Comments on: Is the Computer the New TV?

By: Savannah

Savannah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:56:22 +0000

I constantly am on this, when i’m not… i’m sleeping or doing college work on it. Thank god for the computer.

By: wandaa84

wandaa84 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:06:13 +0000

Could you ever give up your computer and Internet connection?

Money would have to get pretty tight for me to give up my internet access. Our whole lives just about are run over the internet. From shopping, to banking, my small business, communications, socialization, research and on and on. My computer is as necessary as my stove.

How do you control your costs of going on-line and maintaining your computer?

I try to maintain and update my computer as often as necessary. Delete and defrag all unnecessary files and programs. Don’t overload my computer with to many extras. I don’t do networking at all and try to find any new programs, firewall and anti-virus’s for free online. It’s an ongoing process but worth it to keep my computer as long as I can.

Why do you feel that a personal computer and Internet access is essential for your household?

Readily available information, bill paying, instant communication, shop for the best deals, finding items I could never find in my local stores and so much more.

If I had no choice I could live without a computer but I would definitely miss it. It saves me so much time.

By: audrey

audrey — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:11:05 +0000

The computer is a man made object. It is the person behind the computer that can be dangerous.

I dislike how internet is blamed for all the ills going on. If we were all more civil towards each other the internet would be a better place.

I think the internet is one of the greatest inventions in a while. But we as humans should not abuse the technology then blame then technology. That is not fair.

I can live without it, but the TV is not as interactive.

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:32:12 +0000

Hardly, unless I want to get rid of my on-line business, get rid of my internet friends, leave my discussion groups behine, leave the money saving opportunities behind. I don’t use my computer for entertainment except for the occassional game of solitaire. Most of the use is business related or relationship based–something you can’t get out of a TV at all.

By: WhiteEyebrows

WhiteEyebrows — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:33:02 +0000

For people like your parents or your brother, you might want to start with simpler, embedded devices like an iPhone or iPod touch or soon-to-be releasted tablet or netbook. They can then reap the benefits of the internet on an easy to use device that is non-complex.

I find the mobile model of design and interaction to be very fitting to a ‘senior’s’ mentality – one task, one way to accomplish it, a familiar home screen, etc.

By: spicoli

spicoli — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:19:05 +0000

My computer is far more important than my TV. My computer is a compact media hub. I have a TV but it is not connected to cable or satellite. I merely use it as a monitor for my DVDs.

By: persephone

persephone — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:17:39 +0000

I rarely use my computer other than as a word processor. I only just got an e-mail account about a month ago and I have not really given my e-mail address to many people. I need a word processor as a convenience when I write but I would not miss my computer too much otherwise.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:50:10 +0000

I work in an IT related field and as a result I perform my own maintenance. I find it amazing people can afford to own a computer with the number of things that can go wrong and how dangerous the internet is becoming. Granted, I see many people using computers that are 5-8 years old so their initial cost is mitigated. In retrospect and in all honesty, I think I would like to be able to give up my computer. Maybe after I retire in several more decades.

By: Kantoorpand / Bedrijfspand huren

Kantoorpand / Bedrijfspand huren — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:35:38 +0000

Sometimes I use my tv to look to a movie with a lot of friends, but I never look at the programs on tv because there are not very much intelligent and new programs.

Besides, a lot of programs you can see at the internet at the moment you want.

By: Monkey Mama

Monkey Mama — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:23:58 +0000

I’ve never thought as a computer as expensive. But I grew up in Silicon Valley and there were always hand-me-downs galore. Everyone is moving on to the newer/faster thing every 5 minutes. Most of our peripherals we have had since we were like age 16 (they don’t need up be upgraded generally – just the box does). We tend to keep our computers “forever” and hand them down to the kids when we upgrade. We have a computer hierarchy in our house. When it’s time to get a new one, everyone else gets a hand-me-down.

Plus, you can always use one at a library, etc.

(I am thinking back to message board days of yore when people would complain they were “poor” and the immediate response was always, “If you are so poor, why do you have a computer?” Which always struck me as odd. Who said they were even using their own computer?).

Is internet essential? Yes! I am 33 and the internet age exploded when I graduated college. But I am old enough to remember “life before internet.” It continually amazes me the time saved and ease that the internet brings to our lives. I personally view it as more of a necessity than a luxury. I could live without if I had to. But the cost is really nothing considering all the benefits.

I defended the TV quite a bit in that post, but I think the internet is FAR more useful.