| wdympcf |
07-16-2008 01:42 PM |
Quote:
Would it be too much to simply and prominently label each computer? eMac version 5? eMac version 6 etc.? (I've had this computer for 5 years and used its USB and never even knew that I was under the wrong specs.) I have never confused the batteries for my remote, nor the oil filter for my car, nor the blade for my circular saw.
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You mean like they do for cars? LE, XLT, LS, SX, LT, etc. They don't even mark the model year in an obvious spot on cars. And the only way you know what oil filter goes in your car is by looking it up in your car manual, because the manufacturers have been known to swap one engine for another between model redesigns.
I think one of the issues here is familiarity. You are likely quite familiar with cars and power tools, and so you intuitively know where to look for information and don't really think about it. I suspect that you are not nearly as familiar with computers, and thus they seem a little intimidating. Even if you do know where to look for information, you aren't necessarily sure that you are reading it right.
My wife couldn't go down to a hardware store to buy a new blade for my circular saw (short of asking a salesperson to find it for her) because she isn't at all familiar with the saw and what determines whether the blade is compatible with it. It wouldn't be hard for her to learn, but she's never taken the time and has no inclination towards this.
Add to this the fact that the computer industry changes much more rapidly than the automotive or power tool industries, and it is easy to see why a casual or "unfamiliar" user can be left in bewilderment. There are probably better ways that manufacturers could brand their computers such that consumers could follow the technology developments, but it isn't as easy as you might think. |
