as much as I hate to admit it... I sometimes think microsoft needed to do something like vista. All one has to do is to spend a week in a tech support job and you know just now dumb ignorant and LAZY some people are. If its not done for them, they're not gonna bother, and then they're gonna complain like hell when things don't work. It applies to cars, and it applies to OS's. Its only when the car and the OS can take care of itself that the average consumer will be happy so that they can go watch their next youtube video. All the gearheads? We'll move to vista eventually, once it become apparent that XP won't be supported or when developers decide that XP isn't worth their while. But just like with cars, I hope I can disable all the nice handholding mechanisms of vista and run the OS like how i want it. We all can deal with a few crashes and BSODs right? :)
One of the reasons I no longer despise microsoft is the sheet fact that without them, using a comp would be bloody difficult. you wouldnt be able to hope from one to another and help your mates out if people had a large variety of OS's. And as for the internet, whilst there is no evidence to support this because no research has been done, i'd bet my car (see what im doing here Will?) that without windows and ie the internet would not be anywhere near as evolved as it is or as widely used.
So what the fork are wheel off set's and PCD's?? (I refuse to google)
I do not see any difference in the evolution of windows in terms of what comes new through the versions. 1. Higher system requirments 2. Better Visual presentation 3. Easier user interactivity 4. Increased secuirity and networking options.... Nothing changes... it just improves...
If I could do everything on windows 3.11 that I could on xp, I would use the old version simply because it's simple.
Call me a whinging old git if you like, but what about natural selection in computer users? I mean, if you can't keep your machine useable, maybe YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING A COMPUTER!
More and more I feel it is our duty as technology "haves" not only to assist the "have less" people, but also to keep the truly stupid and incompetent away from technology. If we don't keep our 84 year old grandmothers who can barely use a cash machine away from computers, we are the ones who are going to suffer for it. Not only will we be getting calls about finding the "any" key, but in terms of spam and virii sent out by their un-patched machines being used to visit sites that we would know better than to touch with our worst enemy's computer.
To continue the driving analogy, operating a vehicle on a public road is a priveledge, not a right. Perhaps using a computer on the information superhighway should be too.
I jus looved the article, and cpmpletely agree with it. With live in a world of "assisted" so everything has to be "user-friendly".
My god the metaphors in the article were good !
But there are people who love command line !!
And in HL2, I just love the console...and when I tell friends about it they are impressed.
Originally Posted by Cthippo Call me a whinging old git if you like, but what about natural selection in computer users? I mean, if you can't keep your machine useable, maybe YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING A COMPUTER!
You have to realise that some people that can't maintain their computer would just love to never touch it again but they have to use the computer because a lot of jobs and even a lot of recreation require the use of the computer. Using the car analogy I would love to not have to use/maintain a car, but living in the suburbs everything is too far away to walk or use public transit.
For the general public, Vista is a great idea as it'll make PC's easier to use, but for us geeks it's almost a tad patronising. Is there no way to setup Vista so it acts more like XP?
Originally Posted by Cthippo To continue the driving analogy, operating a vehicle on a public road is a priveledge, not a right. Perhaps using a computer on the information superhighway should be too.
Using computers is a necessity these day I think. Why not make things simple?
Newbies can always take the ECDL (European Computer Driving License) before they start their journey on the information superhighway I suppose.....see what I did there?
Originally Posted by Cthippo Call me a whinging old git if you like, but what about natural selection in computer users? I mean, if you can't keep your machine useable, maybe YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING A COMPUTER!
More and more I feel it is our duty as technology "haves" not only to assist the "have less" people, but also to keep the truly stupid and incompetent away from technology. If we don't keep our 84 year old grandmothers who can barely use a cash machine away from computers, we are the ones who are going to suffer for it. Not only will we be getting calls about finding the "any" key, but in terms of spam and virii sent out by their un-patched machines being used to visit sites that we would know better than to touch with our worst enemy's computer.
To continue the driving analogy, operating a vehicle on a public road is a priveledge, not a right. Perhaps using a computer on the information superhighway should be too.
Yes, but you don't easily break computers by using them wrong now, you just get them sending out massive spam botnet-style. Nobody bothers with viruses for destruction anymore, because that's not profitable.
Gotta say, it was an interesting read. Especially since I was listening to Wil at the same time on TWiT :D
Originally Posted by riggs Vista is a great idea as it'll make PC's easier to use, but for us geeks it's almost a tad patronising. Is there no way to setup Vista so it acts more like XP?
It is a bit patronising, I had no problems with 98 and it it could do what I use xp for I woulld still use it. Sure its not the easiest but most of the fun I had with my computer has been tweaking it and building it.
Personally I'm going to get vista when I next upgrade my pc, having seen the interface i'm quite a fan, there's also DX10 to consider. I just hope they allow you to disable some of the built in safety mechanisms and 'tips' to make it into a useable platform.
Gotta agree with the CLI comments, sometimes things are just easier to do when you use it instead of a gui.
Great article. I think some of us went through the same "it's to easy, don't hold my hand , I want POWER!!!" mentality when we upgraded from 98/2000 to XP...
To continue the driving analogy, operating a vehicle on a public road is a priveledge, not a right. Perhaps using a computer on the information superhighway should be too.
Well said...
