I realize I'm one of the only people on Earth who is bothered by this, but the fact that all Windows alerts are run on sentences in the passive voice with push button choices that are either redundant or confusing has bothered me for as long as I can remember. I'm sure they can afford to hire some f-ing copy editors or English majors. Of course they apperently have no incentive. My co-workers either look at me like I'm nuts or they roll their eyes when I mention this pet peeve. Minor? Yes. But it's been -- what? -- 18 years of Windows and umpteen serious revisions?
For example, "Do you really wish to cancel the previous action?" and your choices are "Okay" and "Cancel". WTF?
First of all, it doesn't say what you are canceling ("the previous action" doesn't count), and it doesn't use verbs for the buttons. On the Mac, most programs use alerts that are very simple simple and verbs for the buttons, so usually you don't even have to read the alert completely in order to know what to push. On the other hand, Windows gives you really really wide boxes with many lines of text that requires a few read-throughs to understand (if you are ever able to figure it out at all). Then it presents you with two choices: Okay and Cancel. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Another problem: The little close box that appears in the upper right of every window (including dialog boxes that have an "OK" and "Cancel" button) is, by default, set to be the same as "OK" as far as I can recall. So someone who is panicked and doesn't know what's going on might instinctively close the box, accidentally screwing something up.
<strong>does anyone know how to stop windows messenger from starting when windows starts?!</strong><hr></blockquote>
in windows? or in mac os? I know that MSN messenger always finds its way back into my startup items...and it pisses me off cause I don't even use msn messenger!
a windows complaint:
I really really really dislike how in windows explorer if you are not selecting anything the backspace button goes up one level or back to the last location...that is very frustrating..I've lost many emails that way.
heh...if a MS rep read this thread, and made some suggestions to whoever would make these changes, then MS just got the best *free* market research ever.
"You have performed an illegal operation. This program will now close."
Damnit!!
Reopen program....waiting....
working along....
screen freezes....Ctrl + ALT + Del
Choose frozen program from list....click "shut down"
Waiting.....
Waiting.....
"Program will not shut down, Please wait 10 seconds or select End Task"
click "End Task"
Waiting....
Program shuts down....taking 5 programs from the startup bar with it.
<<<Pounding fists off side of tower>>>
Restart computer.
5 minutes later, windows loads and we start all over.
I am a soon to be switcher. Currently running Pentium 3, 550Mhz, 256 MB SDRAM, Windozer 98SE which will be smashed on the street in front of my house, in a fury of rage, once my beautiful Mac is sitting in my studio.
Will be saving for the next 4 or 5 months, but when I'm ready I will be welcoming a Dual 1.25 Ghz PowerMac with 1 GB DDR, Combo Drive, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro w/128 MB and a new 20" Cinema Display.
Is it just me, or is this a stupid "Blah blah Windows suckz" thread?
[quote]Originally posted by der Kopf:
<strong>
This holds true in OS X as well, IMHO. You have /Applications, then prolly a few folders in /Library, maybe even in /System. Of course another few folders in ~/Library, and if you're lucky, some in ~/Documents. And not in simple, clearly marked locations.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Not true.
/System/Library/ : System Library (duh). ONLY the system should have files in here. ONLY Apple should change this.
I think that's very logical.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I do to...i like the idea that /Library applies to all users and ~/Library applies to that users.
One thing i dont like about X is how hard it is to share files with other users (have to put it into shared...then get on with another users and go into that folder, would be nice)
<strong>Is it just me, or is this a stupid "Blah blah Windows suckz" thread?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well As long as people remain civil, and don't try too hard to defend or slander windows, this thread needs not be a mindless windoze suxxors type thread...I see it more as a "those little things that bug everyone but no one talks about" kind of thread.
I really really really dislike how in windows explorer if you are not selecting anything the backspace button goes up one level or back to the last location...that is very frustrating..I've lost many emails that way.
</strong><hr></blockquote> Maybe I got kicked in the head recently and don't know it, but how are you writing emails in windows explorer?
do I need go on? all of these are web based email accounts.
