Windows- the most un-user friendly product ever created

[MiracleOfSound]

Drunken rant about to begin... you have been warned...

This is old news to computer veterans, but my God windows really sucks balls.

Considering it is a product that around 80% of people in the developed world use on a regular basis, the system is flawed and riddled with problems that the vast majority of its users cannot understand, let alone fix.

We all know that situation : An error has occured 345hth1010101010ebr40tnf jargon jargon etc etc

Problem is 99% of us, not being computer technicians, have no idea what happened or what we did to make our computer spaz out like that.

We think 'oh shit, I fucked up.. I did something wrong... but I don't have any idea what it was'.. not exactly user friendly.

Then you get a message asking if you would like to report the error to Microsoft. This to me seems like the equivalent of the little button on the traffic lights that doesn't really make them change but makes people feel like they're somehow moving things along or making a difference.

Now I realise that this being the wonderful world of the web there will be users here who will say 'well obviously you're a retard you just don't know how to make computers work' but I am 29 and have been using windows since the age of 10 (or so) and I am still baffled by some of the thousands of incomprehendable error messages that pop up every day, so how is a first time, 60 year old retired OAP going to be able to figure this techno jargon-filled septic mess of a program?

This is a program that has changed the world we exist in and the way we interact with the rest of the population of the planet, yet it is, and always has been, fundamentally broken.

For the experts out there and the non experts I have two questions...

Is the error sending request a placebo?

And is it just me or is the biggest product in the world a complete piece of shit?

 

[NeutralDrow]

If Windows is the most un-user friendly product ever created, why hasn't the proletariat overthrown the world yet?

 

[Mongodyr]

Well obviously you're a retard you just don't know how to make computers work.

...


No, not really. I actually kinda agree with you. It sucks. But I still think it's the best option for most people. If everyone were to switch to one OS like Ubuntu or something, then I guess that would work better. But you won't get everyone to switch to that, so it's still better for most people to just learn one OS that everyone uses.

Plus, I need my games.

Edit: Ohh, and the Error report thingie never works. Or... It actually kind of works on Vista. No, I kid you not. There has been a few times where my graphics driver freaked out, or a program stopped responding. Then the next time I started my computer I had a little tooltip in the corner saying what program caused it, why it happened, and a link to fixing it.

 

[Fumbles]

Nice... but seriously I'm running Win 7 64bit and I haven't had any errors or anything like that. However I am a computer tech... so that might be why, but all in all you are right. The error codes are a complete load of bullshit. Take stop error code 50... Can be caused by over 5000 different things! WTF!!!!!!

 

[Mekado]

I don't think any human being outside of microsoft (and it's doubtful they're human hehe) understand theses, i've been working tech support for 10+ years and i still have no idea what they are. As far as the "report error" button it sends the crash info to microsoft to "help them prevent future crashes" but between you and me i strongly believe they go straight to filer 13 (the trash, if you didn't know ) it's not going to help you in any way whatsoever, and i'm leery about sending info to microsoft, even though my windows is legal and all, it's a company that shown in the past they have no problem about picking up personnal info from your computer without asking.

So answer 1 : nobody understands the messages, and i don't think they're made to be understood,i've seen clearer error messages from 15$ piece of software.

Answer2 : it does go to microsoft, but no indication of any useful thing happening with it after.

 

[MusicalFreedom]

If everyone were to switch to one OS like Ubuntu or something

but only if you have someone set it all up for you. I've had to tool around with the command line a bit to get everything working, which the average user won't want to do. if they don't play many games and just want to type documents and browse the web, yeah, a fully set-up Ubuntu is fine.

edit: for games, tux racer is all you need. that is a pro game.

 

[Mongodyr]

If everyone were to switch to one OS like Ubuntu or something

but only if you have someone set it all up for you. I've had to tool around with the command line a bit to get everything working, which the average user won't want to do. if they don't play many games and just want to type documents and browse the web, yeah, a fully set-up Ubuntu is fine.

Yeah that's a good point. I was just using Ubuntu as an example though, seeing as it's the most common linux distro I have used, and I dislike OS X.

edit: for games, tux racer is all you need. that is a pro game.

And Gnometris. That think kicks ass.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

No OS is flawless (even Linux so just shut up already, it's better but I doubt a lot of people could use it much less install Linux on their own*). Mac doesn't have many flaws but its hard to do something wrong when you don't [i/]do[/i] anything and I personally have has almost no problems with Vista. Yeah and the error report is just a scheme to get people to stop getting on tech support.

*I've been flamed by Linux users since I got here so don't bother.

 

[MusicalFreedom]

Yeah that's a good point. I was just using Ubuntu as an example though, seeing as it's the most common linux distro I have used, and I dislike OS X.

gotta say, though, Ubuntu's hardware support is getting better, if you ignore wireless internet. plus, linux is getting usb 3.0 [http://www.techspot.com/news/35071-linux-first-to-support-usb-30-hardware-still-in-the-works.html]. freakin sweet.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

If everyone were to switch to one OS like Ubuntu or something

but only if you have someone set it all up for you. I've had to tool around with the command line a bit to get everything working, which the average user won't want to do. if they don't play many games and just want to type documents and browse the web, yeah, a fully set-up Ubuntu is fine.

