Google disappearing would fuck my life: I have tons of things stored on Gmail. I also would have to go back to Firefox, which wouldn't be bad, just slower. Now, if Wikipedia disappeared...
I have three things to say to that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxKYuF9pENQ http://youtu.be/dP1WQ7FP0g8 http://youtu.be/sDjUzQrqII8 A good friend of mine put it thusly: "It's like that moment when the cops flip on the lights and pull the plug on the DJ. Party's over and everybody files out." THAT is Final Cut X. We're all scrambling to decide if we're going Media Composer or Premiere - one thing we all know is that we're not going to Final Cut X. Me? After coming over to Mac purely because they they stopped developing Logic for Windows when Apple bought Emagic in 2002, I'm now $3500 into Pro Tools - a program I've been studiously avoiding since 1994. I reserved a $1000 Media Composter "Crossgrade" about four months ago because I was leaning that way, but since I'm not doing any editing right now I can afford to wait. Glad I did, as had I bought that $1000 Composter license for 5.5 they still woulda hit me for $595 to upgrade to 5.6... and they've announced 6. If you asked me which I hated more right now, Apple or Avid, I'd have to think pretty hard. It's funny - Apple is discontinuing Firewire and throwing everything behind Thunderbolt. The one computer they make that doesn't have a Thunderbolt port? The Mac Pro. Apple has been threatening to kill their pro division for a year or so now. If I had to guess, we'll all be on Windows or Linux in five years. Final Cut and Logic are the only apps that aren't available on Windows.
Also, Jimmy Wales once responded to a comment I made on a blog with a very thoughtful reply. Also, Jimmy Wales is a self-professed "Objectivist to the core" but he runs a non-profit donation-only site. Wikipedia rocks.
1. FB - I would be better off because I wouldn't feel compelled to see the ridiculous crap my mother and other family members are posting. I wouldn't have to sit through BS discussions at work (from people that don't know dick about society or media) about how to leverage social media to increase traction and profitability or how to leverage it as a prospecting tool. -Ugh. 2. Google: This would suck only from a search engine standpoint. They're the best at it. I could take or leave nearly any other platform they have. 3. Apple: I would miss my iPhone. I use it a lot and I strongly believe it's the best "smartphone" out there. I would miss my MacBook Air but I'll be honest here, I could use a PC and still be alright. MP3 player is my phone these days. Don't use apple for anything else. 4. Rarely use Amazon, wouldn't miss it at all. Now my wife on the other hand, she's all over Amazon. Overall, I don't think much would change in my life. I think I would just find replacement services/products. A more interesting question (IMO) would be: Thought experiment: Social media, smartphones and online retailers disappear overnight. Are you better or worse off? -That I'd have to give more thought to.
Google and Apple I would miss for searches and iPod, respectively, but I would manage easily. FB sucks donkey scrotum and I don't use it, so its already dead to me.