On 06/05/17 13:09, Graeme wrote:
In message , The Natural Philosopher
writes

Unless the whole point is to bedazzle the user with the cleverness and
complexity of the product by disguising the ****tiness of the
underlying hardware and software.

Is that not true of the vast majority of electrical/electronic devices
on the market today? When did it take off? Perhaps today's 'smart'
phone is the direct descendent of all those awful 1980s 'hi fis' that
had a million useless knobs and switches that didn't really do very
much, were rarely necessary and were only there to impress the boys, and
disguise the crapiness of the underlying product.

Dont you mean the designer styled preamps that came out with no controls
whatsoever, because apart from a volume control, real audiophiles didn't
need one?

Its a fashion statement disguised as a thing with purpose. Consumer bling.

--
If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will
eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such
time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic
and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally
important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for
the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the
truth is the greatest enemy of the State.

Joseph Goebbels