User-friendly computer specs
Miranda Capra / Consumer Products / UsabilityI have played computer sales associate for my family for years, helping guide them when they buy a new computer and translating the technical jargon that goes into computer specifications. I’ve patiently explained that the new laptop probably comes with an 80GB hard drive, not an 80GB CPU, that RAM is for running programs and not storing photos, and that you don’t need a high-end graphics card designed for gamers if all you’re going to do is watch a few YouTube videos. So I’m very excited to see that AMD is launching an ad campaign focused on tasks, rather than technical specifications.
PC makers and retailers will promote AMD-based computers in three categories:
- See – computers for basic tasks like word processing and surfing the web
- Share – computers for watching and sharing high-def video
- Create – computers for making movies or editing extra large digital photos.
Hawking the detailed technical specs was great when only techies had computers, but we’re years beyond that point, and computers have moved into the mainstream enough that the ads should be targeted toward mainstream users. I’m sure I’ll be able to dig around and figure out the specs under the hood, but I really appreciate the effort to present the computers in terms that most users will understand. There’s no reason anyone needs to know how powerful a CPU or what kind of graphics card they need to watch HDTV, they just need to know that the computer will let them watch HDTV. Although if computer specification get easy enough for everyone in my family to understand, I won’t get to vicariously purchase computers by helping my family members shop for theirs. Hmm… maybe I shouldn’t be so excited about the new ads.
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