The task bar (startup items) is my LEAST favorite windows function. A bunch of programs that I don't need, take up system resources, and crash often. Yeah, that sounds like a great plan.
I really wouldn't mind if Explorer (not IE, Explorer - I realize that there's not much difference) would stop crashing, forcing me to power the machine down and do a cold reboot. That would be nice.
It would also be nice if Force Quit actually worked regularly. I've had it refuse to quit applications because they were running in a debugger?! Excuse me, if my file navigation tool is running in a debugger in a release version of the OS, I want to hunt someone down and strangle them.
Windows 2000 fixed one of my longstanding complaints, which is that the more-or-less standard <ctrl>-P <return> sequence for printing a document would start a print job and then cancel it in Notepad.
I have the task bar up on top of the screen because I hate it, and that gets it out of my way. It also puts the menu clock where I'm used to looking for it. Unfortunately, Windows really can't deal with the taskbar being anywhere but the bottom, so it regularly opens windows whose titlebars are not only under the taskbar, but off the top of the screen. Reducing the taskbar to it's "almost hidden" size pops the offending title bars down to visible place, so I now keep the taskbar hidden until I need to look at the time. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
I abhor the totally whacked directory structure in Windows. I doubly abhor the fact that just when you memorize the 150-character path to your own desktop, they move it somewhere else in the next major release. I also wish they would make up their minds about a) what to call the DOS window, and b) where in the task bar to put it. Heck, DOS counts as a misfeature. Can I have a real shell, please?
Finally, I was recently treated to the joy of running a Perl script at a DOS prompt and watching the entire UI freeze up for several seconds while my script wrote output to the console. Three cheers for preemptive multitasking!
Because I tend to be a little anal, I like to write code in all caps (SQL Server, Access, etc.). Well, if I go somewhere else and forget to turn caps off and type a name it comes out "gEORGE". I HATE THAT!!!
On my Mac, if all caps are on, ALL CAPS ARE ON!!! What's the point of the little light saying "caps on" if shift disables it?
been meaning to switch to mac for a while seen as i was going to uni to do graphic design. Anyway my pc I was forced to install a new version of msn messenger because the old wouldnt log in anymore so it downlaods and installs itself then of course has to reboot (quite laughable) anyway on starting up when the bar was gonig across on win2000 it would bluescreen when it reached the end and because it now restarts on bluescreens to try and hide them from the user it basically just sat there killing itself over and over because id left the room for a bit.
Anyway there wasnt a way i oculd figure out what the problem was with the retarded restarting and all so i reinstalled windows 2000 and heres a lovely quote from the installer:
"There is already an installation of windows 2000 detected on this drive, warning your desktop and my documents directories will be overwritten and you will loose all files in these directories"
excuse me but how ****ing moronic is that? imean you'd think the moron who wrote that would say "hey bill why dont we just give them an option to clean install or copy my documents to my backup documents."
so your telling me if i didnt use your stupid 'my documents' 'my music' 'my animal porn' folders then i wouldnt have to worry, christ.
luckily I didnt trust them in the firstplace so used a bootdisk to copy them to my backup documents before running the installer. Oh not to mention the installer was all made in dos ansi mess whatever like the really old windows installers and is one of the most confusing things going.
Been on osx for about 7 months now i think, never had a single problem whatsoever, and ive had to reformat that pc twice in the time (once two days ago cos it decided to not be able to find its OS one day for no reason) Only problem ive seen with osx is my friends ibook that messed up some how and she had to reinstall it but didnt loose anything because osx backed it up during the install, well archived it or whatever it does.
oh and windows messenger starting when you open outlook, thats really genius ¬_¬ just waht i need people going "OHES HELLOES THAT MALE" when all i want to do it check my sodding mail. I know it can be turned off but it always found its way to turn back on.
also run ms word (this is always a giggle in the pc labs at uni) then press shut down this is what happens:
messagebox:"windows cannot shut down because microsoft office apps are still running please close them and try again"
2 seconds later
messagebox:"The application word.exe is not responding and will be closed in 30 seconds, click end task to close now"
do I need go on? all of these are web based email accounts.
