A good article. There is way more to it than a Mac vs PC debate. Path dependence is something that is worth understanding, but seldom thought of.
To his examples, I'd add these:
- The way modern computers and their operating systems are designed reflects 1960's hardware with different tiers of storage speeds for RAM and HDD. Cache and flash are now tacked on.
- The width of cars and railways is determined by the fact that they needed to use existing roads, which are as wide as two horses.
- The entire political, tax and legal system has evolved and is not optimal.
- The human body is a hack of previous organisms, made with small incremental changes. Take the spine, which in humans is structurally a tower, but most animals use as a suspension bridge.
We have to put up with systems and things that are "good enough" and all their previous versions were also "good enough".
To his examples, I'd add these:
- The way modern computers and their operating systems are designed reflects 1960's hardware with different tiers of storage speeds for RAM and HDD. Cache and flash are now tacked on.
- The width of cars and railways is determined by the fact that they needed to use existing roads, which are as wide as two horses.
- The entire political, tax and legal system has evolved and is not optimal.
- The human body is a hack of previous organisms, made with small incremental changes. Take the spine, which in humans is structurally a tower, but most animals use as a suspension bridge.
We have to put up with systems and things that are "good enough" and all their previous versions were also "good enough".