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Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

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Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We clearly have different ideas of “worse”.

Yes, and? When it comes to "what OS should I use on my computer", is it your assertion that I should use your definition instead of my own? If so, you're probably a Linux Desktop evangelist.

They'll do worse - any reason you put forward for not using their fetishised system will be summarily dismissed, regardless of content, and ultimately even your own experience with said fetish will be denounced as a lie.

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#62
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love for him to use a Mac with two monitors and wrestle with his dock constantly switching from one to the other with no way to lock the dock and keep sane window setups.

I use a rMBP 2015 with two monitors (in addition to the laptop monitor) daily. One over HDMI and the second via Thunderbolt/DisplayPort to HDMI (so two cables into the rMBP). I’ve never had this issue? What is your setup? I always thought it was funny that in a Mac you can’t set your default monitor, but I’ve never run into the issue you are describing.

Do you have "Displays have separate spaces" unchecked in mission control settings?

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#63

The early 2000's were a period of especially low usability for Microsoft's products. At the time, I had a roommate who was a die-hard Windows user. Over several years, I tried to convince him to switch to Mac OS X, with examples like: (a) Just drag/drop a PDF to a printer spool window, and it will print; (b) to install an app, usually you just have to drag it to the Applications folder; to uninstall it, simply drag i…

This kind of thing also got me to OS X. Now I'm looking at fiascos like the MBA/MBP keyboards, the bug-fests that are x.0 OS updates, and the way Catalina kills 32-bit applications for little reason (that I can discern), and I find myself wondering if I should quit the Mac world.

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#64

The early 2000's were a period of especially low usability for Microsoft's products. At the time, I had a roommate who was a die-hard Windows user. Over several years, I tried to convince him to switch to Mac OS X, with examples like: (a) Just drag/drop a PDF to a printer spool window, and it will print; (b) to install an app, usually you just have to drag it to the Applications folder; to uninstall it, simply drag i…

This letter is what inspired my similar O365 rant. Usability is just as bad as ever, if you find yourself in the wrong places of the suite.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14160809

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#65
post #10

Recently I installed specific parts of MSVC, since I'm using SFML and for now they only deliver binaries for 2017. After all I might not have needed to use 2017 or a particular SDK, since there seem to be ABI compatibility now, but I discovered that too late. So I used this vs intaller, and I discovered that the vs dev prompt did not set appropriate folder to use cl.exe and lib.exe because it might only do it for the…

How is 6GB not enough for MSVC? Are you compiling a web browser or something?

Windows + background services probably takes 1-2 GB. devenv.exe probably takes up another gig (more if you use extensions).

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#66

The early 2000's were a period of especially low usability for Microsoft's products. At the time, I had a roommate who was a die-hard Windows user. Over several years, I tried to convince him to switch to Mac OS X, with examples like: (a) Just drag/drop a PDF to a printer spool window, and it will print; (b) to install an app, usually you just have to drag it to the Applications folder; to uninstall it, simply drag i…

I'm not sure if you're serious, but

> Just drag/drop a PDF to a printer spool window, and it will print;

this is just the most obtuse way of doing things.

> usually you just have to drag it to the Applications folder; to uninstall it, simply drag it to the trash;

So does this, and unreliable as you noted - i.e. usually. But, ugggh... dragging things to other things to do things though?

There's a reason why certain large classes of disabled users are on Windows. Stephen Hawking used Windows.

Aside from the disabled, the mechanics of Windows have always been better, no matter how bad they actually were. That last bit is my opinion, but it is true that many, many more disabled users are on Windows. If they can figure it out, couldn't your roommate? I'm joking of course, some people just seem to have a completely different way of thinking about things and certainly it is a fact that at least some portion of the population prefers the way macOS does things just like there are some people who can only use their chin to move a mouse.

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#67
post #15

[OP - I posted the tweet] If you liked this, you might like my collection of business memos here. https://sriramk.com/memos I remember this particular memo very well as I was at Microsoft at the time and it felt so unfair to see the reaction to what you expect any good CEO to do.

I love this! I've been wanting a page just like this - a lettersofnote but for business.

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#68

It's such an anachronism that Windows still needs to reboot to update itself

I use Ubuntu at work and have to update once every other week (at the most, sometimes every week for a stretch) to install updates.

While my Windows 10 at home hasn't been rebooted more than once a month (at the most, sometimes not for months at a stretch) over the last few years.

I'm sure a lot of people have their own counterexamples to either case.

I will say the Macs at work and home are the least hassle update-wise, but I don't use them heavily so I don't know how representative that is.

(shrug emoji), I guess ?

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#69

The early 2000's were a period of especially low usability for Microsoft's products. At the time, I had a roommate who was a die-hard Windows user. Over several years, I tried to convince him to switch to Mac OS X, with examples like: (a) Just drag/drop a PDF to a printer spool window, and it will print; (b) to install an app, usually you just have to drag it to the Applications folder; to uninstall it, simply drag i…

Still to this day people view Windows through the lense of XP experiences. I always wonder how much damage that era did. People claimed to "love" XP, but they are all rose tinted in memory. Everyone hated XP until SP2 and SP3. The Security Center was something everyone hated too. But yeah, some things it did really well, but others not so much. 10 is so much better than people give it credit for, and yes there are still bugs. But, all things considered it without a doubt the strongest OS Microsoft has ever built, and it is moving forward...where I feel like OSX is finally moving backward.

Re: Bill Gates on Windows Usability (2003)

#70

The way Bill Gates writes in that e-mail doesn't seem as elegant as his published writings. And he calls it the "Add or remove programs place", what a non-techie way to describe it.

What "techie way" of describing the place in Windows that is labeled "Add or remove programs" would you accept?

appwiz.cpl ;)
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