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by w1ntermute 4978 days ago
No, it isn't. But getting people to believe that is the RDF's power.
4 comments

Yes, it is.

Let's talk about form. The iMac is integrated: it has one cable, you plug it in, turn it on, and it works. That's form. If I were not tech-savvy, I wouldn't need to know my VGA from my USB from my power cables and what goes where and why.

The iMac has a low footprint: I don't have room for a tower. That's form.

The iMac is practically silent: it doesn't distract simply by existing, that's form.

The iMac is accessible: you don't need to be able to build your own machine to get great performance. Look at the SSD + HDD system they have. It's not a cache system, there's no wasted space, the OS always writes to the SSD and transfers rarely-accessed date to the HDD and presents both as a hybrid drive. I don't know if I could replicate that on a custom box. I certainly know no ordinary person could. That's form.

All this form adds up to a hell of a lot of function.

"Form is function" means looking at a computer and seeing more than a list of tech specs.

So… you'd rather carry around a briefcase with an attached external handset as a cellphone, rather than a somewhat modern cellphone? What about carrying around a laptop with a tethered cellphone vs. a smartphone? If you prefer the latter options, as many do, then I really do believe that's a solid signal that form is function.
Strawman, I never claimed any of those things. Stop putting words in my mouth.
If I'm arguing a straw man, you're arguing a red herring. There is no "RDF" at play here. Form absolutely does impact function. In fact, form distinctly defines function.

Please, state a cogent argument otherwise.

> But getting people to believe that is the RDF's power

Crap "design" doesn't mean that good design doesn't exist, and cannot be used to waive the latter away.

https://www.vitsoe.com/us/about/good-design

Right. The concept of 'form is function' is exclusive to Apple.

I mean what world of delusion do you live in that you would ignore the entire industry of industrial design. It's everywhere from cars to irons to cutlery to furniture. How a product is designed affects how it is used.

Strawman, I never claimed that industrial design should be ignored.