Andy Ihnatko should be on hates-software. He does it so well. :-)
To rudely over-quote:
But what I've endured over the past few months is the equivalent
of a weeklong road trip with someone whose company you've always
enjoyed, but never really known as a true friend. Windows has
propped its bare smelly feet up on my dashboard and told me the
story about how he was so hung over during his aunt's funeral that
he threw up into the coffin a little. His greasy hair has left
smears on the inside of the window that no solvent can shift. He
just sort of assumed that he could use my iPod, and during the one
time he took a turn at the wheel, the battery was completely flat
and I had to listen the story about the funeral a second time.
So I'm not saying that my fond regards won't return in time. But I'm
going to have to spend a few weeks alone first.
[...]
As Mac users, we haven't had enough exposure to wretched software
design to develop any natural antibodies, and for this, we envy our
brethren in the Windows community. We truly, truly do.
[...]
Thirty days after you unpacked a new PC, it starts. The DVD decoder
starts asking you if you want to now purchase the optional super DVD
decoder. The antivirus app tells you that your subscriptions are out
of date and you need to provide a credit-card number. There was some
kind of branded media player that you never launched even once, and
it continues to throw popups in your face every five minutes despite
your yelling at the screen every time it happens.
Yes, your user experience has now turned into Pledge Week at your
local public television station ... and you did't even get to see a
Monty Python marathon first.
[...]
What shocks me back into reality? A sudden memory from a couple of
weeks ago, when I came across the official personal website of
Justin Guarini.
You know ... the guy who came in second during the first season of
"American Idol." The one who looks like Sideshow Bob from "The
Simpsons," and who sings like a yard-sale painting of a teary-eyed
clown on brown velvet.
Yeah, he built the site in iWeb.
If I'm a member of the same user community as that guy, then
clearly, I shouldn't go throwing stones.
http://www.macuser.com/ihnatko/ihnatko_harsh_words_for_window.php
--
Chris Devers
ObTypoHate: Realizing just before hitting 'send' that I almost omitted
the 's' from the subject line, changing the meaning utterly. Whoops!
