Comments on: I Tried the Prius and Didn’t Like It http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/ a blog about law, tech, culture, and related things Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:59:42 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Greg Lastowka http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-266224 Greg Lastowka Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:29:44 +0000 http://madisonian.net/?p=1596#comment-266224 More on the Prius game (via Gene Koo): http://socialarchitect.typepad.com/musings/2006/09/my_prius_is_lik.html More on the Prius game (via Gene Koo):

http://socialarchitect.typepad.com/musings/2006/09/my_prius_is_lik.html

]]> By: Mike Madison http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-266167 Mike Madison Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:39:17 +0000 http://madisonian.net/?p=1596#comment-266167 Jerry, Reasonable people will differ, I'm sure, regarding the engagement and fun. In my view, the screen-based data quotient is very high, but the experiential feedback quotient (the sensation that I'm engaged with a machine) is remarkably low. As Greg suggested (indirectly), it's like driving a videogame. A lot of people like the information-rich videogame environment. I do, too -- when I'm playing a videogame. When I'm driving a car, I don't care so much about that data. I'm used to it feeling like a car. A '63 Rambler takes that sensation to an extreme; I'm not looking for *that* experience any time soon. But I've driven everything from a classic Bentley to an 1974 AMC Gremlin to my current Ford and Honda, and I like my feedback through the wheel and the shifter. Jerry,
Reasonable people will differ, I’m sure, regarding the engagement and fun. In my view, the screen-based data quotient is very high, but the experiential feedback quotient (the sensation that I’m engaged with a machine) is remarkably low. As Greg suggested (indirectly), it’s like driving a videogame. A lot of people like the information-rich videogame environment. I do, too — when I’m playing a videogame.

When I’m driving a car, I don’t care so much about that data. I’m used to it feeling like a car. A ‘63 Rambler takes that sensation to an extreme; I’m not looking for *that* experience any time soon. But I’ve driven everything from a classic Bentley to an 1974 AMC Gremlin to my current Ford and Honda, and I like my feedback through the wheel and the shifter.

]]> By: Greg Lastowka http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-266161 Greg Lastowka Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:52:47 +0000 http://madisonian.net/?p=1596#comment-266161 Jerry -- I'd certainly be protesting too much if I were criticizing the Prius. I haven't driven one yet, and I'm just reading reports from others like Mike. So my complaint about fixing my car isn't a complaint about the Prius generally. And yes, I'm all for hyrbid technologies and fuel savings. Jerry — I’d certainly be protesting too much if I were criticizing the Prius. I haven’t driven one yet, and I’m just reading reports from others like Mike. So my complaint about fixing my car isn’t a complaint about the Prius generally. And yes, I’m all for hyrbid technologies and fuel savings.

]]> By: JerryW http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-266154 JerryW Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:23:56 +0000 http://madisonian.net/?p=1596#comment-266154 You are protesting too much... in point of fact except for that gearlever, the Prius is no more "drive by wire" than any other car. The steering is normal and it has normal hydraulic braking circuits. I agree that it is not "fun to drive" in the conventional sense of cornering on two wheels etc etc. But I have found it much more engaging and much more fun that the Subaru I had before, because it supplies the driver with so much more information. and with a fuel economy so far of 58mpg(UK) and £15 annual tax it has much to commend it. Any competent mechanic can service it, not just the dealer. A CAN scanner can be had for $100 these days You are protesting too much… in point of fact except for that gearlever, the Prius is no more “drive by wire” than any other car. The steering is normal and it has normal hydraulic braking circuits.

I agree that it is not “fun to drive” in the conventional sense of cornering on two wheels etc etc. But I have found it much more engaging and much more fun that the Subaru I had before, because it supplies the driver with so much more information. and with a fuel economy so far of 58mpg(UK) and £15 annual tax it has much to commend it.

Any competent mechanic can service it, not just the dealer. A CAN scanner can be had for $100 these days

]]> By: Greg Lastowka http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-266122 Greg Lastowka Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:55:52 +0000 http://madisonian.net/?p=1596#comment-266122 More to the point, I think you're quite entitled to feel a bit put out by the intermediation of the code. During the early 20th century, the Arts & Crafts movement offered a counter-aesthetic to mechanical modernization. The early 21st century, I suppose, might find an appealing aesthetic in preserving the intelligible and tangible machine in the face of the virtual black box. I personally am still annoyed that I can't fix my own car because it only talks with the dealer's computers. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/is-a-right-to-repair-law-needed-even-mechanics-cant-agree/ p.s. Biella Coleman makes an interesting connection between FSF code and hand tools: http://gabriellacoleman.org/blog/?p=1108 More to the point, I think you’re quite entitled to feel a bit put out by the intermediation of the code.

During the early 20th century, the Arts & Crafts movement offered a counter-aesthetic to mechanical modernization. The early 21st century, I suppose, might find an appealing aesthetic in preserving the intelligible and tangible machine in the face of the virtual black box.

I personally am still annoyed that I can’t fix my own car because it only talks with the dealer’s computers.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/is-a-right-to-repair-law-needed-even-mechanics-cant-agree/

p.s. Biella Coleman makes an interesting connection between FSF code and hand tools:

http://gabriellacoleman.org/blog/?p=1108

]]> By: Greg Lastowka http://madisonian.net/2008/11/19/i-tried-the-prius-and-didnt-like-it/comment-page-1/#comment-266112 Greg Lastowka Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:27:09 +0000 http://madisonian.net/?p=1596#comment-266112 It's also, apparently, a ludocapitalist car... http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2008/11/on-expertise.html It’s also, apparently, a ludocapitalist car…

http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/2008/11/on-expertise.html

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