Speaking of BMW and "latest-fad technology", read here about their new
idrive system. Most of the interior controls are intregated into one big
knob on the console. Some of this review reminds me of certain ham rigs.
Here is a clip from the Edmunds review and the link.
"Next came BMW's iDrive when it debuted on the all-new 7 Series in 2002.
The BMW engineers had apparently learned from Mercedes' mistake, as they
went in the opposite direction with their control system. Instead of
having a center panel cluttered with buttons, iDrive was made up of a
single, simple dial and no buttons. Of course the dial not only turned
but had to be pushed and slid to fully operate. It was like having a
computer mouse in the center console. What could be simpler, right?
Well, while iDrive's control interface is simple, making simple
adjustments is not. My favorite example is trying to tune in a specific
radio station, which requires scrolling through multiple LCD screens
unless the station is strong enough to be picked up by the "seek" button
(a rarity in the crowded airwaves over Los Angeles). A power/volume dial
is the only other high-level control device for the audio system in the
new 7 Series (and the subsequently introduced 5 and 6 Series). Our
original experience in the 7 Series brought to light numerous technical
glitches that had the audio system staying on when we wanted it off, and
coming on randomly when it shouldn't have ? such as after we'd parked
and locked the vehicle.
Since that time we've driven the new 5 and 6 Series and found similar
issues with iDrive. I noted one specific issue while trying to adjust
the audio system's bass and treble settings (after wading through
multiple LCD screens, of course). In this case, the graphical
representations of the bass and treble settings on the LCD screen, along
with the actual changes in the settings, were lagging behind the action
of my hand turning the iDrive dial. So as I tried to listen for when the
bass and treble were properly adjusted, I noticed that although my hand
was turning the dial, no change in settings was occurring, either on the
screen or in the sound quality. Naturally I tuned the dial further when
I saw this and then ? WHAM! ? the system caught up quickly, pushing the
sound of David Bowie from a Barry White-like low to an Alvin and the
Chipmunks-high in a fraction of a second.
Two thoughts occurred to me as I experienced this. First, how ironic is
it that BMW has invested all those countless man-hours and untold
resources in creating the latest batch of high-fidelity Harman Kardon
sound systems, only to pair it with a user interface that makes it
nearly impossible to properly adjust the tonal qualities? Second, this
has never happened to me in a $20,000 Honda Civic, a $12,000 Hyundai
Elantra or a 31-year-old $1,700 Saab Sonett."
http://applications.edmunds.com/news/column/carmudgeon/102470/article.htm
l
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Tippett <btippett@alum.mit.edu>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 2004 09:14:40 -0400
Subject: [TenTec] Re Please tell me about the TT Omni VI+
> KX2A wrote:
> >* they both make products that are among the best at what they do,
> but
> they rely
> on proven rather than latest-fad technology;
>
> Jan, speaking as the owner of two BMW vehicles (1995 R1100RS
> bike and
> 1993 M5 auto), I agree with much of what you said. However, I believe
> BMW
> IS among the first to introduce new technology (not cosmetics but true
> performance-oriented technology). For example, I believe BMW was the
> first to offer fuel injection, ABS disc braking and catalytic
> converters
> on their bikes. Their vehicles also have had many firsts, especially
> in the
> areas of handling and engine performance. Overall, BMW is very focused
> on performance (meaning handling, acceleration, braking, etc) although
> the
> motorcycle division is not as focused on racing as their vehicle
> division
> (but BMW bikes have been surprisingly successful in the Paris-Dakar
> off-road race in recent years).
>
> Likewise, Ten-Tec has often been first to introduce new
> technologies
> like QSK, DSP, firmware downloads, etc. Like BMW, the character of the
> company is more focused on performance issues, and less so on other
> issues like displays, general coverage, etc.
>
> >* users in both groups are seen by others as fanatic (this is not
> true,
> the fact is
> that people who own other products are all crazy)
>
> This is probably true but for a reason. Performance-oriented
> people
> are attracted to both BMW and Ten-Tec. People who have other "hot
> buttons"
> are more attracted to other products. It's really a case of apples and
> oranges
> driven by the needs of different types of people. Neither is really
> "crazy";
> they are simply driven internally by different sets of needs. Thus
> each
> group may appear to be "crazy" when viewed through the eyes of the
> other group.
> This same phenomena is no more evident than in the election process
> we're now
> in the midst of.
>
> Thanks for the interesting digression and observations.
>
> 73, Bill W4ZV
>
> P.S. The gearbox in my R1100RS is still clunky although I've learned
> how
> to shift it more smoothy. In stark contrast, the gearbox in my M5
> borders
> on ecstasy...its absolute silky perfection still gives me a thrill
> every
> time I shift it. Why doesn't the motorcycle division talk to the
> vehicle
> division???
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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