There's a difference in how I relate to my PC compared with ten years ago. Before the Web, the centre of my computing world was my computer and its chundering floppy disk drive and flickering LED's. Ten years ago, everything that I did with my computer, physically took place inside of it. I used my computer ten years ago in a very literal sense that I cannot apply to the way I use my computer today.
Firstly, I have access to more than one computer - I have a PC in my office and two at home. Most days I use at least two of them and so there's not the same singular bond with one computing device that there was ten years ago. Therefore you could say that there's less emotional attachment with the hardware itself, its keyboard, the subtle, intimate noises and chirps it makes and with the fragmented contents of it's disks.
Secondly, how I use my computers has changed in ten years. Previously most of my computing time would have been enclosed, task based work - or gaming / entertainment. Today, whilst still proving to be a useful task based tool, my PC also often merely facilitates access to the work of others, a simple gateway. The centre of my computing world is shifting slowly and progressively away from the CPU, RAM and hard disk of my PC today, to the hundreds of websites and resources I use every month - not forgetting my own fabulous weblog, of course - and my PC is moving more towards becoming an anonymous transport to that world.
e.g. Two weeks ago I bought a brand new, high spec Dell notebook and, to be honest, I'm completely unphased by it. Whereas ten years ago I'm sure that I would have been in geek ecstasy for at least a month in total and absolute awe of it.
But I suppose that it's just not where the value lives any more.
Note to Mac users: Don't even think about going there.
Firstly, I have access to more than one computer - I have a PC in my office and two at home. Most days I use at least two of them and so there's not the same singular bond with one computing device that there was ten years ago. Therefore you could say that there's less emotional attachment with the hardware itself, its keyboard, the subtle, intimate noises and chirps it makes and with the fragmented contents of it's disks.
Secondly, how I use my computers has changed in ten years. Previously most of my computing time would have been enclosed, task based work - or gaming / entertainment. Today, whilst still proving to be a useful task based tool, my PC also often merely facilitates access to the work of others, a simple gateway. The centre of my computing world is shifting slowly and progressively away from the CPU, RAM and hard disk of my PC today, to the hundreds of websites and resources I use every month - not forgetting my own fabulous weblog, of course - and my PC is moving more towards becoming an anonymous transport to that world.
e.g. Two weeks ago I bought a brand new, high spec Dell notebook and, to be honest, I'm completely unphased by it. Whereas ten years ago I'm sure that I would have been in geek ecstasy for at least a month in total and absolute awe of it.
But I suppose that it's just not where the value lives any more.
Note to Mac users: Don't even think about going there.