Click Here To Restart Your Car
I just saw the very funny usability video called ‘Lexus Self-Parking “Usability” Test‘ (via Matthew Oliphant).
Car manufactures stuff more and more electronic gear into our ‘intelligent’ cars – But how does that effect the user experience? The fellas in the video are not impressed. They even get into a fight over how to operate the interface correctly.
This got me thinking of the story about GM vs. Microsoft that have been going around the internet for many years now. But just in case you haven’t read it yet or if you would like to re-discover it, here it is:
Microsoft vs. General Motors
At a recent computer expo, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated “If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.
In response to Bill’s comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
- For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
- Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
- Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
- Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
- Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive – but would run on only five percent of the roads.
- The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single “General Protection Fault” warning light.
- The airbag system would ask “Are you sure?” before deploying.
- Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
- Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
- You’d have to press the “Start” button to turn the engine off.
Technorati Tags: cars, microsoft, general motors, GM, usability, video, user interface, humor, funny
December 14th, 2006 at 16:22 (GMT-1)
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December 18th, 2006 at 16:43 (GMT-1)
Very old.
December 18th, 2006 at 21:04 (GMT-1)
And still very funny :)
July 18th, 2007 at 12:54 (GMT-1)
Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it.
March 10th, 2008 at 21:25 (GMT-1)
What about if you added any extra’s or had to change some parts you would have to get a new activation code before allowing you to drive.
March 12th, 2008 at 18:52 (GMT-1)
This post is so true. I am surprised I have not come across this before. Yet it would be nice to have a car with up to 1000 miles per gallon, but it would also be great to have my computer not randomly crash just because it wants to.
April 23rd, 2008 at 21:30 (GMT-1)
The new VW self park system is awesome, in my opinion it was easier to use then Lexus system.
April 24th, 2008 at 22:44 (GMT-1)
I have been using Lexus park system for a year. I think it is one of the best. Unlike Mercedes park system it is more easier to use.
May 9th, 2008 at 22:44 (GMT-1)
hahaha this is hilarious I couldn’t stop laughing, good job GM :p
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 (GMT-1)
Good one.haha very funny
July 12th, 2008 at 15:34 (GMT-1)
Oh mine, oh mine, oh mine. I love it, GM gave the best response ever. I especially love # 7. “# The airbag system would ask “Are you sure?” before deploying.”
You would already died before you even say yes, I am sure
July 29th, 2008 at 19:59 (GMT-1)
Wow, I think I can remember reading that years ago. Very amusing still tho, and totally true.
A good bit of PR & advertising for GM to boot. I’m sure they loved writing this and circulating it.
July 31st, 2008 at 21:52 (GMT-1)
If cars came down in price as much as computers have we would all be very much richer. But then with the rising cost of gas we soon will not be able to afford to drive anyway.
August 18th, 2008 at 17:18 (GMT-1)
Ha, very funny – and so true. Gotta love GM’s response.
January 23rd, 2009 at 01:42 (GMT-1)
It`s really funny :) In spite of “test” is very old I read it for the first time now.
March 11th, 2009 at 14:27 (GMT-1)
What about if you added any extra’s or had to change some parts you would have to get a new activation code before allowing you to drive
July 5th, 2009 at 11:35 (GMT-1)
yeah, it would really look like that i’m sure :) sad but true
July 13th, 2009 at 05:00 (GMT-1)
That’s so funny. Well most of them are true. All of them in fact. GM has done a good job. Sad to see they are suffering with the economic crisis.