Re: Stop the bling, fergawdssake!

On 14/11/2011 4:49 AM, Desiree wrote:

I wrote:
>>   A computer is an appliance. It should just work.
Desiree wrote:
> Really? And where did you get this idea that a computer is a toaster? It is
> many years away from being a toaster

An appliance is a machine/device that you can use without having to know 
how it works. All you need to know is which buttons/levers/etc to 
push/pull/etc. Every new technology eventually becomes an appliance in 
this sense. The fact that a toaster is simpler than a car or computer 
makes no difference.

> 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.

You're both right and wrong. True, direct attacks still succeed, 
especially with people who don't maintain their computers. I've 
countered this tendency by reminding them that they maintain their cars 
regularly, so... You might be surprised at how many people then have 
that look of surprised recognition of an obvious insight.

Anyhow, the majority of infections now come not from direct attacks, but 
from naivete: people are just too trusting, and click on phishing scams, 
etc.

> 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.

Quite. You're hobbyist. So am I. But I don't expect other people to be 
as fascinated by the technology as I am.

> If a computer was boring like a toaster why
> would I want one?

Because you'd want to do what most people use it for: a tool for 
interaction with other people, a source of entertainment, etc. You 
remind me of people who buy ancient cars and motorbikes, spend all their 
time fixing them up, but never use them to drive over to Aunt Sally's 
for a visit. For that, they use their boring sedan, which is (of course) 
an appliance. ;-)

> 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.

Well, I saw a musician demonstrate how he uses his iPad for composition, 
including collaborative composition over the 'net. That's not boring at 
all. And NB that he hasn't a clue how the thing works. He just uses it. 
Plugs it into his keyboard, or an interface with his electric guitar, 
and away he goes. When he connects the Pad to speakers, the sound is 
gorgeous.

> I speak as a senior citizen
> who got her first computer when she was 56 (Windows 98).

I could now list all the things that give me bragging rights over you. 
;-) I never used W98 because it was too buggy for my taste. Win3.x was 
better, despite its limitations. I went to OS/2 instead.

> 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.

H'm, interesting assumptions you're making here.

I've been involved in computing since the 1960s. I actually first 
learned programming in binary code. I gave a seminar in natural language 
processing to a graduate computer science class: my ideas I now realise 
were about 20 years ahead of their time. I thought they were obvious, 
errors and all, so I didn't write a paper. I should've, but I was more 
interested in the puzzles than in making a name for myself. ;-)

I've owned computers since 1982. I've seen the PC go from an obscure 
basement-geek hobby (remember BYTE magazine?) to an almost mature 
technology. I still spend far too much time messing about with computers 
(we have 4 in the house, including a Mac). I'm waiting for a true 
handheld computer (some tablets are almost there). But NAS is long 
overdue here, next major project. Then I'll network the TV, an 
disconnect from satellite.

So why do I think a computer should be an appliance? Because it already 
is one. That is, people aren't buying them because they want to learn 
about them, but because they want to use them to do interesting and 
useful things. Thus, design focus should now shift to making the 
computer suited to these customers. That's what the Mozilla team seems 
to have forgotten. That's the downside of of OSS and volunteer 
developers: they are fascinated by the technology, and don't have enough 
awareness of the ordinary user's POV. That's why I rant here (and 
elsewhere) ;-)

> 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? [snip extended critique]

So you agree with me after all. ;-)

> Mozilla has turned blind to its user base. I was told that home users cannot
> get the Enterprise version. [snip rant]

Yup, my sentiments too.

Have a good day,
Wolf K.