More of the same?
Is it just me, or does it seem like the news bits that us computer enthusiasts feed on all just start tasting the same after a while? I've been reading computer hardware reviews and picking out components for at least four or five years now, and lately I've found it harder and harder to get excited about new things. Upgrades have become less and less frequent and there doesn't seem to be anything worth getting excited about anymore.
Maybe I'm just getting more mature and don't get sucked into marketing hype or forum gossip like I used to. Or maybe there really isn't anything new to get excited about. I think thats why things like overclocking, case modding, and benchmarking teams have become so popular; people need something else to do!
Even gaming has become more of the same. Oh great, another first person shooter that has all been done before. And that new MMORPG... I just can't wait to sink my teeth into some more of the same monthly subscription cost to play on some crowded game server. What happened to coming up with new ways to play games and exciting new genre defining titles?
I don't think this is a full case of depression, just a lack of excitement. I just want to see some games that break out of the mold. Some software really solve problems and be more compatible. Some hardware to facilitate new possibilities. I want to get excited about computers and technology again! :boring:
Maybe I'm just getting more mature and don't get sucked into marketing hype or forum gossip like I used to. Or maybe there really isn't anything new to get excited about. I think thats why things like overclocking, case modding, and benchmarking teams have become so popular; people need something else to do!
Even gaming has become more of the same. Oh great, another first person shooter that has all been done before. And that new MMORPG... I just can't wait to sink my teeth into some more of the same monthly subscription cost to play on some crowded game server. What happened to coming up with new ways to play games and exciting new genre defining titles?
I don't think this is a full case of depression, just a lack of excitement. I just want to see some games that break out of the mold. Some software really solve problems and be more compatible. Some hardware to facilitate new possibilities. I want to get excited about computers and technology again! :boring:
Total Comments 8
Comments
 |  All agreed. Things are stalling a bit in the world of computers. I find it a bit painful to buy games lately simply because I zoom through them in 2-3 days and then there's no replay factor whatsoever. It looks as if developers put multiplayer as the only replay factor in their games. All the first person shooters are too easy, even at the higher difficulty. I'm not saying I'm a FPS god or anything, although I'm not bad, but they're clearly dumping single player and expect us to enjoy multiplayer even if it's not really supported down the road. There's no game that really catch my attention, that I know in a year or two I'll see the disc in my desk drawer and think "Oh yeah, that game was badass, I'll install it right away!" On the hardware side of things, it's not any better. New graphics cards from both ATI and nVidia simply don't get my hyped. I don't even know what's the roadmap for Intel CPUs. *yawn* |
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| |  I hear you Blake, and I somewhat feel the same... After building my first high end system, and after getting some stable OC's, and after getting my watercooling system running, and after getting a GPU cooler... I dunno, it just feels kinda dull. I mean, if company's sent me free hardware all the time to test, that could be different. And with games, I'm totally there, I mean... I like first persons and RPG's, but it's kinda dull seeing the same ol' type of game come out over and over and over again. The next thing for me is Photography though, I'm getting a Canon 20D and some nice lenses. Photography never gets dull, because the environment always changes and is different ever time, and then photoshopping the pictures and organizing them on your computer is always really fun. |
| Updated May 28th, 2008 at 11:51 by Parker |
| |  To me at least, there are a couple of factors that play into this. Companies are releasing hardware thats hardly an upgrade over whats currently available.....look at the X38/X48 chipset as an example......the was buzz for months about them, and it turned out to be a bunch of marketing hype (Don't get me wrong, the chipsets are very good....but good enough to justify the cost and relative quick follow up?). Next up you have the economy.......lets just say that most people's disposable income is drying up pretty damned quick. Lastly, I've noticed quite a bit of this lately........review sites are selling out. i hate to say that, but its true. with so many review sites, companies will typically pick and choose sites that will give them a favorable review. So unless you are either a huge site with a devout following, or a site like us....who really doesn't care....then you risk being cut off for not raving about a product. Now this isn't to call anyone out, its the nature of business and the world we live in......and its marketing people just doing their job. But what it does do, is make it hard to know who or what to believe. |
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| | I'm with you Capper. Companies are churning out a bunch of hardware with very little difference between them (9800GTX? X38/X48?) but aren't exactly taking much of a step forward in bringing whole new unseen technology. Economy doesn't help either, that's for sure. As for review sites selling out, I think it has always been this way. Except now it's easier to start your own website, which leads to a ton of shoddy people asking straight out for freebies in exchange of praises. |
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| | I feel it too guys. For me, it's a dose of reality smacking me upside the head - I'm never going to afford the high-end stuff so why bother looking at it and dreaming over it? I mean, I know what's capable and what's going to do the job for me, but I could care less about SLI and Crossfire and Skulltrail, because they are completely out of my price league, even if they do rock the performance numbers. Don't even get me started on games. Multiplayer is the only game in town, and I just don't get excited about them any more. My wife would tell me I'm growing up finally, but I think it's the recognition that real quality isn't the focus any more. It's like the games have elements of greatness but never the whole package. Or they are great but just suck until patched 19 times (looking at you, EA). It's hard when you have 2 jobs and every hobby I have is expensive. I want to buy a house before I really get crazy with any of them, you know? |
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| |  agreedI agree... I find that I tend to get excited more about new technology that is not computer related. Stuff like fungus based ethanol, magnetic powered cars and a fully computerized home. The PC x86 innovation is stagnant and is just plodding along at a normal pace without any real innovation. Phenom? YAWN!! Intel QX9965? YAWN!! Give us something new to get excited about... like when AthlonXP and 64 took the reigns as power/speed champ... and when the Conroe took it back... and when the Radeon 9000 series stomped nvidia for the first time in a long time. The media hype has become so generalized, even Microsoft and Apple have become happily releasing new products without really giving us any innovation. Give us a new hardware architecture NOT based on X86 and we will have soemthing to possibly get excited about... |
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| | It is all just about the same ... but do not loose heart ... we are on the verge of a "New Renaissance" of technology and innovation. The next ten years will make our New Quad cores look like 5 1/4" floppies. Heck ... if we don't blow ourselves up, meet up with an advanced alien race, get taken over by some Governmental plot using the ploy of an alien race ... or Jesus doesn't come back .... things look pretty good for technology ... and investing for that matter! |
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| | Ah, ever me to disagree...with replies. It's not the companies or products to blame, it's the reviews and marketing of such. The computer trends NEVER slow down. There's always so much to actually get excited over as a geek. Always. But we've gone so mainstream that it's pumped down our optical nerves so hard that we want to close our eyes. It's lame reviews and over the top marketing that numbs us. And that's due in most part by our own learning of what actually is true and what is mostly bull. Take each reply and viewpoint thus far and look at it:
Moore's law has constantly been debated, and always won out. Computing will progress. We as users may not. We stall the progress by putting blinders on our rigs and doing one thing with them. That's the trend, and it's the floundering of computing...not the hardware we're bored of, but ourselves boring ourselves. Pick up something new...try it. |
| Updated June 2nd, 2008 at 19:00 by Boy'nBlack |
Recent Blog Entries by gvblake22
- More of the same? (May 28th, 2008)
