upvote
That is because you have to see it in real life. I have never seen this calculator myself, but I have been to a lacquerware company called Hanoia in Vietnam. They als do lacquerware for Hermes. First thing you will notice is that the colours are super rich. If you see a yellow tea box, then it has the deepest and richest yellow you have ever seen. It is like going from a 2010 LCD to a 2026 OLED screen.
reply
>It is like going from a 2010 LCD to a 2026 OLED screen.

Revealing. I'll bet plenty still can't tell the difference (or don't care). I'm one. I've always used low-end laptops, mobiles, clothes, vehicles, anything else you can think of. I care that it functions (so I buy good brands and new) but everything else except price is a very secondary. When I read things like "rich, vivid colors" in a description of a screen, for example, or "clear, deep bass" for some earbuds, my eyes glaze over. Whatever. Does it work and will it last?, is what I want to know. I also don't care about (or even really notice) the taste of tap water. Water is water. All this must be related and I can't be the only one.

reply
You're not the only one. There are millions of people out there who have no appreciation for art, craft, skill, quality, or finesse.

They're very base people who go through life seeing only price tags, and tallying worth only in dollar figures. They act like life is a video game and money is the score.

It's a shallow life, devoid of the appreciation of all the wonderful things available, and in my estimation, barely living. It's just existing as a robot does.

Why spend vacation in Fiji when there are sunsets in Fresno, too?

reply
I have almost exactly the opposite reaction. By not caring so much about the minute details of physical things, or having the very best croissants or whatever, frees you up to enjoy anything or focus on interactions with people, ideas, anything else.
reply
There’s a difference between caring about something and being able to appreciate it. You can do the latter without the former.
reply
This is needlessly judgmental and draws false equivalences between expression, impression, and consumerism.
reply
I do think the mention of consumerism is apt. In my own encounters with those that seem to take pride in their inability to distinguish certain nuances, it does come off as a mental block borne of not wanting to feel like they are missing out on expensive things.

I think it cuts both ways though — there are those who will exaggerate or outright fabricate subtle differences in order to justify their expensive purchases, and also those that will deny real differences because they think everyone is just doing the first thing.

reply
And what’s wrong with that? You’re rarely or never disappointed while enjoying most things. I’d say it results in a life well lived rather than nitpicking every single little detail.
reply
Classic price anchoring. The very high end limited edition justifies the price of the "mere" $350 premium model.

Some people here will be rushing to buy the latter because the former is no longer available, even though they don't need a very average calculator in a premium case. (And if they did need a useful premium calculator, they'd buy an HP.)

reply
Well then consider yourself lucky and don’t try to fix what isn’t broken!

I have this for wine. I can tell an objectively disgusting wine but other than that I find most wines (I’m in Europe so it’s different) pretty decent. I’m working hard to keep it that way. I have friends who are almost always disappointed in their wine and have to pay a fortune for a bottle they’ll find decent. No thanks.

reply
This is such an under appreciated point. I feel the same about wine but have ruined myself for coffee, bread, cheese, etc.
reply
Is this not meant for some ceremonial gift-giving to superiors to ensure better career prospects or something?
reply
I can see it being used in very high-end, high-touch retail environments.

When you spending $75,000 on a new suit, the tailor shouldn't be using a Dollar Store calculator.

reply