I have screamed some variation on the word more times in the last 48 hours than in the last 3 months. I am transitioning to Windows. It is incredibly, ridiculously "busy" and annoying. Every single thing I do takes at least 3 tries, as it helpfully decides for me that I really don't want to do that for myself and tries to do something I don't want. I have spent more time trying to figure out how to shut off the crap I don't need, want, and never want to hear from again, fuck you very much, than on actual work.
If you've ever read the Hitchhiker's Guide, Windows 7 is the annoyingly cheerful and helpful onboard computer. It does a lot of things that are similar to, but completely unlike, making tea. And help is a joke. I was trying to figure out how to import a boatload of vCards into Outlook at one time, and searched "vCard" - and Bing (I didn't ASK Bing, I thought I was in the Outlook help files) volunteered all these add-on programs from third party sites. I never did find the answer. I know there has to be one, and it's probably something easy, but it remains a secret. I have never appreciated the elegance of the Mac OS as much as I have in the last 48 hours.
But transition I must - this is the way stuff is done here. And I do like the laptop itself, it has a great, solid, clicky keyboard and a lovely wide, bright screen. I can live with it, after I find all the secret hidden settings and shut off all the extraneous crap and teach it to behave. If anyone can tell me how to make Google NOT be my default search bar in IE9, so when I type in a web address it takes me TO that address instead of a list of things that mention that address, I will be forever in your debt.
I will not say that Murphy is much better, lest it trigger a relapse. I will say he is responding to treatment. And we appreciate everyone's prayers, positive thoughts, and good wishes.
Oh, and I have to share a really useful smartphone app. I am not a big user of phone apps in general. Most of them aren't practical for me, and my energy vampire fancy-pants phone barely retains enough battery power to get through the day as it is. But GroceryiQ" may be one of my favorite things ever. I can type a grocery list while at the computer, or SPEAK items into my phone, and review the list on my phone as I'm shopping! I can check things off as I buy them! Where was this all my working mom life?
Ooh, it's raining! Really raining, for the first time in months! We need about a week of heavy soaking rain, but I'll take an hour or so. Please, please, keep raining!
We have been on Windows PC's ever since, oh the early 90's. At that time, no choice. We went into computers for computer aided design for the toolmaking business. To set up with AutoCad we had to shell out about 15000 of the best, starting with an NEC Powermate with maths co-processor. Please note 'Powermate' on a clunky 286 box.
ReplyDeleteNo mouse, not even a printer at that stage, but a sort of automated drawing board, that would squeak around, pick up a pen, draw a few lines in, say, blue; put that pen back, pick up another and squeak, squeak, produce a technical drawing. Much to the fascination of the dogs. The sound and movement of the pens was close to irresistable.
I am still using Windows XP, but I think the next incarnation will have to be Mac. Since I am no longer using my computer for the business I can suit myself.
Murphy: keep on keeping on, and responding steadily to treatment.
Gae, in Callala Bay
Download anything other than IE. Well that's my answer at least. I love Google Chrome, and used to be a die-hard Firefox person. I've never cared for Safari, but since you're a ?Mac person that may be your browser of choice...
ReplyDeleteIE is the Multiple Listing Service connection of choice. I will try using Chrome for my personal stuff. I am just so frustrated with it all right now - so spoiled by Mac stuff.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Gae - your card arrived today! And I was a PC gal forever, home and work until around 2004 or so, at work until I left corporate world in 2010. I hadn't had to deal with the annoyance that is Windows in a couple of years and forgot how ridiculous it is. I have my work stuff set up, but the rest of my life is in chaos.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I remember a 286 box too. I've been around this stuff for longer than I want to think. :)
ReplyDeleteyuck... I can't figure out why ANYONE would currently code websites to work best with IE anymore, but it does happen :(
ReplyDeleteSchool is all IE. There are emails that don't even show up in my box in Chrome, because I can't use the full program - something Microsoft or Outlook or something. They want me to put that stuff on my computer so they/I can track changes in my paper. I think not.
ReplyDeleteI can remember when windows first came to the desktop. It slowed things down then and it slows things down now! Nevertheless, I am a PC person by habit, although I use Chrome as my browser of choice. Your best bet might be to go to the upper toolbar and disable Bing altogether. It has its own toolbar and you should be able to close it. I have found Bing to be a giant pain in the ass.
ReplyDeleteI WILL NOT use IE. Am on Mozilla Thunderbird and Firefox.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had a suspicious e-mail (purporting to be from Scotland Yard and alleging fraud!) I reported it to the local Boys in Blue. During the discussion mentioned the Mozilla programs, and their reaction was that I would be unlikely to have a problem. Mozilla developed from a program I found donkeys years ago, Mailwasher, developed by a Kiwi.
Wow, I posted that card on Tuesday morning from Nowra. Slick !!
And I have unearthed the fountain pens, and bought some REAL ink.
Gae, in Callala Bay
I use Firefox on the iMac. Never got the hang of Safari, and Firefox is just so easy. IE9 is the most convoluted thing - I had thought Microsoft was trying to mimic the ease of the Mac OS, but, sadly, no.
ReplyDelete