Where would Linux come in the car analogy's. 1968 Ford GT50?
It seems car history is repeating with pc's who would of thought given the petrol heads attitude to pc's
Great article there, and I agree with he people here, if you can't use a computer, you shouldn't. But then its a matter of people not wanting to even try. My sister for instance wants me to rip some of her CD's for her, I tried telling her to put the CD in and click rip, but she refuses to believe its that easy. Some people will need Vista to be like that.
As long as you can turn most of it off, I will be fine with all the hand holding in the OS, less wok for me.
Even simple changes like removing the "My" prefix on everything so that it's just 'Pictures' or 'Computer' help overcome that psychological barrier for people. You just KNOW more than one person has said "Well, what if it's not MY pictures on there, but some I got from someone else?"
I always found the "My" prefix a bit girly, as though MS were trying to encourage a new audience to play with a PC. Maybe the market's grown (and PCs become so ubiquitous) that the butch guys at Redmond have said, "Enough!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cthippo I mean, if you can't keep your machine usable, maybe YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING A COMPUTER!
I know far, far, more people who have all their car maintenance done by the garage than people who do their own. And it's not technically hard to do an oil change. Majority of people think computers and cars are for driving, not tinkering with. KISS. :p
whilst their computer busts its ass keeping them alive.
Your article is 100% right, and my christmas is ruined because of it...
In my short time playing with Vista, I keep on thinking about how much I wish it was more like XP, until DX10 games force me to upgrade I will live strong without Vista.
Originally Posted by Mother-Gooser I'm in agreement.
One of the reasons I no longer despise microsoft is the sheet fact that without them, using a comp would be bloody difficult. you wouldn't be able to hope from one to another and help your mates out if people had a large variety of OS's. And as for the internet, whilst there is no evidence to support this because no research has been done, i'd bet my car (see what i'm doing here Will?) that without windows and ie the internet would not be anywhere near as evolved as it is or as widely used.
Originally Posted by Kipman725 the future of the pc makes me sad.... hence why I have lots of 486's :) and my fave os has always been DOS 6 (although ubuntu is rather spiffy).
4DOS - Once upon a time I had some HUGE batch files (complete with ASCII "graphics" & mouse support (with Logimenu & a few other utils)). I remember feeling handcuffed in WeenieDOS 3 & even 95 - Sure it was easier for my mom but it felt so dumbed down to me.
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One of the reasons I no longer despise microsoft is the sheet fact that without them, using a comp would be bloody difficult. you wouldnt be able to hope from one to another and help your mates out if people had a large variety of OS's. And as for the internet, whilst there is no evidence to support this because no research has been done, i'd bet my car (see what im doing here Will?) that without windows and ie the internet would not be anywhere near as evolved as it is or as widely used.
Just my opinion, hope it doesn't get flamed.
I do not see any difference in the evolution of windows in terms of what comes new through the versions. 1. Higher system requirments 2. Better Visual presentation 3. Easier user interactivity 4. Increased secuirity and networking options.... Nothing changes... it just improves...
If I could do everything on windows 3.11 that I could on xp, I would use the old version simply because it's simple.
Fetus
More and more I feel it is our duty as technology "haves" not only to assist the "have less" people, but also to keep the truly stupid and incompetent away from technology. If we don't keep our 84 year old grandmothers who can barely use a cash machine away from computers, we are the ones who are going to suffer for it. Not only will we be getting calls about finding the "any" key, but in terms of spam and virii sent out by their un-patched machines being used to visit sites that we would know better than to touch with our worst enemy's computer.
To continue the driving analogy, operating a vehicle on a public road is a priveledge, not a right. Perhaps using a computer on the information superhighway should be too.
My god the metaphors in the article were good !
But there are people who love command line !!
And in HL2, I just love the console...and when I tell friends about it they are impressed.
You have to realise that some people that can't maintain their computer would just love to never touch it again but they have to use the computer because a lot of jobs and even a lot of recreation require the use of the computer. Using the car analogy I would love to not have to use/maintain a car, but living in the suburbs everything is too far away to walk or use public transit.
Since it ain't gonna happen, I'll be heading in a *nix direction....
but I'm a Windows C++ developer....
Damn.
Al
Bring back DOS
Good column btw.
Using computers is a necessity these day I think. Why not make things simple?
Newbies can always take the ECDL (European Computer Driving License) before they start their journey on the information superhighway I suppose.....see what I did there?
Gotta say, it was an interesting read. Especially since I was listening to Wil at the same time on TWiT :D
Gotta agree with the CLI comments, sometimes things are just easier to do when you use it instead of a gui.
I love that quote!
I just hope vista will be friendly to us who enjoy driving an OS like its a car from the 1940's
Well said...
Where would Linux come in the car analogy's. 1968 Ford GT50?
It seems car history is repeating with pc's who would of thought given the petrol heads attitude to pc's
As long as you can turn most of it off, I will be fine with all the hand holding in the OS, less wok for me.
Its generally not a good idea to put petrol in a derv. The fuel pump tends to die.
(But I guess the back of your filler cap has diesel written on it) *grin*
Your article is 100% right, and my christmas is ruined because of it...
In my short time playing with Vista, I keep on thinking about how much I wish it was more like XP, until DX10 games force me to upgrade I will live strong without Vista.
Before IE was Mosaic and Netscape