The following appeared in an article in a consumer-electronics magazine:
"Company X's latest model of digital camera to be released next month, the TR12, is being promoted as the most portable, user-friendly digital camera available, and also an excellent bargain. It can be expected to live up to these claims, because Company X's previous model, the TR11, was universally lauded as setting the standard in these areas last year."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument.. etc.
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The argument that Company X's latest model of digital camera, the TR12, will live up to the claims is greatly flawed because of three reasons. First the argument fails to take into consideration the possibility of other new cameras being released at the same time that could in fact be more user-friendly, a greater bargain and more portable. Secondly, by comparing the new model with a previous model, the author of the argument is assuming that the new model is better than the previous one which is not always the case. Lastly, the author also assumes that the standard in these three areas have not changed since last year.
Most of all, the author unrealistically assumes that no other companies will be releasing a new model at the same time. In today's world, especially in the technology industry, there is great competition to be the best, fastest, thinnest. This is most apparent in the world of mobile devices. Not to long after the iPhone was released, Google came out with a competing model, namely the G1. While Apple is still the leading competitor, this will not always be the case. Thus, there is no guarantee that the new model will be the most portable, the best bargain and the most user-friendly.
In addition, the author assumes that the latest model will be better than the previous model, TR11. While most of the time this is true; the latest model is often times better than the previous. An example to disprove this theory is Windows XP versus Windows Vista. Microsoft has received many complaints from their consumers, so much so that they have pulled back some of their advertisements. Some users have even reverted back to Windows XP. Thus, one cannot always assume that the latest model will be better than the previous model.
Lastly, despite the fact that the TR11 model may have set the standard in the three areas mentioned in the argument, standards change all the time. Within a fast pace industry, standards constantly change to adjust to the pace. The standard for computers, for example, use to be that bigger is better. Nowadays, the thinner and lighter the better since majority of people are constantly on the move. For this reason, the standard set last year might not be the standard this year and the author needs to take that into consideration.
In sum, while the argument the author made may appear logically sound, the author failed to acknowledge the flaws as mentioned above. Incorporating the aforementioned points will greatly improve the logic of the argument.
"Company X's latest model of digital camera to be released next month, the TR12, is being promoted as the most portable, user-friendly digital camera available, and also an excellent bargain. It can be expected to live up to these claims, because Company X's previous model, the TR11, was universally lauded as setting the standard in these areas last year."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument.. etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The argument that Company X's latest model of digital camera, the TR12, will live up to the claims is greatly flawed because of three reasons. First the argument fails to take into consideration the possibility of other new cameras being released at the same time that could in fact be more user-friendly, a greater bargain and more portable. Secondly, by comparing the new model with a previous model, the author of the argument is assuming that the new model is better than the previous one which is not always the case. Lastly, the author also assumes that the standard in these three areas have not changed since last year.
Most of all, the author unrealistically assumes that no other companies will be releasing a new model at the same time. In today's world, especially in the technology industry, there is great competition to be the best, fastest, thinnest. This is most apparent in the world of mobile devices. Not to long after the iPhone was released, Google came out with a competing model, namely the G1. While Apple is still the leading competitor, this will not always be the case. Thus, there is no guarantee that the new model will be the most portable, the best bargain and the most user-friendly.
In addition, the author assumes that the latest model will be better than the previous model, TR11. While most of the time this is true; the latest model is often times better than the previous. An example to disprove this theory is Windows XP versus Windows Vista. Microsoft has received many complaints from their consumers, so much so that they have pulled back some of their advertisements. Some users have even reverted back to Windows XP. Thus, one cannot always assume that the latest model will be better than the previous model.
Lastly, despite the fact that the TR11 model may have set the standard in the three areas mentioned in the argument, standards change all the time. Within a fast pace industry, standards constantly change to adjust to the pace. The standard for computers, for example, use to be that bigger is better. Nowadays, the thinner and lighter the better since majority of people are constantly on the move. For this reason, the standard set last year might not be the standard this year and the author needs to take that into consideration.
In sum, while the argument the author made may appear logically sound, the author failed to acknowledge the flaws as mentioned above. Incorporating the aforementioned points will greatly improve the logic of the argument.
