beeg wrote:Untitled.jpg
I'm using windows 8.1. When I press F1, here's what I get.
I knew it! Just one OS generation later, Microsoft broke the F1 shortcut too!
Or maybe a virus or something did, but it's still fun to rag on the 'Softies.
But seriously, Microsoft has one huge market advantage: a gargantuan installed base, with countless users that have spent innumerable hours figuring out how to use their software. But they seem intent on squandering this market advantage. Every other OS generation, they lay a big turd, motivating yet another chunk of their user base to shell out twice the bucks, and endure another learning curve, to switch to Apple. Or to Linux, if they value their money more than their time. They indulge in innumerable changes that are not actual improvements, and thus serve only to frustrate their user base.
The new help icon is just one case in point. I've used computers many hours daily since the 1970's. I spent years writing software. I have managed a software development team for decades. And I was on a mission to find that icon, but still couldn't see it. The "?" symbol is in maybe a 6-pt font, and is placed in the opposite corner of the screen from the other controls. I must admit, however, that it is brilliant GUI design in comparison to the "Charms" of Windows 8. Which are totally invisible until you are trained, lucky enough, or perhaps divinely inspired to cursor off the corner of the screen in just the right place.
Of course, not being able to find the Microsoft help menu is really not much of a loss. I find that Googling a problem is much more helpful.
My theory is that the generation of programmers currently running amok at Microsoft were raised on video games. You know, the ones where all the fun comes from spending hours doing trial and error, being killed and then being reborn, until you finally stumble on the trick that lets you advance to the next level. Well, that's fine and dandy for video games. But it's total BS for professional productivity software.
One of my best software engineers recently turned 40. He's way better with computers than I'll ever be. And he just recently said to me "When I use Microsoft software, I always feel like I have to trick it into doing what I want."
End of rant. For now.
).
