No more video links...
I recently came to a difficult (ok - not that difficult) decision.
I've decided to remove Flash from my "browsing" computer.
There are several reasons for this. My browsing computer is an Atom dual core system with 4 GB RAM and it STILL has problems with Flash (I mean - really???). I'm not sure what's wrong with the Ion video chipset in it, but starting up a Flash video kills my browser (and yes, I've tried them all). This is known problem with the Acer Revo, and I'm considering upgrading this box to an newer system (weirdly - my other Atom boxes don't have this problem - even with lamer video chipsets), but right now, I'm stuck with this.
The main reason though, is because I find video a horrible way to communicate information in general, at least as it's used by most people on the internet. Video blogs are slow, vapid forums for ego gratification and I'm utterly underwhelmed by it.
Now, there are things that can only be communicated by video. A trailer for a new movie. A music video (well, actually - most music videos are astonishly unimaginative, so this is iffy at best). And yes, occasionally, an amateur video can be insanely good. But that's pretty rare.
But here's the problem. I read at over 1100 words per minute. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but most videos on the internet are barely worth 100 words and they take five minutes to say them. And it's literally excruciating to watch them because it's like watching molasses pour. I'm even having problems watching most movies and TV shows lately (thank GOD for downloaded television so I can play it at double speed or skip the dull parts).
There's nothing worse than looking up information on say, a new Android tablet only to find a video blog where some 15 year old kid spends 10 minutes speculating about the new tablet never having seen one - basically regurgitating techblog rumour and then comparing those rumours to his or her favourite device (read: iPad).
Even sites like MSN, where I expect at least some form of news, are dropping into video clips which take 3 minutes to say what can be written in two paragraphs (and would take me 4 seconds to read).
Then there's linktossing. This is where people just don't have the time or energy to actually have a conversation - and throw links to videos instead. Thing is, if I watch your link, I can't do anything else. It not only stalls my conversation with you until I'm finished it - it stalls ALL my other conversations. And in the end, most video links can be summed up in a sentence: 'kitten falls asleep', 'big boobed girl hates furries', 'semi-drunk asian chick thinks she's funny', 'retarded 15 year old boy thinks he's a techwizard' and so on.
I'm reminded of a great quote which shows a set of headlines like "Has Einstein Been Proven Wrong?" and then ends with "If you know the answer is 'no' - don't publish the article."
It's like that.
I've decided to remove Flash from my "browsing" computer.
There are several reasons for this. My browsing computer is an Atom dual core system with 4 GB RAM and it STILL has problems with Flash (I mean - really???). I'm not sure what's wrong with the Ion video chipset in it, but starting up a Flash video kills my browser (and yes, I've tried them all). This is known problem with the Acer Revo, and I'm considering upgrading this box to an newer system (weirdly - my other Atom boxes don't have this problem - even with lamer video chipsets), but right now, I'm stuck with this.
The main reason though, is because I find video a horrible way to communicate information in general, at least as it's used by most people on the internet. Video blogs are slow, vapid forums for ego gratification and I'm utterly underwhelmed by it.
Now, there are things that can only be communicated by video. A trailer for a new movie. A music video (well, actually - most music videos are astonishly unimaginative, so this is iffy at best). And yes, occasionally, an amateur video can be insanely good. But that's pretty rare.
But here's the problem. I read at over 1100 words per minute. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but most videos on the internet are barely worth 100 words and they take five minutes to say them. And it's literally excruciating to watch them because it's like watching molasses pour. I'm even having problems watching most movies and TV shows lately (thank GOD for downloaded television so I can play it at double speed or skip the dull parts).
There's nothing worse than looking up information on say, a new Android tablet only to find a video blog where some 15 year old kid spends 10 minutes speculating about the new tablet never having seen one - basically regurgitating techblog rumour and then comparing those rumours to his or her favourite device (read: iPad).
Even sites like MSN, where I expect at least some form of news, are dropping into video clips which take 3 minutes to say what can be written in two paragraphs (and would take me 4 seconds to read).
Then there's linktossing. This is where people just don't have the time or energy to actually have a conversation - and throw links to videos instead. Thing is, if I watch your link, I can't do anything else. It not only stalls my conversation with you until I'm finished it - it stalls ALL my other conversations. And in the end, most video links can be summed up in a sentence: 'kitten falls asleep', 'big boobed girl hates furries', 'semi-drunk asian chick thinks she's funny', 'retarded 15 year old boy thinks he's a techwizard' and so on.
I'm reminded of a great quote which shows a set of headlines like "Has Einstein Been Proven Wrong?" and then ends with "If you know the answer is 'no' - don't publish the article."
It's like that.