Made to Break (Ch. 7-9)

The last chapters (7-9) of Slade’s book, Made to break, prove for some very interesting reading. Slade first makes it apparent in his discussion on emulation. To describe this, he brings up IBM and their key role in the development of micro technology in the earlier half of the century. Slade describes how IBM avoided the scary ‘Turing Tar Pit’ founded by Alex M. Turing. IBM outlasted the competition with their innovative, system/360. This was a new microprocessor that was compatible with older IBM computer models. Much like an exchangeable part, the system/360 made older computer models as fast and advanced as new models…much like a system update or a reconfiguration for your PC. Slade states that, “in order to distinguish the system/360’s dynamic processing feature from earlier attempts to imitate or stimulate the applications of obsolete computer models, Larry Moss of IBM called this new ability, ‘emulation’” (Pg 186)

My interpretation of emulation was that people could simply keep their products for longer despite upgrades and advancements basically because old models could perform nearly as good as new ones. I feel like a lot of companies do this present day. Nearly all software made these days is compatible with every running computer. Sure, people are always looking for faster computers with higher ram and processing power for video games and what not, but for the most part, simple applications and daily tools are all made for computers dating back 5-6 years ago. I’ve concluded from Slade’s book that the life of certain technologies have become in fact LONGER. Once someone has bought the newest and most advanced thing, its bound to last a few years on the market in terms of the sufficiency that it provides to its users. Right now, I currently use a droid incredible, and a mac book pro, and I honestly cant see any reason why I might want to replace either one in the near future.

Slade goes on to discuss DEC’s equivalent to IBM’s system/360, PDP-8. PDP was a minicomputer that paved the way for subminiturization…and eventually the micro module. He also discusses how Kilby from Texas Instruments developed the solid circuit. Slade does this for some time in the book which I regret to say , was a little bit boring. I felt like I was reading ‘computers’ again, and we all know how much I loved that book.

Slade ends on the note that all technology eventually becomes e-waste and this idea in its entirety perpetuates the foundation of obsolescence. What did I think of the book? I liked it in the beginning where economics was Slade’s main point of focus, but when we begins to discuss the history of computers and how they came to be…is when my attention span begins to wander. Overall, good book, I shall be more mindful of the master plans and marketing strategies of firms and companies next time I decide to make a serious investment in something new.