On Fridays I like to take a break from my normal computer repair mooresville activities such as wiping and reinstalling a virus infected computer to venture on the more light hearted side of technology. Below I've come up with 5 Failed Electronic Devices and Services that haven't survived during the last 20 years.
5. Microsoft Web TV Plus
Microsoft Web TV Plus allowed users to browse the Internet over their TV. The issue with the service is that despite how quickly it grew, the average user of the service typically did not want a computer, but wanted the Internet. Thus, they did not provide any new revenue. They also created many expensive customer service problems.
4. Apple III
The Apple III hit stores in 1980. It was doomed for failure before it even made it to production. The starting price was set around $8000, which is more than most businesses can afford, let alone a home user. The other problem was Apple tried to shield the electronic components from interference. They did this by putting an aluminum case around the computer. They decided not to put any cooling fans in the case, this caused some chips to literally pop off of the board.
3. Nokia N-Gage
The Nokia N-Gage was a portable gaming device that was also a phone. On its release, it outsold the gameboy advanced 10-1. It ran into trouble when users discovered the complexity of inserting games, and the keys were made for a phone not a portable gaming device. Another problem was when the memory got full, users would see what was called "the white screen of death". The phone would not boot, so it was impossible to make calls or play games. The only way to fix the phone was to flash the firmware.
2. Nintendo Virtual Boy
The Virtual Boy was the first portable gaming console to have "true 3-D" graphics. You looked into a display with a black visor around your eyes to cut out all the light. It was never meant to release in it's current state. Due to the time that was spent developing the product and hype on the upcoming N64, Nintendo rushed the Virtual Boys release. It flopped due to distribution problems from Nintendo and multiple users claimed to suffer from headaches and seizures while playing.
1. Microsoft Windows Vista
Windows Vista was supposed to be the best operating system to ever be released. It had a new look and never before seen features. The problem was that the programs that most businesses ran were not compatible with Vista. Most of the old programs that ran on Windows XP did not work on Windows Vista. The other major downfall was that the home version of Vista was slow, and took up a lot of resources. This caused even the fastest computers at the time to run a bit slow.
Okay, okay, okay, Vista was more of a public relations failure than a technology failure. I think the Apple commercials helped a bit with that one. However, I really think Microsoft is getting the Windows 7 release right and afterall Win 7 is just Vista Release 2. Therefore, I recommend coming by and seeing me if you are in need of computer repair Mooresville area. We've noticed that Win 7 has really increased some of the performance of the Vista machines we have that normally would be classified in the slow computer repair pile.
On that note, have a great weekend and enjoy yourself. It is only 6 days until the Win 7 launch and I can't wait. Check out my other blogs on computer repair Mooresville or some of the other content we've blogged about.
1. 5 Features of Windows 7
2. Free Microsoft Virus Software
3. 10 Free and Handy Software Programs
5. Microsoft Web TV Plus
Microsoft Web TV Plus allowed users to browse the Internet over their TV. The issue with the service is that despite how quickly it grew, the average user of the service typically did not want a computer, but wanted the Internet. Thus, they did not provide any new revenue. They also created many expensive customer service problems.
4. Apple III
The Apple III hit stores in 1980. It was doomed for failure before it even made it to production. The starting price was set around $8000, which is more than most businesses can afford, let alone a home user. The other problem was Apple tried to shield the electronic components from interference. They did this by putting an aluminum case around the computer. They decided not to put any cooling fans in the case, this caused some chips to literally pop off of the board.
3. Nokia N-Gage
The Nokia N-Gage was a portable gaming device that was also a phone. On its release, it outsold the gameboy advanced 10-1. It ran into trouble when users discovered the complexity of inserting games, and the keys were made for a phone not a portable gaming device. Another problem was when the memory got full, users would see what was called "the white screen of death". The phone would not boot, so it was impossible to make calls or play games. The only way to fix the phone was to flash the firmware.
2. Nintendo Virtual Boy
The Virtual Boy was the first portable gaming console to have "true 3-D" graphics. You looked into a display with a black visor around your eyes to cut out all the light. It was never meant to release in it's current state. Due to the time that was spent developing the product and hype on the upcoming N64, Nintendo rushed the Virtual Boys release. It flopped due to distribution problems from Nintendo and multiple users claimed to suffer from headaches and seizures while playing.
1. Microsoft Windows Vista
Windows Vista was supposed to be the best operating system to ever be released. It had a new look and never before seen features. The problem was that the programs that most businesses ran were not compatible with Vista. Most of the old programs that ran on Windows XP did not work on Windows Vista. The other major downfall was that the home version of Vista was slow, and took up a lot of resources. This caused even the fastest computers at the time to run a bit slow.
Okay, okay, okay, Vista was more of a public relations failure than a technology failure. I think the Apple commercials helped a bit with that one. However, I really think Microsoft is getting the Windows 7 release right and afterall Win 7 is just Vista Release 2. Therefore, I recommend coming by and seeing me if you are in need of computer repair Mooresville area. We've noticed that Win 7 has really increased some of the performance of the Vista machines we have that normally would be classified in the slow computer repair pile.
On that note, have a great weekend and enjoy yourself. It is only 6 days until the Win 7 launch and I can't wait. Check out my other blogs on computer repair Mooresville or some of the other content we've blogged about.
1. 5 Features of Windows 7
2. Free Microsoft Virus Software
3. 10 Free and Handy Software Programs
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