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From: chabot@amber.DEC (Lisa S. Chabot)
Newsgroups: net.works
Subject: Re: workstation trends
Message-ID: <2558@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Jul-84 12:29:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.2558
Posted: Sun Jul 15 12:29:12 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Jul-84 05:31:32 EDT
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Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 34

About color: what I've noticed when I'm sitting trying to work and somebody
brings in a tour group of three-piece suits, is that just about the first thing
question asked is "What about color?".  If the tour guide is on her/his toes,
the response includes "What applications do you have for color?". 

My opinion is that most of the companies represented by the three-piece suits
don't really have applications that demand color. (except, of course, for all
those engineers back home who wish they were doing animation for the movies :-)
But color is sexy.  The three-piece suits are usually those sensitive to trends
in selling, and so they ask the question about color to determine if there are
any irons in the fire (and thereby determine that visited company is going to
keep up in the market and not die of stagnation, therefore becoming unable to
support the boxes they've sold).  And color is a toy.  Look at video games--
they're color (and they've been around for awhile, so color really should be
here now, right?).  And _Tron_ and other movies haved also linked fantasy with
color graphics...flight simulators may not be a requirement, but show one as a
demo, watch everybody's eyes light up, and then wonder about what items in your
presentation tickled the buyers (i.e., is it the capabilities demonstrated by
the flight simulator (which is of course the admitted reason)(and is a very
good reason, too), or are you speaking to the fantasy of a desk-tied manager
or programmer).

Hope this doesn't sound like a denigration of color or color-box companies,
because that's not my opinion at all.  It's more of a criticism of those who
shop for a box which does more than they need.  On the other hand, if only
needed features were bought, then who would take care of engineers who really
*need* to fly a sopwith camel at 3am? 

	>Curse you, Red Baron!<
	L S Chabot

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