chojiro :
I decided not to even bother reading the article after reading the first paragraph of it which you posted:
The fact is, the New Economy has done a brilliant job over the past decade of putting high-tech gewgaws on the market and into our homes. But maybe it's been a little too brilliant. What's left to buy when you already have your SUV, your DVD and your MP3? The tech industry is learning that one of its biggest challenges is building in enough obsolescence. A key reason for the current slump in computer sales is that box makers haven't convinced consumers that the new models do much that their current PCs can't. And as Microsoft labors on its new operating system, Whistler, it's struggling to build in enough must-have features to make people feel they need to ditch Windows.
The article so wrongfully implies that we already have enough of technology and therefore whats there more to have?! This argue would be similar to saying ok, you have a shirt, a pair of pants, a pair of shoes, a ceiling over your head, and some food in the refrigerator, then what more do you want or need?! It misses the very concept of why we live: to make progress and move forward for better life! And by better life I mean whatever it is that one wants to achieve in life in order for him/her to be happy (whatever and however he/she wants to define the happiness). And as our basic human instinct ambition is what drives us toward being happy!
The argue that PC makers have a hard time selling their PCs and/or Microsoft selling its new OS, etc. because people dont need any of that and any new feature is absolutely ridiculous! The reason they have a hard time selling their PCs is not because consumers dont want the latest feature, but simply because there is a new paradigm in the computing model. We no longer live in a fat client centric computing model where you put everything in your hard drive and PC at home. The new paradigm is one that is server centric and networked. I no longer need to have the latest Intel's Pentium on my PC and/or have an expensive PC to do the type of things I want to do. I can do them all over the internet at a fraction of the cost thanks to the netwroked server centric architecture. And soon you will be able to rent your favorite software over the net (just like how you rent a video and/or watch a movie on demand via your cable) and use it on your Internet aware machine (which can include a PC).
The world demands more every second of every minute of every hour of every day. As this demand grows the means to deliver the results also changes. Therefore technology and the new economy evolve. What we considered to be the new economy a month ago is considered to be old economy now, and what we consider the new economy tomorrow will be old economy a month from now! Those who are strong enough, have the vision and are flexible to change to the demands will continue to grow and prosper.
CSCO is the center of this new economy and it has enough power, vision and flexibility to remain the center of all changes. In fact it will define the means to meet the demands simply because it holds the key to all the changes that are taking place for defining the new economies as time progresses.
As for Cal Marx theory of workers wages being pushed toward substance levels, all I can - or in fact need to say - is that it is the same argue that people were making in the 70's and 80's. The argue was that automation would eliminate many (then) high paying jobs. True, but it also create many other high paying jobs. One just has to be willing to evolve and to change through hard work and personal responsibility to prosper from the changes. In center of Marx's theory was that workers did not have their own mind and he never believed in one's own ambitions, and self-achievement capabilities and talents. In his eyes all people are like children who have to be told by a big brother or a big daddy what to do and what not to do.
In any event, I think this discussion is getting a bit out of CSCO context now!
Regards, |
