Quote:
Originally Posted by Dantilla
It is a technological step backwards to require multiple steps to perform one simple function.
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This. ^^^
No one should ever have to do something that resembles operating an ipod while driving a motor vehicle in traffic. That is NOT a step forward in modern living. There are many features that have been introduced in cars over the last 50 years that actually improve safety or just the over-all driving experience, (power windows/locks, A/C and cruise control immediately jump to mind), but there will never be an improvement over simple, well-made controls that are intuitive and do what they are suppose to do.
For me, there was a *sweet spot* in terms of automotive technology that occurred in about the mid-'90s, (at least for Mercedes), where the cars had ABS/ASR, remote-locking and air bags but the door locks did not automatically lock themselves w/o my asking and there were sane, logical knobs and buttons on the dash. I've driven several new BMWs and FWIW I am capable of figuring out i-drive but it's a huge step backwards in user interface for a motor vehicle. And it would absolutely rule-out the line as a choice for someone like my Dad who is not from the computer/video game generation.
The impression I get is that these cars were designed by and for very young people who have been in front of a game console or a computer screen since birth. What works on an ATM screen isn't exactly optimal on moving car going 70 mph through a snow storm.
