printNews comes that “Microsoft has launched the most complete preview yet of its forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.” Is that good or bad? I live with a Microsofty who tries to defend the Machine as best he can. Yet, I dread each and every improvement in this indispensable technology.
I’m just a simple user; not a designer. And each and every “improvement” seems to come with added complexity.
To me, a technological “improvement” means ease of operation. I long to go back several revisions of Microsoft Word and Outlook. I swear; each and every function I once achieved with one or two clicks of the mouse, now takes nine. I’ve even documented a bug or two, which, when challenged on, my better half smiles and walks away.
This weekend we were forced to replace the home’s telephones. (The free market is fabulous. Most Americans can afford a few “telephones.”) The lines kept crackling. It turns out the noise was not the fault of the old, trusted telephones, answering and fax machines.
The upshot of the improved technology: Whereas I was once able to press a single button, and by so doing activate the answering message; I now must click through a whole process to get the same result.
I am told that this added complexity and inconvenience is due to cheap innards. Extant hardware must be made to carry as much programming as possible. Designing for customer comfort is secondary to the price of the components.
Ultimately, each time I accidentally click to update my browser or any other of the things I use to function online, I dread the complexity that will ensue.
Some things are best kept simple. Technology is one such thing.
The public reacts to technology like addicts to a new drug. They don’t understand it but can’t wait to get some. But grouchy old bastards like me are a different story. Video games and new “computers” hold no fascination for me. They are nuisances. As participants of this blog can tell from my frequent typos and misspellings I can barely operate e-mail properly. I wouldn’t even carry a cell phone except I’ve got children and grand children scattered around the country and want to ba available if needed. New technology is trendy and anything trendy is both temporary and boring.
Yeah, I also don’t always get Microsoft’s thinking. I think they’re trying to cater more for the high-end user these days. I am a software developer specializing in Microsoft technologies and their development tools are superior to anything else out there, including offerings from Apple, Oracle and Sun Microsystems. I can be much more productive with their tech than anyone else’s.
But from a user perspective, it’s a whole different matter, as you pointed out. I used to be able to adjust my screen resolution, screensaver and desktop background (not strictly “productive”, but I digress) with a simple right-click in windows 2000 and XP, but on windows 7, I have to employ the Start Menu AND the Control Panel before finally being able t call up the display properties widget.
Based on no sampling but my own, the Golden Age of software was 4 months [you mean 6 years ago?] in 2006 when I’d noticed I had nothing to complain about. Then came the security upgrade and the Dark Ages.
Microshaft is facing another user revolt in Win 8, even among early adopter enthusiasts. “Get used to it” is the answer to “Why?”. Because there is no REASON for ‘why’.
On new hardware, the cost is down, and no repairs can be made, so everything is disposable. (Surface mount tech.) If it breaks, you have to replace it. Nobody will buy old-school stuff that costs three times as much, so that’s the way the market rolls. But crackling lines are almost always a problem with the wiring, usually a crappy connection somewhere, and if it gets worse when it rains, that’s a dead giveaway. Nowadays the inherent advantages to a battery-backed hardwire connection over such a long distance aren’t worth the money. VOIP and cellphones are making the whole system obsolete (bringing a startling degree of vulnerability with them, too). That’s the way the (manipulated) market rolls.
But don’t ever neglect to keep your browser updated (and avoid IE like the plague, because it IS a plague). Keep IE updated and present for Windows Update only, use something better for browsing, like Firefox with NoScript. Otherwise, surfing the net is like going into a Chicago bathhouse unprotected, if you get my drift.
“[you mean 6 years ago?]”
A Golden Age lasting 4 months that happened 6 years ago.
Needless to say, I find software to have gotten as adipose, ponderous, and dense, as the bulk of its users.
I will expound on my comments above about my lack of ability/interest in things technical. I just read the three posts above from JP, George and John. You guys could be communicating in Afghan or Sanskrit for all I know. I feel so unworthy and ashamed.
When XP gave way to 7, the “simple” wordprocessing template became almost unusable; I still haven’t figured it all out. But most of all – as do millions of others – I mourn the loss of Space Cadet Pinball.
@James well yes, the entire point of my comment was that the casual user finds themselves at a loss over something that used to be trivial.
To JP: You got that right. I am definitely a casual user.