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The things you're lamenting their lack of access to/familiarity with are things that won't be relevant when they're adults. These are old fogey things that will

The things you're lamenting their lack of access to/familiarity with are things that won't be relevant when they're adults. These are old fogey things that will die with the likes of us. Desktop computing is the cursive handwriting of gen z+.

mk_stjames 4y ago
I'm fairly confident that at the pinnacles of most fields there will be desktop-looking machines in use for a while. I don't see engineers analyzing fluid dynamics simulations and designing jet turbines on a cell phone. Even if the cell phones of 2045 are as powerful as the most badass workstation of today. The UI matters. Aside: I love the term 'old fogey'. Because I think if you recognize that term these days... you've now become the old fogey.
kortilla 4y ago
> Desktop computing is the cursive handwriting of gen z+. Not really. Cursive handwriting was for efficiency of writing. Desktop/laptop computing just allows you to do completely different things. There isn’t a whiff of it going away in the professional world.
snhly 4y ago
> Desktop computing is the cursive handwriting of gen z+. Just because a generation hasn't had the time to upskill and branch out into alternative technologies yet doesn't make their consumer choices prophetic. Desktop computers are by far the better form factor, for the same reason that a spacious study room is better than typing in a closet. The main barrier is a financial one. Being able to do your work and your communication in a larger three dimensional space than the 5 inch smart phone window is a privilege. That's the main reason gen-z don't do it yet. They're mostly a bunch of broke people, at the bottom of the career ladder, near the bottom of the social capital ladder, and thereby still expected to reply immediately to bosses, colleagues, new love interests, additionally expected to do it all on their limited budget, which they choose to direct towards what they value most right now in tech: portability. Once they have a bit of money saved up, and less pressure on them to be 24/7 on-call, I'm pretty sure they too will start installing desktops into the corners of their private studies. Especially when the myopia and neck problems start to kick in.
sneeuwman 4y ago
It's not Desktops that are not going away, it's the keyboards which are still and for the foreseeable future the most efficient means of human-computer input. Not voice, not thought (which will be, expectedly, just a voice transmitted by other means) are not faster than key strokes. Swipes on the screen are debilitatingly slow and painful (crippling in the long run). Cursive handwriting is not going away either for paper diaries and similar things for the same reason: efficiency of input.

mk_stjames 4y ago

I'm fairly confident that at the pinnacles of most fields there will be desktop-looking machines in use for a while. I don't see engineers analyzing fluid dynamics simulations and designing jet turbines on a cell phone. Even if the cell phones of 2045 are as powerful as the most badass workstation of today. The UI matters. Aside: I love the term 'old fogey'. Because I think if you recognize that term these days... you've now become the old fogey.

kortilla 4y ago

> Desktop computing is the cursive handwriting of gen z+. Not really. Cursive handwriting was for efficiency of writing. Desktop/laptop computing just allows you to do completely different things. There isn’t a whiff of it going away in the professional world.

snhly 4y ago

> Desktop computing is the cursive handwriting of gen z+. Just because a generation hasn't had the time to upskill and branch out into alternative technologies yet doesn't make their consumer choices prophetic. Desktop computers are by far the better form factor, for the same reason that a spacious study room is better than typing in a closet. The main barrier is a financial one. Being able to do your work and your communication in a larger three dimensional space than the 5 inch smart phone window is a privilege. That's the main reason gen-z don't do it yet. They're mostly a bunch of broke people, at the bottom of the career ladder, near the bottom of the social capital ladder, and thereby still expected to reply immediately to bosses, colleagues, new love interests, additionally expected to do it all on their limited budget, which they choose to direct towards what they value most right now in tech: portability. Once they have a bit of money saved up, and less pressure on them to be 24/7 on-call, I'm pretty sure they too will start installing desktops into the corners of their private studies. Especially when the myopia and neck problems start to kick in.

sneeuwman 4y ago

It's not Desktops that are not going away, it's the keyboards which are still and for the foreseeable future the most efficient means of human-computer input. Not voice, not thought (which will be, expectedly, just a voice transmitted by other means) are not faster than key strokes. Swipes on the screen are debilitatingly slow and painful (crippling in the long run). Cursive handwriting is not going away either for paper diaries and similar things for the same reason: efficiency of input.