The New Computer and the New Computer Rant

31 Replies

Am I the only one objecting to having to write an autobiography before being allowed to use a computer I just paid for? because I once used my email address for a Google account I can’t use it again, so have had to start a new email account. Why do they always need my date of birth too? If it’s because of “adult content” issues I would be quite capable of lying about my age and if it isn’t they don’t need it. As far as a computer company is concerned that is as relevant as my shoe size. That is 11 or 12, depending on width and fit, as my left foot is half a size bigger than the right and I sometimes have to buy twelves to accommodate that. It’s not a secret, it’s just not something that Microsoft needs to know. Meanwhile, in asking me for details, they applied the password not just to the Microsoft account but to the computer. I don’t need a computer password. If Americans want to know why the rest of the world sometimes has reservations about them, just ask Bill Gates why this should be. First of all he rents us software we used to be able to buy, then he makes us open accounts just to use our own computers. Next thing you know he’ll be cutting off our access if he doesn’t like what we say.

If the Chinese Government ever brings out a word processing package I will seriously consider using it on the basis it can’t be any more intrusive than Microsoft already is.

At last the changeover went comparatively easily, apart from writing the autobiography and then providing some of the information in duplicate. or triplicate. WE can invent computers (which is a bit like alchemy or witchcraft to a simple soul like me, and we can travel to the Moon ( or a TV studio in the desert) but we can’t, it seems, design a system that allows you type a phone number in one place on a form and allow it to show up every time they want your phone number.

AS for picking it up, it was interesting. They sent me an email in the morning telling me it was ready to pick up, but I had just started watching Sharpe, so I left it a while. You have to tell them you are outside the shop by pressing a link they send you. This, of course assumes you have your phone set up for email. I did when I was managing junior rugby teams but I don’t need it now so I never set it up on the phone. ASDA do the same with their Click & Collect. They assume the whole world are slaves to their phones. It isn’t true. Some of us still retain the power of thought and don’t ned all that electronic pap. It’s a plot I tell you, encouraging stupidity, mediocrity and self-centred behaviour. Our current House of Commons is quite clearly the result of early experiments in this direction.

I long for the old days when it was all about back-stabbing, naked ambition and class war. They were still a waste of space, but at least they were comparatively honest and straightforward.

That meant I had to forward the email to Julia who came with me to the shop and pressed the link once we found our way through the badly marked slalom course that was supposedly the system of collection bays. How difficult can it be to draw an arrow that looks like an arrow rather than a hockey stick. There are some well-established conventions on this, Pointy bit and shaft. It most definitely isn’t either rocket science or a hockey stick.

I interpreted it to mean that I had to turn back on myself and as a result, lost two places in the queue. I hate it when that happens. Anyway, it’s all running now, just leaving me to chunter that I can’t see why Windows 10 is necessary as it’s no advance on the old system.

Oh, hang on, I’m wrong. It is an advance on the old system because it enables Microsoft to make you buy new stuff.

One small backward step for mankind, one giant leap for Microsoft profits.

My new computer looks nothing like the one in the picture, but it’s the only computer photo I can find. Mine is more of a chunky black box attached to things (including a twelve -year-old screen, with a mass of tangled wires.

Tomorrow I’m going to try using more photos.

31 thoughts on “The New Computer and the New Computer Rant”

  3. Helen

    One advantage of my iPhone is that it does enable me to auto-fill forms.

    It is perhaps no good thing that I rely on my phone for so much. Not just talking to friends and family, but also blogging and emailing, online shopping and internet searches. It’s my satnav, I do much of my banking on it and of course take photos.

    However, if I bought a satnav (I do have a camera but that means finding a computer to upload photos) etc that would cost me more than the financial outlay in purchasing the phone.

    The phone reckons I spend about 4 hours a day using it, which means (when I am not ‘at’ work and on the computer) most of my day is still spent with less technologically advanced inventions such as radio, the cooker, secateurs, crochet hooks and books. Oh and my feet and eyes. Hopefully, the weather will stay nice enough to go for a walk this afternoon.

    Reply ↓
    1. quercuscommunity Post author

      You are someone who is in charge of your tech and uses it to enhance your life. That’s good. I worry about the people who let it take over. We saw one of Julia’s workmates this morning, plodding along the pavement with his eyes glued to something on his phone. An accident waiting to happen and all so he could do something which was, no doubt, trivial. I could enhance my life by embracing technology a little more, but then what would I write about? 🙂

      Reply ↓
  4. tootlepedal

    There is a lot of free stuff out there that is perfectly good such as Open Office. I like Mozilla Firefox as a browser because it is not owned by Microsoft or Google.

    Reply ↓
    1. quercuscommunity Post author

      I can’t remember why I moved from Firefox to Chrome. We were on the farm at the time but I don’t recall the exact reason. I have decided to be brave and download Open Office. It can’t be any worse than the current pig’s ear I’m making of things at the moment.

      Reply ↓
      3. quercuscommunity Post author

        I am rapidly developing the outlook and body of a seventy-year-old. This is not good, as Julia points out, when you add in the maturity of a 12 year old. 🙂

  8. Lavinia Ross

    There are many flavors of Linux out there as an option to Microsoft. Nothing technology related is truly turnkey, there is always a learning curve involved, but the price is right.

    Reply ↓
    1. quercuscommunity Post author

      I didn’t even touch a computer until I was 29 and I was over 40 before I actually owned one. I recognise a few words like LInux and roughly understand the concept but wouldn’t have a clue how to change anything. I think that’s how Microsoft trap us – I am actually afraid of the mess I would make if I tried to change.

      Reply ↓
      1. Lavinia Ross

        Often one can get a used machine for next to nothing, or one a friend may be getting rid of as they are upgrading their own. If you ever decide to go exploring, that is the way to do it, on a second disposable machine. A lot of good limericks might come out of that adventure too. 🙂

      2. quercuscommunity Post author

        Strangely nough I had been thinking that might be the way forward. I’m still trapped in the mindset that they are expensive and you only have one, but they aren’t really. I could have bought this one on credit for about £12 a month so I have already started saving £20 a month for my next one.

Leave a Reply to derrickjknightCancel reply