Yet Another Byte

Also, if I can be a bit of a computer snob for a moment, the use of a simplified interface has lead to a whole generation of people who own computers, but who don’t really know much about using them beyond double-clicking icons and dragging stuff onto the desktop. If you were to go into someone’s Windows system and rename the Desktop and Start Menu directories so that the system couldn’t find them, leading to all the shortcuts disappearing, 99% of the computer owners today would have to pay someone to fix it for them. They would be completely at a loss as to what to do, despite the fact that they can still open a window from the My Computer icon and browse the contents of the entire system.

Why does this matter? Because most users today don’t have a clue what they’re doing. They install so much crap like toolbars and junk, that even if they manage to avoid getting infected with a virus, the system takes 10+ minutes to boot and requires a 45 second drive access just to open a window. Then they throw it out because it’s too slow, buy a new one and the cycle starts anew. Check the computer of anyone with a digital camera and I guarantee that you’ll find at least three copies of every photo, in different directories. Most people’s idea of computer gaming is going to Pogo.com and playing flash games. Hotmail is the only form of email they know and they wouldn’t be able to setup a dedicated email client if their life depended on it. When using one person’s computer, Zone Alarm firewall popped up asking if I wanted to allow a connection. The owner told me “Oh, just keep clicking ‘Allow’ until it goes away.”

See if you can find ten people who know what speed internet connection they’re paying for. See if you can find even 3 people who know what the actual speed they’re getting is. Hell, see if you can find even one person who knows what resolution their desktop is set to without having to check.