[TenTec] Re Please tell me about the BMW

Fri Oct 1 15:23:41 EDT 2004

Could be. Now a motorcycle with idrive would be interesting. 

-----Original Message-----
From: "Mike Hyder  -N4NT-" <mike_n4nt at charter.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2004 13:30:09 -0400
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Re Please tell me about the BMW

> I think they were talking about motorcycles?
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "n4lq" <n4lq at iglou.com>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 01, 2004 1:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Re Please tell me about the BMW
> 
> 
> 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.h
> tm
> l
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Tippett <btippett at alum.mit.edu>
> To: tentec at 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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