Whither Product Reliability

Best way is to avoid having it made in China.

Unfortunately, just as in software field, which is not so influenced by new technology outbreaks, there is no systematic planing nor anybody has clear vision of future needs and use of technology we allready have in hand. Classic case was when 80386 processors come, neither DOS nor compilers were prepared to use all its capabilities for years. In field of hardware, whenever someone invent or inovate something, this is grabbed and produced without being tested long enough. That is why hidden anomalies stay hidden untill discovered by everyday user. Also unfortunately, businesmans use simple calculations that say: if this procesor is 12$ cheaper than other, then on milion PCs we would save 12 milion $ (that is why IBM choose inferior INTEL 8086 CPU over much better MOTOROLA 68000. Must be that APPLE is making same mistake now by adopting new INTEL Quadcore processors, instead stimulating MOTOROLA to catch up with INTEL. For some reason people at MOTOROLA did not realize that it is better to sell milion procesors at just 50% of profit then 100 000 at 100% profit, no matter how big or small actuall profit is. It is naturall that bigger production would bring their cost of production per one piece down, thus making greater profit in total and on long run. APPLE made same mistake holding price of their computers so high as to be not affordable for mases, as witnesed by success of ATARI and AMIGA computers that has used same MOTOROLA chips. I guess we have to get organized as users into some kind of formal organization, THEN we would be able to say to PC manufacturers what we think about bad software and unstandardized hardvare. If some comitee consisting of best experts start planning what way hardware should go and if in addition to this somebody make new programing language with all capabilities of existing ones and make it self extensible so even users can contribute to development, and if evolution of this language would be planed in advance, benefits would be in making aplications that work at once and are free of any and all bugs, as it would simply work or not work if something is missing, and if they work, user would be sure it would work each and every time. Of course then only measure of usability would be how many features application have and how easy it is for user to use it and get work done fast and efficiently. Fast Internet is making mobile computers unnecesary, and in future one should carry just keyboard (which may also become unnecesary if we can write and draw in screen directly and give voice commands) and screen with inbuilt modem, then all actuall work could be performed on best computers elsewhere, and if all computers would become gigantic grid for mass procesing, then one would need not have expensive computer at home, just storage units, and this also could be somewhere else ONLINE, and user could pay for use of space and processing time, which would be cheaper than having top class PCs at home, eliminating need for catching up with latest hardware also :-)) Then all problems would be on side of owners of such computer networks, and they would be able to hire and properly pay experts for both software and hardware, and then surely also there would be less problems with viruses and better protection would be made for OS, and perhaps they would not use WINDOWS either :-))

Anyhow, that would make use of computers still less expensive as any user would be able to use any application as necesary without need to pay full price for every one, and basic hardware would be affordable to anybody with telephone line and power outlet, and then all schools in the world could have one terminal per student and pupil, and students and pupils could also have them at home, even to study in virtuall classroom........

But users should get organized and demand changes from industry in such direction, if others would agree with my vision of future in computer world.

Marijan Pollak, IT SA/SE 1st. Class, Instructor and Team Leader

My first computer, an HP Integral, with a Motorola 68000 processor and HPUX operating system, purchased in the early 1980's, gave me a good 10 years of service with no software bugs. I did upgrade the unit to a 68004 processor, and had to replace the built-in monitor once. I would still be using that machine today, if I had been able to figure out how to port Microsoft Excel to it...

Today, I get about 5 years out of a computer, and most software comes with bugs (if I don't find a bug, I figure I am doing something wrong!). Most common failure mode is the hard disk. Although the newer systems are supposedly much faster and much more capable, I still find it takes me just as long or longer to accomplish a given task as it took me ten years ago (OK, I don't have any data to back up that statement- it is just an impression). One of the biggest problems I have is with "feature creep"- manufacturers/developers adding features that I don't need or want that actually slow down the process of getting some real work done (I DO NOT need bouncy smiley faces to get my work done!).

Years ago, when I was still driving, I drove the same automobile for 13 years. Towards the end, maintenance costs got prohibitive,and parts nearly impossible to find. Rather than upgrade to a less reliable product (I used to drive a lot of rental cars as well, so had a pretty good picture of the direction of reliability/quality in that arena), I opted to modify my lifestyle such that I no longer need to drive a car.

I have noticed over the years that companies I have respected for their quality or innovative technology (Hewlett Packard, Fluke, Tektronics, Maytag, Chrysler, the list is infinite...) have either been absorbed by a less consciencious concern, or otherwise lost in the maze. Those that are still around no longer provide the products or the service that made them famous in the first place (HP is one of my favorite examples- when they were the original test equipment provider, I would consider nothing else. Since they morphed into a computer company, I will no longer even consider an HP solution).

I have learned to go with the flow, however. I realize now that there is no money in providing the ultimate solution, no matter what the issue or product. So now, I shop for price, knowing that I most likely will be replacing whatever it is that I am buying in a couple of years.