Been amazing to see how far tech companies have fallen in public esteem (good). I remember when my friends and I would get together to watch the new MacBook announcements, eager to see what was coming. Feels as distant now as sk8erboi culture.
I mean what do these data centers provide for the locals? They are big ugly boxes were nobody actually works. All the money goes to faceless mega corporations.
At least with a nuclear power plant you can have the patriotic pride of doing something for the nation.
Not to mention, your electricity bill increases. It is just your money transferred indirectly to billionaire pockets even if you don't consume their product.
Back in the day, these companies stayed in their lane, so to speak.
When you bought a computer, that’s all it was. It had much more of a toy or appliance like appeal rather than this deeply integrated life augmenter. The idea that a company like Apple or even a bigger (at the time) company like Microsoft would own a movie/TV studio and broadcast major league sports was an insane idea.
I will say regarding keynotes, it wasn’t limited to the genuine nature of the companies. The 90s and 2000s were just on different levels of the pace of technology development. I am sure that even Microsoft had an exciting keynote or two and they were the evil empire in those days.
PearlRiver|8 days ago
At least with a nuclear power plant you can have the patriotic pride of doing something for the nation.
lenkite|7 days ago
atonse|9 days ago
And have in so many cases abused their power.
All that not counting the stagnation and enshittification.
I also used to get together with friends to watch Apple Keynotes. They were so much fun.
But now they’re just extremely sanitized pre produced videos (basically ads) that lack any sort of soul.
Yes yes I know they were always mainly ads. But there was something to be said for people presenting on stage.
dangus|9 days ago
When you bought a computer, that’s all it was. It had much more of a toy or appliance like appeal rather than this deeply integrated life augmenter. The idea that a company like Apple or even a bigger (at the time) company like Microsoft would own a movie/TV studio and broadcast major league sports was an insane idea.
I will say regarding keynotes, it wasn’t limited to the genuine nature of the companies. The 90s and 2000s were just on different levels of the pace of technology development. I am sure that even Microsoft had an exciting keynote or two and they were the evil empire in those days.