Re: New interview with Woz

[scott@alfter.diespammersdie.us (Scott Alfter)]

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In article <1157073283.737118.181990@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
mdj <mdj.mdj@gmail.com> wrote:
>Michael J. Mahon wrote:
>> My biggest complaint about PC systems is the commercial software that
>> presumes to reconfigure your system as if it were the only piece of
>> software on earth.  This is the evil dark side of failed attempts to
>> be "easy to use".  Automatic updating has turned many otherwise well-
>> behaved "passive" products into "active" monsters--even Java.
>
>Yes, this is a problem. I'd call it poor design rather than an attempt
>at ease of use though. It's like many software developers are stuck in
>the old single user mentality of the early 90's. Still today most
>Windows software isn't multi user aware.
>
>Supposedly Vista will finally bring about the multi-user world, where
>software will have to behave within a lesser privelleged environment.
>From what I've heard, acceptance testing has shown most people are
>uncomfortable with the extra steps necessary (like entering a password
>to give an installer administrator priveleges)

That doesn't seem to have hindered Mac OS X any.  Whenever you install a
program or let the system updater grab new stuff, you're prompted for your
password.

The testing results you mention are most likely the result of a general
resistance to change, not anything particular to Vista.  There's a mentality
among some where they know that to carry out some random task, they press
F5, type in whatever, click the Foo button, and finish with Ctrl-Alt-W (or
whatever).  The second you change any of that, they're completely lost.

  _/_
 / v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)
(IIGS( http://alfter.us/            Top-posting!
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