|
Predictions for 2009
The start of the New Year is traditionally the time for predictions. The computer industry does not lend itself well to prognostication, mostly because change is so fast and before you can type the words, it has already happened. That being said I will charge blindly ahead and try and come up with something that will not be on the market before you read this.
In general computers will be better, smaller in size/larger in capacity, faster and cheaper. That is hardly a profound observation because it has been happening since 1975 when personal computers first appeared on the market.
Another obvious prediction is Microsoft will replace Vista with Windows 7 by the end of 2009 or in early 2010. Microsoft ignored a basic rule when they introduced Vista; "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I will go out on a limb and predict that Windows 7 will be worth waiting for because it will fix something that is broken and it is being developed by the "A" team. (Note to printer, please print the last sentence in disappearing ink.)
I predict that touch screens will be very popular for a few days in 2009, until people realize how hard it is to hold your arm out for long periods. It will be quite striking for computer-aided presentations as the presenter can jump from window to window then zoom in and out at the wave of a finger but I don't see much future for home users.
The last floppy disk will be pulled from the vendor's shelf and sent to a museum, along with the last roll of film.
One thing that hasn't changed in a while is processor speed. Because of the way electrons behave at high switching speeds, a computer's processor speed is limited to approx 3.5 gigahertz. Anything faster and it is no longer a computer but a microwave oven. To improve the overall speed of computers, manufacturers are making chips that have more than one processor on board. Currently quad processors are common but I foresee eight processors and even 16 processors per chip in the next few years. Sixteen processors will probably be the practical limit. The next major step after that will be optical switching, but I will leave that to my grandson to write about.
|
E-MAILING CLASS ON JANUARY 21, 2009 There will be an emailing class on Wednesday, January 21. 2009, 9am – 11am. The class will cover setting up Outlook Express, sending and replying to messages, sending and opening attachments, emailing to groups and maintaining an address book for frequently used contacts. The fee for the class is $11.00 and includes a student manual written by a professional technical writer for the CARES Elfers Center. Please call Katy at (727) 847-1290 to register if you are interested in this.
CONDOLENCES Bianca Federico passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2008. Bianca was a quilter with the Elfers Quilters and a volunteer for 22 years. She was awarded RSVP Volunteer of the Year in 2007 for her service to Elfers. Born in 1915 to a large Italian family, Bianca was always busy and led a full and varied life, starting as a seamstress. She married Jack Federico in 1934 and together they had three children and a marriage that lasted 54 years. Bianca eventually learned to be a beautician and owned a beauty shop in New York. She loved to drive and taught all her children and grandchildren. Driving brought her great joy and she traveled thousands of miles. When her husband Jack died in 1987 she traveled the world and found new creative interests. At age 72 she discovered a new passion: quilting. In addition to her varied volunteering, Bianca also enjoyed dancing, bingo, mah jongg, cards, exercise & yoga, taught swim exercise classes, performed in several GHC Playhouse productions and was a member of the Red Hats. We will miss her familiar figure around the quilting frame.
We also send condolences and deepest sympathy to Elfers Thrift Shop volunteer Evelyn Roach who recently lost her son.
|
- 3 -