TechCrunch: The Death Of The Spec

[kjk]

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

As the technonolgy matures so specs become less important. It happens in lots of industries. After awhile we expect it all to just work. No big deal.

Exactly.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I think that specs vs. user experience is essentially this:

To some people it doesn't matter if the specs say that A and B are exactly the same shade of gray if they appear to gave different shades, and to some people it does.

Sorry to side track the thread, but the squares are clearly different shades of grey. What am I missing?

[kjk]

Originally Posted by John F

Sorry to side track the thread, but the squares are clearly different shades of grey. What am I missing?

lol, take it into Photoshop-believe me, they are the same.

EDIT: Here, I cut out the B square and moved it:

[John F]

Ell, I didn't believe you. But your right! Cool.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by John F

Sorry to side track the thread, but the squares are clearly different shades of grey. What am I missing?

That perception and user experience is entirely subjective. They are not different, they only look different, because of the shades around them. So you're also missing the fact that since our senses are ridiculously easy to fool/manipulate, relying on them as the primary means of evaluating anything might not be a good idea...

[HappyMartin]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

That perception and user experience is entirely subjective. They are not different, they only look different, because of the shades around them. So you're also missing the fact that since our senses are ridiculously easy to fool/manipulate, relying on them as the primary means of evaluating anything might not be a good idea...

And what if you are evaluating a user experience? Enjoyment is something that a spec sheet would pretty much be useless with but our flawed senses might not do so badly at. Life is a user experience, not a performance management exercise.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

Life is a user experience, not a performance management exercise.

Says you.

I don't evaluate other user's experiences. I go to a store that has the device I'm interested in on display, experience it for myself, and then go from there. When my friends ask me what I thought of that device, I usually don't bother answering. Most of them look for very different qualities in their gadgets than I do, so if my user experience was positive, that really doesn't mean much to them either way.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

That perception and user experience is entirely subjective. They are not different, they only look different, because of the shades around them.

And this happens every time someone is comparing device A to device B. I trust the specs because I play PC games and I know the importance of system requirements.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by kjk

The article wasn't just about Apple. You seem to be the one intent on talking about Apple.

The article wasn't only about Apple, but it suggested that specs are "dead". But the general consensus here is that a comparison of specs is essential when comparing devices from the same company that offer the same "eco-system". After all, they want you to upgrade every year, don't they? (No, I don't do that). Specs only give you part of the picture for comparisons between devices using different OSs.

iPhone 4 vs 4S is the best example of the importance of specs --- nothing changed but specs for this upgrade. The other companies tend to at least make minor cosmetic changes. That is the reason why I am talking about Apple.

And of course, you haven't addressed the all important question --- why trade up from the 4 to the 4S if not for specs?

[kjk]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

And of course, you haven't addressed the all important question --- why trade up from the 4 to the 4S if not for specs?

You made up the example and decided it was the "all important question". It isn't all important to everyone. To MG Siegler and Drew Breunig, the question was more nuanced, and has to do with other issues rather than yours. That certainly wasn't their "all important question".

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by kjk

You made up the example and decided it was the "all important question". It isn't all important to everyone. To MG Siegler and Drew Breunig, the question was more nuanced, and has to do with other issues rather than yours. That certainly wasn't their "all important question".

If someone claims that specs don't matter anymore, then that is the "all important" question. Well, we all know the answer already --- that case proves that specs DO matter.

[wizwor]

The guy who wrote the article is an Apple customer. These people tend to be price and specification insensitive -- if there is an Apple on the case, the product is better...or at least seems that way.

For the rest of us, specs still matter. How much they matter and which specs matter the most is a moving target, but, believe me, we are a long way from the place where choosing a tech product is more about color than what's under the hood.

Price, screen size, case size, boot time, application load time, battery life, and responsiveness are all specs that still matter. How many apps and movies and how much they cost still matter. Whether the device has a camera (or two) or a GPS or a capacitive screen matters. Whether connectivity is 3g or 4g or wifi matters.

