[geeks] Writing software [was Re: Can't decide on an OS]

[Joshua Boyd]

On Tue, Oct 01, 2013 at 05:17:13PM -0500, Jonathan Patschke wrote:

> As recently as five years ago, there was a local bank that poked fun at
> online banking.  Their radio advertisements featured a gravel-voiced old
> man poking fun at the idea and emphasized "friendly-style banking, like
> your grandfather expected."
> 
> They ceased posting a profit and were eventually absorbed.  Right now,
> being web-hostile is not a way to win customers.
> 
> There's more competition against the web from the "apps" craze on these
> hand-held computers that people call "smartphones," in spite of
> ever-degrading audio quality.  In many ways, it's what you're asking for:
> a purpose-build interface for each information source.

Of course, part of the fun with such purpose-built interfaces is that
it is then much harder to scrape the content if you don't like their
interface.