Re: rant

On 04/08/2024 17:09, Dimensional Traveler wrote:

On 8/3/2024 10:38 PM, Mark P. Nelson wrote:

Look, the whole point of the *personal* computer was that you didn't have to rent time from
IBM to figure out your profit/loss balance.
>
Ever since then, every computer company has been trying desperately to revive the "You
only rent it" model to bolster their bottom line, no matter their public face on the question.
>
We're getting closer and closer to no longer having personal computers which we own and
can configure/control as we wish but rather Microsoft or Banana computers for which we pay
a regular fee.
>
Pfui!

 Its not just computers.
 

I think it's got it's place so for example in the UK it's now common for people not to buy new cars but instead pay for them monthly and then after three years or so have some sort of option to buy. It's a simple but effective idea from the car manufactures. Open up a whole market for people who want a new car but just don't have the money on hand. I still remember when it wasn't uncommon for people to rent household items such as TV's and washing machines.
Were it goes wrong is with the likes of BMW, oh you want the maps updated, well that will be £80 a year. Even worse is something like like high beam assist which is more than just a bit of software. That'll be £10 a month.