The Magic 8-Ball's Take on Tech in 2008 52
PCWMike writes "It's that time of year again, when every website makes predictions about the future of technology. PCWorld is no exception, but tried to put a little humor into their prognostication by calling on a neutral third party: the magic 8-ball. '4. Open Software and Open Networks Will Dominate! Magic 8-Ball says: Ask again later. Open-source software meets open wireless networks, fostering an unbridled era of innovation and consumer freedom. Right? Well, maybe one day, but don't bet the bank on it in 2008.'"
The predictions (Score:5, Informative)
Very doubtful
2. Social Networks Face Security, Financial Woes
It is decidedly so
3. DRM Is Dead, Jim
Don't count on it
4. Open Software and Open Networks Will Dominate
Ask again later
5. Everything's Going Mobile
You may rely on it
6. Green Is the New Black
Outlook good
7. Hackers Get Political
Without a doubt
8. Google Stumbles
Outlook not so good
9. Microsoft Will Buy Yahoo
Signs point to yes
10. Your Next Pet Will Require Batteries
Cannot predict now
Re:Here's a prediction for you (Score:5, Informative)
More or less. The market shows with the whole hype for "beta" that stability is not what people require from software. It doesn't have to work 'always', just 'mostly'.
Remember that each halving the number of remaining bugs costs the same. So going from 94% uptime to 98% uptime costs the same as going from 99.5% to 99.75%. You can produce a program that works in 99.75% cases, or two that work in 94% cases each for about the same price. And with keeping the functionality rich and prices low, people will close an eye on stability.
Charles Stross (Score:3, Informative)