| Computers have a long way to go before "user friendly" means what it says. Software and hardware have certainly gotten much better, but the user hasn't changed at all. People want, and maybe they should expect, that their computer should just plug in and work. We're not there yet. I recall offering to teach a young lady to drive just a few years ago. We were sitting in the car and I asked to tell me what some of the electronic gadgets did (A late model Volvo) and she didn't know the hazard light symbol, the overdrive and some other miscellaneous controls. I asked her to read the owner's manual as a pre-condition and she refused. I walked off that particular job. I've seen her driving since then, so she must have learned something, but I'm willing to bet her owner's manual is pristine. A large segment of the computer-using population is the same way, and no amount of suggestions on my part has ever changed any of them. I think this is based on fear:fear of not understanding, in particular. This reluctance has been very good for me, but I think it's held back a lot of people from being more creative with their computers. Maybe someday, but for now... |
| These are some of the links I find useful. |
| General Troubleshooting Microsoft Annoyances.org Only 4 Gurus The Elder Geek-XP Explained |