Comments on: The Power of the Oppressed… http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/ The blog of Andy Ihnatko, internationally-beloved technology pundit. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:42:19 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve in KC http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/comment-page-1/#comment-2004 Steve in KC Sat, 29 Dec 2007 06:12:39 +0000 http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/#comment-2004 Andy, I feel that your knowledge and insight to a new product can be more thorough if your blog readers have the opportunity to help you dig down into the details. You won't have to agree with what is being challenged, but you can use such a challenge to provide a more robust review. I'm glad you welcome the input. I like the new format and plan to visit it regularly. I hope to see the conversations between writer and readers continue. Finally, I felt like I was caught in my own "National Treasure" motion picture (absent any of the car chase scenes or trips to Europe) as I attempted to solve the intricate puzzle and uncover the ultimate path to this very secretive website. I think you should announce the URL publicly so that no others have to risk their lives to get here. (by the way, the inscription on the back of Bill Gate's iPhone was a nice touch .. I had to lock him in a dark abandoned cave for many hours before he even admitted that he had one) Andy, I feel that your knowledge and insight to a new product can be more thorough if your blog readers have the opportunity to help you dig down into the details. You won’t have to agree with what is being challenged, but you can use such a challenge to provide a more robust review. I’m glad you welcome the input.

I like the new format and plan to visit it regularly. I hope to see the conversations between writer and readers continue.

Finally, I felt like I was caught in my own “National Treasure” motion picture (absent any of the car chase scenes or trips to Europe) as I attempted to solve the intricate puzzle and uncover the ultimate path to this very secretive website. I think you should announce the URL publicly so that no others have to risk their lives to get here. (by the way, the inscription on the back of Bill Gate’s iPhone was a nice touch .. I had to lock him in a dark abandoned cave for many hours before he even admitted that he had one)

]]> By: Total http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/comment-page-1/#comment-1775 Total Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:02:10 +0000 http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/#comment-1775 "So your statement was redundant and repetitive. When we read it, we see only, “I’m writing a review.” But even that is redundant, considering its context." You know what? The only thing that Andy I can do is write what he thinks is right. How people read it is up to them and largely beyond his control. “So your statement was redundant and repetitive. When we read it, we see only, “I’m writing a review.” But even that is redundant, considering its context.”

You know what? The only thing that Andy I can do is write what he thinks is right. How people read it is up to them and largely beyond his control.

]]> By: Myra J (at home) http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/comment-page-1/#comment-1522 Myra J (at home) Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:58:50 +0000 http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/#comment-1522 Andy, ya know, I am slowly learning not to take anything, particularly the general public's naivete, for granted. I've been left with my dumbfounded mouth open, shaking my head in disbelief one too many times. I like to think that the intended audience for tech reviews and non-reviews (i.e., first impressions) are savvy enough to know the difference. Andy, ya know, I am slowly learning not to take anything, particularly the general public’s naivete, for granted. I’ve been left with my dumbfounded mouth open, shaking my head in disbelief one too many times. I like to think that the intended audience for tech reviews and non-reviews (i.e., first impressions) are savvy enough to know the difference.

]]> By: Ihnatko http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/comment-page-1/#comment-1512 Ihnatko Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:33:04 +0000 http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/#comment-1512 Good heavens. I dearly hope that the standards (or the expectations) for tech journalism haven't sunk so low that people think an explicitly-labeled collection of quick, initial impressions constitutes a "review." That's just foolish. Do I really have to come up with a can't-possibly-misunderstand-it "NOT A REVIEW" badge for these things? Good heavens. I dearly hope that the standards (or the expectations) for tech journalism haven’t sunk so low that people think an explicitly-labeled collection of quick, initial impressions constitutes a “review.” That’s just foolish.

Do I really have to come up with a can’t-possibly-misunderstand-it “NOT A REVIEW” badge for these things?

]]> By: Myra J (at work) http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/comment-page-1/#comment-1508 Myra J (at work) Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:19:13 +0000 http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/#comment-1508 Seth, I agree with you, almost completely. Most of us, who use technology of all shapes and sizes every day to earn a living, do take every review with a grain of salt, and ultimately make up our own minds about whether or not to invest in a piece of hardware or software. I think we also tend to have the "first kid on the block" mentality. For those of us who have the know-how or the interest to find Andy's blog, your comments are right on. (minor digression): I actually think it would be very interesting to see how the readership of this blog grows without Andy publicizing the url. Andy - if I had an iPhone, I'd buy your iPhone book. Your discussion of the Kindle on MBW was interesting, but I will most likely not buy one. I think John C. Dvorak put it best when he said "Why do I need to carry around 400 books? I only read one at a time!" Happy Holidays! Myra Seth,

I agree with you, almost completely. Most of us, who use technology of all shapes and sizes every day to earn a living, do take every review with a grain of salt, and ultimately make up our own minds about whether or not to invest in a piece of hardware or software. I think we also tend to have the “first kid on the block” mentality. For those of us who have the know-how or the interest to find Andy’s blog, your comments are right on. (minor digression): I actually think it would be very interesting to see how the readership of this blog grows without Andy publicizing the url.

Andy – if I had an iPhone, I’d buy your iPhone book. Your discussion of the Kindle on MBW was interesting, but I will most likely not buy one. I think John C. Dvorak put it best when he said “Why do I need to carry around 400 books? I only read one at a time!”

Happy Holidays!
Myra

]]> By: Seth Dillingham http://ihnatko.com/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/comment-page-1/#comment-1497 Seth Dillingham Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:53:24 +0000 http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2007/12/17/the-power-of-the-oppressed/#comment-1497 Andy, The problem with pointing out that you're writing "with the authority of someone who’s been using the apps for all of 15 minutes," is pretty simple: most reviews seem to be written by people with 15 minutes or less experience with the apps they review. Lots of readers won't take any special meaning or caveat from that statement because our impression is that most reviews are written in that fashion. it's like you're being redundant: "I'm writing an informal review of this app, and I only have 15 minutes experience with it." "Bloggers," unlike paid journalists (and their ilk) only reivew stuff that is new to them because it's the experience of newness that motivates them to write. So your statement was redundant and repetitive. When we read it, we see only, "I'm writing a review." But even that is redundant, considering its context. Seth Andy,

The problem with pointing out that you’re writing “with the authority of someone who’s been using the apps for all of 15 minutes,” is pretty simple: most reviews seem to be written by people with 15 minutes or less experience with the apps they review.

Lots of readers won’t take any special meaning or caveat from that statement because our impression is that most reviews are written in that fashion. it’s like you’re being redundant: “I’m writing an informal review of this app, and I only have 15 minutes experience with it.”

“Bloggers,” unlike paid journalists (and their ilk) only reivew stuff that is new to them because it’s the experience of newness that motivates them to write.

So your statement was redundant and repetitive. When we read it, we see only, “I’m writing a review.” But even that is redundant, considering its context.

Seth

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