Newfie wrote:I’m still trying to figure out what problem window 10 (or any other version) is trying to solve.
In practical terms I could do anything I wanted to do with window xp. I get not new useful functionality.
Maybe it’s great for gaming, but there is a certain percent of the population that doesn’t care about gaming. I care about spear sheet, data bases, CAD, email, word processing.
I mostly have to agree. I really liked the (at the time) new library functionality in Windows 7, re organizing lots of files. But far too many of the changes are just cosmetic, or changing where things are found, as though that helps the user.
Gaming is really huge, especially for younger users.
I think today's announcement by Google of a new gaming streaming system which ONLY takes a browser -- NO special hardware was very interesting. It dovetails quite nicely with the idea of the Chrome OS -- for most users, just make the internet and browser the center of the vast majority of what they want to do, make is simple and painless, and capture a huge proportion of the computing audience. The simplicity is what's brilliant. At this point, the primary rivals are so far from that approach, that Google could truly dominate that space -- if it doesn't screw up and lose the focus on simplicity over time.
Newfie wrote:From what I see the newer versions of windows sort of hide the file tree structure, I guess it’s too complicated for too many folks. But if that’s true then the machines/software capabilities are waaay over the head of most users. And I think thats true. I know in my corporate life I had an extremely difficult time getting folks to adhere to any kind of standardized filing system. Untold wasted hours and production because they could not find or share stuff. And that’s not even really a computer thing, it’s just being able to think in a structured way and color inside the lines. And management just didn’t seem to get it or care. Leaves me totally baffled.
Yeah, I get pissed every time I get into a new Windows implementation where they're hiding the file structure of, say, 90% of the system disk. Or won't let me see hidden files, etc.
I suspect too many people without a clue erase things they don't recognize and break things, and this is Microsoft's solution -- to try to protect ignorant people from themselves.
Newfie wrote:From my perspective the machines and operating systems capabilities and complexities far exceed those of the common user. There is a need for a solid capable core operating system that meets the realistic needs and is stable, that doesn’t keep screwing with the user interface.
I’m hoping some version of Linux will evolve into that, but it seems to be on the same time table as fusion energy.
I think you're right, and again, outside of the power users, I think this is the brilliance of where the Chrome OS is heading. If Android Apps come that do things like process PDF files, Microsoft Office compatible files, etc. -- a large variety of "normal" users will be just fine with it, especially if there's a simple but robust gaming environment -- without all the tweaking and maintenance that Windows can require.
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Re your question re the "problem" being solved, I believe in theory, that it is to make things as simple and capable as possible, to attract the most users (i.e. dollars). The problem is that, in reality, mainstream systems have actually become much more complex as they've become more powerful, so at some point the customer realizes they're getting a BAD DEAL -- re not enough more for their money. And too much hassle / problems.
To me, Chrome eliminating the entire need for anti-malware software is simply huge. Not only does it make online computing much safer, it removes the expense, time, burden, worry, etc. about that whole area of distraction from the customer. Just that example made me really sit up and look at that, since it's such a radical and effective departure from the status quo.
Given the track record of the perma-doomer blogs, I wouldn't bet a fast crash doomer's money on their predictions.