This is a place to vent my frustration with some of the FREAKY stuff in the Windoze operating system.

First, let me say that I have watched the development of personal computers right from the very beginning. I remember buying the electronics magazine that introduced the very first popular microcomputer (as they were called then) ... the MITS Altair 8800.

I never owned one of these (much as I wanted to back then) but I did cut my programming teeth on Commodore Pets, Apple II's, and various other pre-PC computers. Back then the computer was completely wide open ... it was a general purpose computing machine with the emphasis on general. In other words you could do anything you wanted with it, within the physical limitations of the machine. That was the source of the excitement about them.

Then the suits took over.

Now, it seems to me, that having watched the progression of things over the years that the general purpose has been taken out of things to some extent in the case of the Windoze operating sytem. This is probably because of the suits that are running the place who have not had the initial experience that I had. This is also the source of my frustration with BG ... he really should know better having been there at the time.

Example: Try setting up a PC running Windoze so that it has zero security! As far as I can tell, this cannot be done. So much for general purpose. You're supposed to be able to set your computer up as you please, not as someone else dictates.

Example: Use the notepad to edit a text file and then save it. It will have the extension ".txt" whether you want it or not. Somebody's goofy decision again. I want to do what I want to do not what someone else thinks is best for me.

Example: Autorun is on by default for the cd drive. I find this to be extremely annoying as I don't always want this kind of behaviour. Shutting this off in W2K is not trivial.

Example: Try getting support for the Windoze operating sytem.

Example: Setting up a network printer. In the Windoze printer setup dialogue you are asked whether or not you are setting up a local printer or a network printer. The correct answer is local, after which you will supply an ip address for the network printer. Suits! Go figure!

Example: To shut down the computer you go to the start button. Huh?

Example: Try getting a refund for the Windoze OS as it says you are entitled to in the EULA.
"YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE PRODUCT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE PRODUCT; YOU MAY RETURN IT TO YOUR PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND."
Good luck!

Do you want TOTAL control over your computer? Do you NOT want someone else's decision about how you should use your computer to bug you? Do you want an operating system that is continually updated and comes with LOTS of REAL support from people that actually care? Do you want an operating system that has virtually zero problems with viruses? Try Linux. I started in '95 and haven't looked back since.

Whew!! That felt good!