Putting your tech foot in your mouth

Forums › Off topic › Putting your tech foot in your mouth

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 211

#115336 22-Mar-2013 12:59

We all know the famous quote from Thomas Watson of IBM:

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

Mine have mostly been about cell phones recently.
"Why would you want a screen bigger than 3.5 inches?" - just before getting my X5
"Why would you want a screen bigger than 4 inches? - Before I used an HD7 for a while
"Why would you need dual core in a phone?" - Why wouldn't you
"Quad core in a phone is crazy." - Its not really
"AMD is going to blow Intel out of the water with their new Bulldozer chips." - Nope Intel are still, faster and more efficient. :(

Im sure I have made more about desktops and laptops recently too.

What are your dumb tech comments?

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

1 | 2

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#785421 22-Mar-2013 13:16

My favourite is 'I only need one cable there' from customers...

Nek minnit, come back 6 months later and charge them a fortune for extra cabling.

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#785424 22-Mar-2013 13:21

"Paul Milbank said..."

spearsniper

133 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 65

#785432 22-Mar-2013 13:45

"Wheedle - finally some competition for Trademe"

nickb800

2735 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 829

Trusted

#785436 22-Mar-2013 13:55

"No need to run ethernet cables, WiFi will make network cabling redundant"

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#785437 22-Mar-2013 14:00

nickb800: "No need to run ethernet cables, WiFi will make network cabling redundant"

Wow that one is a shocker!

Behodar

11094 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6070

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#785444 22-Mar-2013 14:18

"It won't be called iPhone 5; it's the sixth generation and Apple will want to take advantage of that."

I've posted this before but it's still amusing; it's Apple fans' reactions to the original iPod announcement in 2001.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

pctek

807 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 157
Inactive user

#785469 22-Mar-2013 14:53

My pet comment lately is that PCs are about to be extinct.
And phones.

We are heading for the DEVICE, along the lines of a tablet/smartphone thing I guess, the one gadget does it all thing.

Dumb? Maybe, you can't predict what might happen.....but I think maybe not so dumb.

geek4me

843 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 78

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#785473 22-Mar-2013 14:56

My colleague at work 20 or so years ago: "The Internet won't come to anything."

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 272

#785548 22-Mar-2013 16:28

Best one I ever heard was from a Canadian guy who had come out to NZ to see my business in late 1993: "You are selling downloadable software through this new Internet thing? That's a crazy idea that will never catch on".

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#785554 22-Mar-2013 16:36

nickb800: "No need to run ethernet cables, WiFi will make network cabling redundant"

that is actually true for the vast majority of households right now. Most don't have network cabling through their house. instead they use wifi.

Ok so network cabling is not completely redundant, but it is definitelymarginalised compared to how it could be if wifi didn't exist

Klipspringer

2385 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 286
Inactive user

#785555 22-Mar-2013 16:37

paulmilbank:

What are your dumb tech comments?

Back in about 1996.

"I will never be seen with a cell phone"

One year later I had my first phone. A nokia 2110.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

Jemahl

33 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#785589 22-Mar-2013 17:40

"I can do more cool stuff with my Amiga 500 than you ever can with your PC" -

At least it was situationally true for a very short time in the 90's! Kind of ..

jeffnz

2870 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 666

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#785594 22-Mar-2013 17:51

slightly off topic but reading thread reminded me of this oldie.

Customer: I'm having trouble with Microsoft Word.
IT helpdesk: What sort of trouble?
Customer: Well, I was just busy typing and all of a sudden the words went away.
IT helpdesk: Went away?
Customer: They disappeared.
IT helpdesk: So what does your screen look like now?
Customer: Nothing.
IT helpdesk: Nothing?
Customer: It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.
IT helpdesk: Are you still in Word, or did you close it down?
Customer: How do I tell?
IT helpdesk: Can you see the C:\ prompt flashing on the screen?
Customer: What's a sea-prompt?
IT helpdesk: Never mind. Can you move the cursor around on the screen?
Customer: There isn't any cursor. I told you, it won't accept anything I type.
IT helpdesk: Does your monitor have a power indicator?
Customer: What's a monitor?
IT helpdesk: It's the thing that looks like a TV screen. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?
Customer: I don't know.
IT helpdesk: Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?
Customer: Yes, I think so.
IT helpdesk: Great! Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall and switched on.
Customer: .......Yes, it is.
IT helpdesk: When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?
Customer: No.
IT helpdesk: Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.
Customer: .......Okay, here it is.
IT helpdesk: Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.
Customer: I can't reach it.
IT helpdesk: OK. Well, can you see if it is?
Customer: No.
IT helpdesk: Even if you maybe lean way over?
Customer: Oh, it's not because I can't get access to it - it's because it's dark.
IT helpdesk: Dark?
Customer: Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.
IT helpdesk: Well, turn on the office light then.
Customer: I can't.
IT helpdesk: Why not?
Customer: Because we've had a power cut.
IT helpdesk: A power cut? OK, now I've got it sorted. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?
Customer: Yes, I keep them in the closet.
IT helpdesk: Good! Go and get them, and unplug your computer and screen and pack it up just like it was when you got it.
Then take it back to the store you bought it from.
Customer: Really? Is it that bad?
IT helpdesk: Yes, I'm afraid it is.
Customer: Well, OK then. But what do I tell them in the store?
IT helpdesk: Tell them you're too stupid to own a computer!"

Galaxy S10

Garmin Fenix 5