Stuff I might not buy
Saturday, August 11th, 2007I might not buy one of the new aluminium iMacs, because I don’t actually need one. But even the 20" is bigger than my current TV, and would make one nice little media center… And an actual glass screen, that doesn’t squidge when you tap it with your fingernail? I want one!
I also might not buy a second hand Toyota Prius, because I went and sat in one today and man, do they have the stupidest interior design I’ve ever seen in a car.
Perhaps it’s something to do with cutting costs for producing both left and right hand drives, but all the display and non mechanical controls are placed in the center of the dashboard— I would probably get a crick in my neck from leaning over to see the display all the time (right up until I crash into a bus while craning to admire my rad fuel economy).
Also note the bizarre transmisson lever that just sticks out like they glued it on as an afterthought (obscuring the driver’s view of that fabulous multi-function touch screen).
August 11th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Regarding the centralised dash display stuff, I’ve been told that’s a feature (it’s on other cars, not just the prius) because that way you can see the dials etc in your periphary, and when you *do* look at them then you can still see the road. This could all be rubbish, but it’s not necessarily a cost cutting thing…
August 12th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I suspect that with the right-hand drive versions of the Prius that your [and my] left eye limitations may come into effect a bit…
However, my experience after driving many many different cars over the years indicates that your body/brain will twist and contort itself to accommodate just about any configuration - this is true of course outside of cars as well… habituation is a very powerful effect.
I find a similar thing with computers - I use heaps of different/unfamiliar ones so most of my operating skillz are “diffused” until I actually get on a machine and start working - I used to have “hey where’s the ???? thingy…” feelings all the time on unfamiliar machines now it’s just a few seconds to get my bearings and off I go.
I recently found out that Brian May [from Queen] has basically played the same guitar for his whole career - a guitar that he and his father made in 1963! Imagine how weird it would be for him to pick up anything else… I’m sure he could manage as he is a total legend and now has a PHD in astrophysics.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:33 am
I am also considering not buying these products. I’m leaning most strongly towards not buying the car, but I think there’s a good chance I’ll give in and not buy the iMac either ;)