Coffee

By dfle3 June 11, 2009 - 4:50 pmIt's easy for tech geeks to make fun of newies in mattres like this. I remember, years ago, asking how to do something on a computer. The answer involved having to choose one of the options on the toolbar, using a drop down menu. Choosing one of the items in the drop down menu, which opened a nested drop down menu. Which opened a nested drop down menu. Which opened a nested drop down menu.Simple, isn't it? Sheesh, how could you NOT know that? ANY fool knows how to do that.I asked the guy if he expected me to be able to remember any of that next time I wanted to do the same thing again. Intuitive means something different for a guy with a degree in computer software than it does for the regular guy.And if computer programmers are so smart, why do they have to make things so complicated? MIght it have to do with wanting to make sure their buddies in tech help can make $80 an hour to solve these issues?Ideally, you want programmes etc that a reasonably intelligent person could suss out through trial and error.Yeah, you can tell I'm not the kind of person who just luuuurves the idea of reading a 100 page manual for the product.I could work out how to use my PVR without reading the manual, for the most part.If you need a hundred page manual to explain how it works, and the product is for general usage, then you are not smart enough to make these products. Stick to rocket surgery.Rant over.

summit