On Monetizing Computers

  1. I have thought a lot about how to make money slinging computers over the years.

  2. The trick is the when and where do you monetize plus why and how do you do it?

  3. Most computer people take the easy way out and bake the control mechanisms for the economy into the computer itself. This makes “non-payment” a “non-issue”— someone doesn't pay, just turn off their access.

  4. To be fair, this is a logical approach in a system with concepts such as payments, issues, and access. Logical, but not actually fair or just, as Chris Rock said, “Prices are the new Jim Crow.”

  5. There's an implicit amount of complexity now required of the computer, through the programming language, development context, packaged executable, and networked environment to be able to relate people and money by landing and expanding chokepoint institutions strategically.

  6. Mathmatically, I argue people and money are not related to the problem asked by the person who wanted to pay money for a solution so much that they called.

  7. Personally, I enjoy making computers that are as simple to understand. I like when the decisions I make are tweakable by anyone up in the stands.

  8. Steve Jobs way back once said, “Computers are like a bicycle for the mind.”

  9. This is an apt metaphor, as good computers and good bicycles are able to be repaired in the field.

  10. I've made a living off of computers my entire life. I have been all over and up in them, swapping around the parts from the inside out.

  11. I think I've made a tiny, but profound observation and would like to share this with you.

  12. The mind of the bicyclist determines where to go and when to go there.

  13. A bicycle is a mechanism people use to travel and connect with others outside of themselves.

  14. In a weird way, when bicyclists gather, they all become one big multiplayer computer simulation shared hallucination worship experience.

  15. As cyclists, they decided to become one with the machine, the electricity in their brain winding their pedals, gears, and wheels to move throughout space and time.

  16. Bicycles are able to be customized and tuned as desired due to their nature of being an assembly of common components.

  17. Bicycles are sold as parts individually or combined together in a completed set.

  18. A standard bicycle assembly is comprised of:

    • wheels (2)
    • pedals (2)
    • gears (2)
    • frame (1)
    • chain (1)
    • seat (1)
    • handlebars (1)
    • hardware (shafts, screws, nuts, bolts, washers)

  19. Computers were once sold as parts, but like bicycles, people prefer to just have wheels that work, if you catch my drift. People pay money to feel cool, not hot and bothered.

  20. A bicycle is an elegant extension of the human form as it aids to naturally compliment it. However, not all bicycles are built for all people and customizations are required.

  21. Given a problem people will only adopt the smallest amount of complexity to solve the simple task they have at hand.

  22. First, people search within, or crawl the world wide web or ask a chat bot that then will then span the convergence's depths to synthesize a thought.

  23. If that solution fails, people might ask a friend or a service that is willing. Would it be okay, for a second, if I pitch you the custom computers I deal in?

  24. Options range from advices to media across webpages, apps, and devices. If the trade-offs suffices, I deal fair in all slices, and willing to haggle on prices.

  25. I sow seeds of ideas on these paper computers for someone later to find. Remember wherever are loose leaves of paper there are bicycles for the mind.