since the tesla s won motor trend's car of the year award (http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...s/viewall.html) and many others, it seems like news about its growing pains (and positives) is important. i did not trash the car or the brand, which is very impressive! here's a positive article for ya: http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...EM05/130509879

 

well actually, a lot of issues in Tesla are software related, so they just send you update to fix your problem.

It is not classic automotive industry swap-the-part.

 

I do wonder about the adoption of "digital" technologies overall. Obviously having the latest tech is pretty cool for consumers, not to mention that companies can aggressively market new tech to increase the style and fashion appeal of their products. But what is the flip side - if we make the interface more and more like a typical computer and the applications within, should we expect it to fail as much as computers and their associated software do? What is the expectation of the typical consumer (and luxury consumer as well) in this regard?

Lexus is often viewed as conservative in this regard (slower refresh cycles, traditional powerplants, keeping the cassette tape player around for a long time, etc. etc.) and that can be considered a negative to many buyers. On the other hand, Lexus is known for reliability and refinement. There is always a balance between that and having the latest and greatest.

 

yeah, as I said, look at tesla motors forums, and basically it reads like tech support for IT... people are taking out XX pin to force firmware update to fix their xx issue

:-).

And its only first few months.

 

There are those who simply MUST have the very latest technology. They buy several smartphones each year, just trying to be with the "cool kids"; those with the cash to do so, trade cars similarly. They are the legitimate prey of the manufacturers who come to market with "inexperienced" products with poorly sorted teething issues. Early adopters, IMHO have no complaints coming when they insist on buying serial number ONE of anything.

 

The flip side is everything becomes disposable with huge depreciation like a smart phone, is ok on a $200 phone, but is a huge problem on a $100k car that becomes outdated and obsoleted, no problem for folks with big money, but makes it hard for normal folks to enjoy a pre-owned high end cars like the old days. The Model S is really an ipad on wheels.

It is a computer, so yes it would behave exactly like a computer that fail and needs to be rebooted once in a while.

Conservative = low cost. Latest, greatest and coolest = high cost. You play you pay, the cost keeps getting higher.

Then again, it might be better then I thought, as long as Tesla keep supporting the onboard computer, as the cars get older, you just have to keep replacing the main computer and updating the software, doesn't sounds too expensive. Also replacing the batteries. Overall it might be cheaper then fixing an old fashion car.

 

you are not going to be upgrading Tesla's screen hardware wise... what they are doing is fixing bugs basically.

 

Lol, when i was first reading that, i expected you to talk about maybe the "hot and heaviness" steaming up the car and frying the screen. But a foot going thru the whole dang interface is even better.

That must have killed the moment. lol.

Back on topic: It's hard to imagine that the Tesla WOULDN'T have problems with the screen. With so many things being electric, it seems only natural that something glitchy would come up. Once they fix it, something else will rear it's ugly head.

But hopefully they get this issue sorted out.

 

If he's a car enthusiast then certainly

Yeah, but to be fair that tends to happen to most automakers. Seemingly the longer on market the more the wrinkles are steamed out.