Mod or Rocker ???

[barrelockingnut]

I am a windows man, I grew up with the ZX spectrum and disected it in the 1970s and know systems and OS backwards and inside out.I build gaming PCs for a hobby and I repair systems for a living, and write professional articles in international publications and appear on various expert forums, so thats my background. I have never had any dealings with android systems until I purchased the scroll this October. Now here is my argument in relation to being a Mod or a Rocker. I do not favour either and merely post this as a talking point.

The Mod
This person purchases a Scroll, knows the Android system inside out, naturally wants to tweak it, upgrade it to run smoother and sleeker, fiddles with the interior, breaks the system down to its core components and builds it back up to a completely different "thing" to the purchased product. In effect he buys a reliable new car, fits a new engine and computer management system, controls and dashboard, and although it looks the same on the outside, is a raging beast inside and very definitely breaks every warranty on the original because it has been "modded". The Mod also encourages his mates to do the same, they all want to go faster and look better, however THEY are not the technical expert that he is. They make mistakes, their "car" spends most of the time on the ramp at home , with its wheels off and bonnet up. They are in contact with the "mechanic" who has a website, however the Haines manual instructions are complex and too technical for most of them to cope with. They give up and try and return their "vehicle" to the garage for replacement, where upon the supplier says sorry you have made modifications to it so you are stuck with it. Some of the mates of course get through the end of the tunnel, gain expertise on their vehicle and become good mechanics themselves.

The Rocker

This person purchases the Scroll, is very happy with it. He is new to this type of vehicle . He accepts the vagaries of the product, its shortcomings and imperfections, but loves it and learns to live with it. He is either not interested in making go faster under the bonnet, nor thinks he is capable of being a Mod by getting the "spanners" out and just wants to use it to get from A to B in a reasonable speed. If it breaks down, he knows he can replace it at the garage as it is still in pristine condition. Occasionally he reads the car magazines and watches Top Gear and has a yearning to drive a faster model,feels perhaps pressurised to do so by other mates but then comes back to reality, after all if it aint broke why fix it ? So he polishes it, looks after it, keeps it shiny and new, and is still proud of it.

My contention is this. Mods should not encourage Rockers to change to them, Rockers should not encourage Mods to leave alone, both should be able to meet in a pub car park in Brighton on a Saturday, and have a pint, not a fist-fight, and discuss what they like best about their model.

Just a thought

[Charlie]

............ Mods should not encourage Rockers to change to them, Rockers should not encourage Mods to leave alone, both should be able to meet in a pub car park in Brighton on a Saturday, and have a pint, not a fist-fight, and discuss what they like best about their model.

I somewhat agree, however you missed the third dimension - I am a mod and a rocker

I like the example, but a new car and a new scroll are not the same. I personally would not mod a new car that was under warranty. But a scroll for £120 , yes I would and I have, fully aware of the risks (I bought it to learn about Android) But I always go by "Just because you think you could, doesn't mean you should"

[barrelockingnut]

Im a "take it to bits " fanatic as well , however I am aware that some people dont have a lot of money to spend on a device and some do. For some £120 is a massive outlay, and maybe they are the ones that should remain Rockers and not be urged to stick "go faster stripes" on their prized possession.If you are a techie, then its a challenge, if you are not then its a pile of chips in a bag !

[bitsink]

Going with your car analogy I would say I am a bit of a Rocker but at the same time I like to know how things work, why does it do what it does? So before I buy a car I research everything I can, try to understand all the implications of the technology used. I also try and asses the cost benefit of technology before I part with my hard earned smackers.

With regards to the Scroll, I could not justify spending £400 for a tablet but the £130 for the scroll with almost identical features was certainly appealing. This is my first Android device and I am enjoying learning about how it all works. I have upgraded my Scroll as per the posts by the experts here so I guess that makes me a bit of a Mod as well.

This forum is a great place and I enjoy reading the all the threads. Long may it continue!

[JimmyW]

Option 3: Heath Robinson Engineer

Too tight to buy an expensive unit, will buy a cheaper one... rip it to bits and stick it back together with hot glue and duct tape if he breaks it whilst grumbling "Bloody flimsy foreign manufacture"

[barrelockingnut]

Once used "Sticks Like S***T to glue "temporarily" a PC casing....bad move, does what it says on the tube.