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Here's a *really* off-topic question for native English speakers: What does the buzz phrase 'plain vanilla computer' exactly mean? A very good (everybody *likes* vanilla) computer or a very boring (*everybody* likes vanilla) computer? Eric (26 years ago, 11-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) I *love* vanilla. The stonger the better. The way I understand it, the term just means just "plain", and whether it's boring or not is derived from its context. For example, for most males a "plain vanilla Hugh Grant movie" would probably be a (...) (26 years ago, 11-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) It comes from ice cream, where 'vanilla' is the default flavor. Minus all the chocolate goodies, etc. A plain vanilla computer would just be your basic normal computer, with no fancy "multimedia" features. ("Multimedia" in quotes because (...) (26 years ago, 11-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) <ramble> Well, I do like vanilla so don't get me wrong. It means no fancy features. It's an ice cream metaphor comparing plain vanilla to some other more complicated flavor like jamocha almond fudge or rocky road. Yet a computer that is plain (...) (26 years ago, 11-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) I don't think it has to have positive or negative connotations to most people. It's just plain. Normal. Maybe boring, maybe just nothing "special" about it. Like vanilla ice cream. Yeah, it's good, but it isn't fudge ripple. (26 years ago, 11-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) In the spirit of debate: Hmmm... yuk. If it ain't Vanilla or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, it ain't worth eating. ;) Also, coffee is nasty. ;) Jeff P.S. Give me a nice juicy rare steak and a tall glass of 2% milk anyday. ;) (26 years ago, 12-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) Yeah, I think it means "no frills" or "no extras added yet." Like an undecorated 9"x13" pan cake instead of a wedding cake. Or a 2x4 brick instead of a BURP. Simple but not necessarily bad. (...) Mmmm, great example. Saw, how about that Ben & (...) (26 years ago, 12-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) Of course that's a morning coffee and not a before-bedtime coffee. ;-) --Todd (26 years ago, 12-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | coffee & ice cream (was Re: English phrase)
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(...) Nah. Now, Ben & Jerry's White Russian - best ice cream there ever was. End of story. (Sadly, "was", at least at the grocery. I suspect those 50-gallon drums of Kahlua just got too expensive.) -Tim (26 years ago, 13-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: English phrase
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(...) I know, it was the buzz-word of the early 90's with computers like the Atari Falcon 030. Another one was 'multitasking' The latest one is 'digital' due to the release of Digital TV here. Carbon 60 (26 years ago, 17-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: coffee & ice cream (was Re: English phrase)
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(...) No, Black Forest Ice Cream from BeeJams was better, we don't get any good standard 2 litre Ice Cream Flavours anymore, just Vanilla, Raspberry ripple and chocolate really to speak of. Carbon 60 (26 years ago, 17-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: coffee & ice cream (was Re: English phrase)
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(...) Sorry to have missed that one.. (...) Maybe the "coffee" breaks around the B&J plant were a bit too exciting... -Tom McD. (26 years ago, 17-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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| | Re: coffee & ice cream (brand) (was Re: English phrase)
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The best coffee in the world are brazilian of course... But wich ice-cream is better Ben & Jerry's or Movenpick... Paulo (26 years ago, 18-Nov-98, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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