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Computers Quote by Walter Isaacson

“A few years later, Jobs described to Wired the process that went into getting a new washing machine: It turns out that the Americans make washers and dryers all wrong. The Europeans make them much better—but they take twice as long to do clothes! It turns out that they wash them with about a…” quote by Walter Isaacson
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““A few years later, Jobs described to Wired the process that went into getting a new washing machine: It turns out that the Americans make washers and dryers all wrong. The Europeans make them much better—but they take twice as long to do clothes! It turns out that they wash them with about a quarter as much water and your clothes end up with a lot less detergent on them. Most important, they don’t trash your clothes. They use a lot less soap, a lot less water, but they come out much cleaner, much softer, and they last a lot longer. We spent some time in our family talking about what’s the trade-off we want to make. We ended up talking a lot about design, but also about the values of our family. Did we care most about getting our wash done in an hour versus an hour and a half? Or did we care most about our clothes feeling really soft and lasting longer? Did we care about using a quarter of the water? We spent about two weeks talking about this every night at the dinner table. They ended up getting a Miele washer and dryer, made in Germany. “I got more thrill out of them than I have out of any piece of high tech in years,” Jobs said.””

Walter Isaacson

About This Quote

Source Biography: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, 2011

Jobs highlighted cultural differences in appliance design, emphasizing trade‑offs between speed, efficiency, and values like sustainability and durability.

In simple terms: Design choices reflect deeper values and priorities.

Key Takeaway

Align design with personal values.

Themes

design culture values trade‑offs technology

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

narrative philosophical

When to use this quote

  • family discussions
  • product development
  • environmental policy

Key Concepts

sustainability efficiency consumer behavior

Questions to Reflect On

  • What values should guide modern product design?
  • How do cultural perspectives shape technology?
A Different Perspective

Design decisions often balance performance with ethical considerations.

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