I think Mr. Siegler was trying to say that specs do not matter to him because he trusts Apple to equip his next device with what he needs and that he is willing to pay whatever price Apple will charge for that device. More power to him. Give me the specs and a marketplace and I'll decide which device is best for my needs and how much I am willing to pay.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Worse by which standard?

I'm a Windows user through and through. I'm a PC gamer, and I am a hardware geek who likes to open the system and replace/repair part for part when I need to. I don't own a single apple product.

And with linux it becomes even more important.

in addition to being so locked into one specific ecosystem, just adds to it's many shortcomings.

But all of the above is one of the reasons that specs matter and will continue to matter. Because everything else is subjective.

because it's so dumbed down and lacking in what it allows me to do beyond opening and using programs that I feel like I'm a passenger in the computer experience instead of the driver. As if Apple has deliberately done their best to keep me as powerless and ignorant as possible. Yeah, I know that it works. So what?

very nice sum up Scaly

now I'm gonna add some Linux experience sauce to that:
In order to know if and how a specific piece of hardware will perform we have to know the hardware all that marketing hot-air is from a linuxers POV absolutely zero information.

I don't need to read marketing phrases about "last generation GPU" or "doubled WiFi range" just tell me exactly which chip is in and I'll find out wether it works - if it does I can be fairly sure that the OSS coders in charge 'll do their best to squeeze the last possible feature out of the hardware (no artificially feature locks via drivers - wasn't that an issue with soundblaster cards and their windows drivers where a free coder released alternative ones unleashing full hardware power?

So if a company chooses to shut up about specs I regularely ask myself what they are trying to hide. The logic is simple: If the stuff is good you don't bother with hand-waving exercises but show off why it IS so f*ng good. Everything else just means something is rotten in the state of Denmark. they went cheap on some important components and keep it quiet hoping people don't notice being ripped off for 2nd choice hardware built in (or left out completely).

Originally Posted by stonetools

What's dead is the techie idea that specs are ALL that matters, and that ease of use and ecosystem either doesn't matter , or is peripheral. That way of comparing devices is now deader than fried chicken

Apparently not or all the posts before would be non-existent. Or are you still consequently ignoring postings of others?

What matters is total user experience, which includes ease of use, ecosystem, and specs , which are weighted based on the user. For the techie user, specs reign supreme, whereas for the newbie, ease of use is primary.

As a newbie one begins young padawan - but I still have the hope that the human species hasn't degenerated so much that all individual users remain in that state and wish to do so.
Just in case you use a bike - do you still have the training wheels on you had on your 1st ones?

Originally Posted by stonetools

Apple has led this way of thinking.

And I wouldn't wonder if the 1st computer trying something like:

Originally Posted by HAL

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

might have an red-glowing apple-shaped eye

Or as Scaly pointed out - "passenger not driver"
There's a load of people out there who prefer not to be treated like a mushroom. Even among Apple users - If you want a proof here it is: http://missingmanuals.com/
But it isn't an Apple only phenomenon - I still remember having helped people with their Win 9x machines by use of DOS related knowledge, which whey lacked not due to their lazyness, but simply because it was no longer made available to the new users; and still desperately needed.

Originally Posted by stonetools

because this is how most consumers think.

or refuse to think. And even if you were right I see no proof here, just a claim - I don't mind about opinions of people who refuse to learn, and think, regardless if they are a majority or not.
Why? since actually once upon a time most people tought the earth is flat, and we don't need waggons without horses, etc. ad nauseam.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

or refuse to think.

This is right on the money, what I have been trying to say all along. By de-emphasizing specs manufacturers are trying to get customers to think less and just trust the makers since "they know best".

[MrsJoseph]

I kind of find it funny that whenever Apple is brought up - suddenly their customers are ignorant and refuse to see the light. That's hogwash. No man is an island living unto himself. It takes all types of people to make the world go around.

I am not an ignorant consumer and I have an iPhone.