3 ms·
This, and other "X is Dead" articles are not only unproductive, they are almost always wrong. Let's consider other things that have been declared dead by journ
by zupreme 14y ago
This, and other "X is Dead" articles are not only unproductive, they are almost always wrong.
Let's consider other things that have been declared dead by journalists and bloggers in recent years.
1) Microsoft is dead: http://www.paulgraham.com/microsoft.html http://www.paulgraham.com/microsoft.html
2) The PC/Desktop: http://www.thestrategyweb.com/desktop-is-dead-tablets-on-the-rise http://www.thestrategyweb.com/desktop-is-dead-tablets-on-the...
3) CD's: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2011/11/cds_are_dead_five_favorite_obsolete_music_formats.php http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2011/11/cds_are_dea...
4) DVD's: http://www.investmentu.com/2011/February/trans-world-entertainment.html http://www.investmentu.com/2011/February/trans-world-enterta...
5) Linux on the Desktop: http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/08/gnome-founder-says-desktop-linux-is-dead http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/08/gnome-founder-says-deskto...
That's just a small sampling and each and every one is built on an incorrect premise. That premise is that technologies "die" when something better comes along.
This could not be farther from the truth. It is actually very rare when a new technology or device comes along which is so superior, so much more accessible, and so much more cost effective than its predecessor that the predecessor fades completely from view. In fact, it's so rare that I cannot think of a single example of this having occurred since Cassette tapes were upstaged by CD's.
Can you?
- DanBC 14y agoBetamax versus VHS. VHS versus DVD - VHS is effectively dead now. 5¼" discs versus 3½" discs versus USB sticks and email.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- IsaacL 14y agoYes, I'd much prefer if journalists would switch from using "X is dead" to "X is dying". Dying is a much better analogy than dead. Dead things don't do anything. Dying things might die quickly (cassettes) or they might die slowly (typewriters). They might die quietly (independent bookstores) or they might lash out and take as many with them as they can (Hollywood). They might be put out their misery by their owner (Flash), remain on life support (Yahoo), experience a miraculous recovery (IBM), or rise like a Phoenix from the ashes (Mozilla).
- mertd 14y agoCDs and DVDs aren't dead? Surely there may be some residual activity going on, but physical distribution of data altogether is mostly done for. Dropbox and cdn's pretty much solved the problem of sharing data efficiently.
- callmevlad 14y agoEvery example so far is with physical media, but part of the premise is that established market leaders die as a result of innovation. The CompuServe/AOL model was once prevalent, and now has faded completely away. MySpace was the top dog, until it wasn't.