as it was on a PC with a WinModem, we couldn't get it online. All sources of help help were online, so after playing for a while, we got rid of it, being scared by it being so new and different to what we were used to.

On the PC, I mess about with Flash a bit, but am always on the web getting answers to things I'm stuck on, so without the web, it'd be a frustrating exercise, as I'm always getting stuck.

BTW, your site was down for most of my working day again in the UK again – I tried q. a few times to access it. Still, I can view your content via the Email Subscriptions even if your site is down.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9232 Jake Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:11:09 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9232 Sure, but I think these are tasks you'd collect after owing a computer. This is their first computer and neither one has used one much in the past. I thought about the movie one, but I knew they'd say "we can do that on the DVD player".<br><br>Way too paranoid for personal finance on a computer too. Plus, Quicken is hampered if you're not online, too much manual entry.<br><br>This sounds like a corner case due to our collective digital experience, but it really isn't. Frankly, we may be the corner cases. Sure, but I think these are tasks you'd collect after owing a computer. This is their first computer and neither one has used one much in the past. I thought about the movie one, but I knew they'd say “we can do that on the DVD player”.

Way too paranoid for personal finance on a computer too. Plus, Quicken is hampered if you're not online, too much manual entry.

This sounds like a corner case due to our collective digital experience, but it really isn't. Frankly, we may be the corner cases.

]]> By: jpiwowar http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9231 jpiwowar Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:36:39 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9231 Well, there's a) photo editing and b) movie-watching, but you have to be a) into that sort of thing, and b) weird like me and not own other devices for that. Otherwise, yeah, I find my usual workflows to be pretty hampered without network access.<br><br>Oh, and bookkeeping type stuff (Quicken), which doesn't strictly require network connectivity. Well, there's a) photo editing and b) movie-watching, but you have to be a) into that sort of thing, and b) weird like me and not own other devices for that. Otherwise, yeah, I find my usual workflows to be pretty hampered without network access.

Oh, and bookkeeping type stuff (Quicken), which doesn't strictly require network connectivity.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9230 Jake Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:02:32 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9230 Yeah, my parents may eventually find installable software they want to use, but I'm starting to think that, for the average n00b, computers do one thing really well, connect to the interwebs. All the other jobs can be done equally well or better with other devices. This is the NC vision 13 years later.<br><br>I agree that netbooks fit a niche as another computer, not as the primary one, which is why I see the market for a full-size laptop running a bare-bones, network OS as a huge one. Yeah, my parents may eventually find installable software they want to use, but I'm starting to think that, for the average n00b, computers do one thing really well, connect to the interwebs. All the other jobs can be done equally well or better with other devices. This is the NC vision 13 years later.

I agree that netbooks fit a niche as another computer, not as the primary one, which is why I see the market for a full-size laptop running a bare-bones, network OS as a huge one.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/31/what-does-it-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9229 Jake Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:58:27 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3400#comment-9229 Sure, but this isn't something my parents would want to do. They're paper people. The only real tasks they want to use the computer for are online. Sure, but this isn't something my parents would want to do. They're paper people. The only real tasks they want to use the computer for are online.

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