Re: Stop the bling, fergawdssake!

"Greywolf" <[email protected]> wrote in message 
news:[email protected]...
> On 13/11/2011 7:23 AM, Henri Sivonen wrote:
>> On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 4:16 PM, Greywolf<[email protected]>  wrote:
>>> I just downgraded my wife's FF8 to 3.6.24, because the Skype
>>> plugin won't work with FF8.

>>
>> I'm curious, why do you or your wife need the Skype extension (as
>> opposed to initiating or receiving Skype calls from the UI offered by
>> the Skype app itself)?
>>
>
> Well, if it was clear that you don't actually need the FF Skype extension, 
> I wouldn't have bothered. But that was not clear.
> I suppose someone will now tell me I should've known or tried to find out 
> (they'd certainly do so on the Linux NGs, which I no longer bother with). 
> But why should I? We are well past the time when a user shoiuld have to 
> know arcane details about the need for/behaviour of/effects of a plug-in 
> or extension. A computer is an appliance. It should just work.

Really? And where did you get this idea that a computer is a toaster? It is 
many years away from being a toaster. This attitude is precisely the reason 
so many users get infected...over and over and over. They refuse to 
understand that at this stage of the game it is still absolutely necessary 
that one learn how to use a computer properly and how to properly protect it 
and this is an ongoing learning process. If a computer was a toaster, I 
wouldn't have one. I have one because the challenge of learning all about 
computers and computer security and different browsers, different OSes, etc 
is an interesting challenge. If a computer was boring like a toaster why 
would I want one? If you want a computer that is like a toaster in that it 
"just works" then I strongly suggest you get a computer from Apple and 
forget PC's.  I would never get an Apple computer as they are extremely 
simplistic in design and boring as heck to use. I speak as a senior citizen 
who got her first computer when she was 56 (Windows 98). So, if someone my 
age is not afraid to learn, and continually learn, about computers and finds 
the challenge exciting, I really can't understand at all how younger folks 
can have this petulant attitude that a computer has got be like a toaster. 
Get a Mac and quit complaining.

As to the menu bar being hidden, I agree that was a stupid move on Mozilla's 
part (didn't they learn anything from the same disaster that Microsoft 
encountered when they hid the menu bar on IE 7?  I immediately unhid it) but 
then Mozilla has been losing touch with users ever since 1.5 so it is no big 
surprise. What many of us, who have been with either Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey 
and/or Phoenix/Firebird/Fx as both evolved have learned, is do NOT upgrade! 
You find a version you like then stay with it. Mozilla would have a lot more 
users if they would continue to support older versions for security upgrades 
(not just 3.6 which I never even had as I stayed with 1.5 for reasons 
regarding extensions until version 4). That way, those who demand a shiny 
new toy every 5 minutes (but don't want to put any effort into learning how 
to use the new toy) would be happy with the insane new, frantic, afraid of 
that horrible Chrome browser so update Fx everytime we turn around attitude 
and those who have found a version they like and want to stay with for a 
year could also be happy because they would get security updates for a year.

Mozilla has turned blind to its user base. I was told that home users cannot 
get the Enterprise version. That is the version I want as I am quite happy 
with Fx 4 (except for no security updates and there are some surrounding SSL 
that I really need). I will take the security risks. I will not be forced 
into this insane updating pace Mozilla has begun.  I don't understand though 
why I am blocked as a home user from getting the Enterprise version with its 
less insane update pace.  I never thought I would praise Microsoft and IE 
(which I dislike) but Microsoft stands by its product for a long period. 
Mozilla has shown that it does NOT stand by its product and that ultimately 
is going to cost Mozilla dearly. I have version 4 heavily tweaked to my 
liking. I do not want to have change tweaks, add other tweaks, learn a new 
UI, drop incompatible extensions when my extensions are the reason I use Fx, 
everytime I turn around. Fx is not my only browser. I do the same with the 
others because even Opera is now going with this stupid frantic pace of 
upgrading. I am someone who understands a computer is not a toaster and am 
fine with that so if I am having problems with accepting frantic, almost 
constant browser upgrading I can't fathom the depth of these problems for 
the users who think computers are toasters and this is the majority of 
users.  A computer is not a toaster and won't be for many more years, but a 
browser can and should be more like a toaster that you don't need to 
constantly upgrade.
>
> HTH
> Wolf K.