Good Lo-Tech |
Bad Hi-Tech |
Datebooks, Address Books, etc. Immediate access as long as you have the presence of mind to keep them with you |
Databases and Electronic Calendars Vulnerable to power outages and and disk crashes; it takes a long time for your computer to start up just to get a friend’s number for a thirty-second call to an answering machine |
Nice, Solid Wood Furniture Easily repaired and looks better with age |
Any Furniture from Ikea Sure it looks sleek, but it’s often wobbly after a while, and that formica-covered pressed wood is awful to the touch |
Stationery and a Nice Pen Nothing says “I care” like a handwritten letter |
Word Processors A note to a friend should never look like a memo from the boss |
A Screwdriver, a Pair of Pliers, and Gaffer’s Tape Can be used to fix almost anything with a little imagination |
Telephone Tech Support Punching buttons to get through a complex maze only to wait and then have someone condescend to second-guess everything you’ve already tried |
Incandescent Lamps and Candles Warm and soothing |
Flourescent Light Fixtures “My, what an attractive complexion you have;” Flickers just enough to be annoying |
SLR Cameras The crappiest 35mm camera from the Salvation Army can still produce a picture with rich color and good detail as long as you hold it pretty steady |
Any Affordable Digital Camera One-tenth the quality at four times the price. Don’t even get me started |
Leather, Silk, Cotton | Naugahyde, Acetate, Nylon |
Goosedown | Fiber-Fill |
Reality Touch it, smell it, taste it, do it now |
Virtual reality Wait for it, pay for it |