David Geer Talks Tech
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Monday, December 18, 2006
Don't download that update without consulting an expert (unless you are one). Courtesy of http://www.GeerCom.com.
Geer Communications - your on-time technology writer!
Welcome!
I was reminded today by my Mom who called me for tech support that you shouldn't download updates unless you're prepared to accept what you get.
She had downloaded Internet Explorer 7 because the pesky MSFT updater told her to. That was a mistake. It wasn't a minor change to her on screen and Internet environments and she was NOT happy. She didn't want better, she wanted consistency so she didn't have to re-learn how to use the Internet.
I had to walk her through the settings and tell her where to find everything.
Yes, MSFT and many other vendors will drastically change their software size, functionality and interface without telling you, based on what they think most consumers want. Obviously, they are not interested in pleasing all consumers.
Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) adds tabbed browsing, an interface that looks like it was programmed in Java, moves things around so you can't find anything, removes text labels by default so you can't find anything, and asks the end-user to answer questions about things they know nothing about, like 'do you want Anti-Phishing?' before they are permitted to use the new browser version.
Each new iteration of IE or OE (Outlook Express) is almost certainly bloat ware that has put on several MBs of fat, requiring many who download the "free" software to purchase expensive RAM upgrades to be able to surf at the same speed as they could before.
I don't usually spill about MSFT with such fervor (well, sometimes I do) but we're talking about my Mother here. C'mon, can't you guys take a step back from the technology and look at your customer base? Most of your customers will never learn anything but the minimum about how to use computers and your software and even less, if anything, about the simplest technical aspects of them.
Keep leading the world where you want to go today if you must, but realize that tomorrow they just might not be following anymore.
Best Regards,
David Geer - your on time technology writer!
Geer Communications
Geer Communications - your on-time technology writer!
Welcome!
I was reminded today by my Mom who called me for tech support that you shouldn't download updates unless you're prepared to accept what you get.
She had downloaded Internet Explorer 7 because the pesky MSFT updater told her to. That was a mistake. It wasn't a minor change to her on screen and Internet environments and she was NOT happy. She didn't want better, she wanted consistency so she didn't have to re-learn how to use the Internet.
I had to walk her through the settings and tell her where to find everything.
Yes, MSFT and many other vendors will drastically change their software size, functionality and interface without telling you, based on what they think most consumers want. Obviously, they are not interested in pleasing all consumers.
Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) adds tabbed browsing, an interface that looks like it was programmed in Java, moves things around so you can't find anything, removes text labels by default so you can't find anything, and asks the end-user to answer questions about things they know nothing about, like 'do you want Anti-Phishing?' before they are permitted to use the new browser version.
Each new iteration of IE or OE (Outlook Express) is almost certainly bloat ware that has put on several MBs of fat, requiring many who download the "free" software to purchase expensive RAM upgrades to be able to surf at the same speed as they could before.
I don't usually spill about MSFT with such fervor (well, sometimes I do) but we're talking about my Mother here. C'mon, can't you guys take a step back from the technology and look at your customer base? Most of your customers will never learn anything but the minimum about how to use computers and your software and even less, if anything, about the simplest technical aspects of them.
Keep leading the world where you want to go today if you must, but realize that tomorrow they just might not be following anymore.
Best Regards,
David Geer - your on time technology writer!
Geer Communications
