Hello Friends:

Alfredo posts a link to a Web page bemonaning the complexity of computing
under Windows. Joe Geiser replies with some very sensible technical advice,
and explanations about how to get around some of it. I thank the maker for
people with Joe's experience, or users around the world would be in worse
shape than they are in today.

Unfortunately, I think the point of the Web page (a column for CNN
Financial) is being missed. Things are too complicated for Windows users. I
think that's the message that the average user -- that's your users, dear
readers -- will get from such a column.

I think such subversive opinions should be carefully expressed. Otherwise,
people will get the idea that computers need to be simpler to operate.

Some of the more radical ones could well draw the conclusion that the
status quo of Wintel is overly complex -- so much so that editing MSDOS.SYS
root directory flags is required to get a machine to shut down quickly and
restart quickly. Given how much crashing happens on many desktops, you'd
think quick restarts would be a high priority. At least that's what
developed in the Unix environment. Sun users over there used to swell with
pride at how fast their systems rebooted.

Of course, reboots can be lengthy on some HP 3000s. In an interesting
example of evolution, this feature remains under-developed, owing to the
lack of need to restart HP 3000s. Perhaps Windows systems will evolve into
the fast-restarters that those Sun workstations became.

A tool like a computer needs to increase its simplicity of operation as it
presses further down into our society. The percentage of PC users who could
perform Joe's directory flag editing is small indeed, compared to the share
of desktop users who long for simpler computer shutdowns.



Ron Seybold, Editor In Chief
The 3000 NewsWire
Independent Information to Maximize Your HP 3000
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