Yeah that's a good point. I was just using Ubuntu as an example though, seeing as it's the most common linux distro I have used, and I dislike OS X.

You see, here's my point... in those two posts which seem like simple English to a lot of frequent web/windows users, there are a (adapts thick southern drawl) whole bunch o' big wurds Ah don't git'.

Such as:

Ubuntu (sounds like an African philosophy?)
Linux (sounds like some kind of plastic protractor manafacturer)
Distro (a new chocolate bar? gravy? Ford hatchback?)
Command Line (a military term???)

Obviously you two guys have a relatively clear understanding of the fundamentals of computer operating systems, because you have taken the time and effort to learn or because you have been educated in it somewhere.

However, 99% of windows users (including me) don't have a clue what any of that stuff means and will have no option other than to feel like we are idiots who broke our computers by using it in a normal fashion... is this not a HUGE flaw on Microsoft's part?

 

[Mongodyr]

Yeah that's a good point. I was just using Ubuntu as an example though, seeing as it's the most common linux distro I have used, and I dislike OS X.

gotta say, though, Ubuntu's hardware support is getting better, if you ignore wireless internet. plus, linux is getting usb 3.0 [http://www.techspot.com/news/35071-linux-first-to-support-usb-30-hardware-still-in-the-works.html]. freakin sweet.

Doesn't it support wireless internett allready? But wow. I want some of that USB 3.0 sweetness. Maybe I could switch out my external harddrive and actually use it for something other then storing Porn ehm... Important scientific documentation.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

To be perfectly honest, it really isn't that bad. Out of 8 computers, I have one that runs windows. My main rig has 7 64 bit on it and nothing else. Why? Because windows does what i use my main computer for better. I use it Gaming, and making stuff mostly (3d modeling, photoshop, premiere, after affects, ect). I couldn't ever imagine running windows on my fileserver though, because Linux is infinitely better for that (super stable, customizable, better file system, ect.). So basically, Each OS has its pros and con's and its up to you to figure out which one you need.

As, for error codes, I keep my installs in very good shape so the only time windows crashes on me is when Ive raised my overclocks too high , So i know the cause of them and know how to fix it.

Yes yes, but I am not talking on behalf of people such as yourself who obviously have a pretty deep understanding of the software.

I am speaking on behalf Average Joe Shop Assistant or Bin Man who would look at you funny as soon as he heard you mention any of the following from your post:

'my main rig has 7 64 bit',
'premiere, after effects,'
'I couldn't imagine running windows on my fileserver'
'I keep my installs in good shape'
'when I raise my overclocks too high'

I realise that this being a gamers' forum, I may be in the minority here but you may as well be speaking in Swahili to me!

 

[MusicalFreedom]

gotta say, though, Ubuntu's hardware support is getting better, if you ignore wireless internet. plus, linux is getting usb 3.0 [http://www.techspot.com/news/35071-linux-first-to-support-usb-30-hardware-still-in-the-works.html]. freakin sweet.

Doesn't it support wireless internett allready? But wow. I want some of that USB 3.0 sweetness. Maybe I could switch out my external harddrive and actually use it for something other then storing Porn ehm... Important scientific documentation.

it does support it, it's just hit-and-miss depending on what hardware you've got. there are some drivers built in, but it won't work on all wireless cards. it might have gotten better since I last checked, though.

 

[darkorion69]

Windows is an incredibly easy to use Operating System for inexperienced users. The errors are usually operator induced. For the technically non-savy and the vocabulary challenged that means you morons are the ones that cause the blue screens of death.

Many people install programs they download online without reading each License Agreement (just scroll on down so you can get Porn-Chess installed, no need to stop and understand what you are doing...) which states that you allow the application to install ad-ware, spy-ware, tool bars, and new registry keys.

Then you use use Internet Explorer because you never read it's fine print either. Internet Exploree is very user friendly...to hackers! Hackers know ignorant users run Internet Explorer so all they have to do is slide beneath the radar and not bother the user with small print at all. These malicious programs destabilize your Windows, not programmer errors!

Even if you don't download anything and just use the computer as typewriter, stay out of your Control Panel or System Settings unless you have read THE WINDOWS MANUAL COMPLETELY. The slightest change made by an untrained user can make your operating system unstable.

I am sorry for being rude...but I get so damn tired of ignorant people trashing one of the most useful and technologically advanced programs ever conceived by software engineers! You try writing an OS that idiots cannot screw up...wait Apple tried and you guys screwed up their OS too!

 

[antipunt]

Drunken rant about to begin... you have been warned...

D:

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I'm guessing this is a meme of some sort?

 

[Mongodyr]

-Snip-

Well, I'll try to reword it a bit. Windows isn't userfriendly. But I don't think any of the other OS's are that much more userfriendly. Since Windows is the most popular OS, the majority of people will stick to it. If we could move everyone over to a new OS that was very userfriendly (If one exists), that would be fantastic. But we can't. So, to avoid having to learn every un-userfriendly OS out there, people only need to learn one. Windows.