The task bar (startup items) is my LEAST favorite windows function. A bunch of programs that I don't need, take up system resources, and crash often. Yeah, that sounds like a great plan.
Comments
First of all, it doesn't say what you are canceling ("the previous action" doesn't count), and it doesn't use verbs for the buttons. On the Mac, most programs use alerts that are very simple simple and verbs for the buttons, so usually you don't even have to read the alert completely in order to know what to push. On the other hand, Windows gives you really really wide boxes with many lines of text that requires a few read-throughs to understand (if you are ever able to figure it out at all). Then it presents you with two choices: Okay and Cancel. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Another problem: The little close box that appears in the upper right of every window (including dialog boxes that have an "OK" and "Cancel" button) is, by default, set to be the same as "OK" as far as I can recall. So someone who is panicked and doesn't know what's going on might instinctively close the box, accidentally screwing something up.
<strong>does anyone know how to stop windows messenger from starting when windows starts?!</strong><hr></blockquote>
in windows? or in mac os? I know that MSN messenger always finds its way back into my startup items...and it pisses me off cause I don't even use msn messenger!
a windows complaint:
I really really really dislike how in windows explorer if you are not selecting anything the backspace button goes up one level or back to the last location...that is very frustrating..I've lost many emails that way.
heh...if a MS rep read this thread, and made some suggestions to whoever would make these changes, then MS just got the best *free* market research ever.
"You have performed an illegal operation. This program will now close."
Damnit!!
Reopen program....waiting....
working along....
screen freezes....Ctrl + ALT + Del
Choose frozen program from list....click "shut down"
Waiting.....
Waiting.....
"Program will not shut down, Please wait 10 seconds or select End Task"
click "End Task"
Waiting....
Program shuts down....taking 5 programs from the startup bar with it.
<<<Pounding fists off side of tower>>>
Restart computer.
5 minutes later, windows loads and we start all over.
I am a soon to be switcher. Currently running Pentium 3, 550Mhz, 256 MB SDRAM, Windozer 98SE which will be smashed on the street in front of my house, in a fury of rage, once my beautiful Mac is sitting in my studio.
Will be saving for the next 4 or 5 months, but when I'm ready I will be welcoming a Dual 1.25 Ghz PowerMac with 1 GB DDR, Combo Drive, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro w/128 MB and a new 20" Cinema Display.
I think I deserve it. :cool:
[quote]Originally posted by der Kopf:
<strong>
This holds true in OS X as well, IMHO. You have /Applications, then prolly a few folders in /Library, maybe even in /System. Of course another few folders in ~/Library, and if you're lucky, some in ~/Documents. And not in simple, clearly marked locations.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Not true.
/System/Library/ : System Library (duh). ONLY the system should have files in here. ONLY Apple should change this.
/Library/ : User-independent Library.
~/Library/ : User-dependent Library.
I think that's very logical.
<strong>
/Library/ : User-independent Library.
~/Library/ : User-dependent Library.
I think that's very logical.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I do to...i like the idea that /Library applies to all users and ~/Library applies to that users.
One thing i dont like about X is how hard it is to share files with other users (have to put it into shared...then get on with another users and go into that folder, would be nice)
[ 02-04-2003: Message edited by: ast3r3x ]</p>
<strong>Is it just me, or is this a stupid "Blah blah Windows suckz" thread?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well As long as people remain civil, and don't try too hard to defend or slander windows, this thread needs not be a mindless windoze suxxors type thread...I see it more as a "those little things that bug everyone but no one talks about" kind of thread.
*me thinks*
i wish i could type and over write the stuff in front of this as a main fuction...so devilishly placed next to the 'backspace' and 'delete' key
*me thinks*
and by the way, PC's naming scheme for the delete and backspace doesn't make ANY sense!
<strong>
a windows complaint:
I really really really dislike how in windows explorer if you are not selecting anything the backspace button goes up one level or back to the last location...that is very frustrating..I've lost many emails that way.
</strong><hr></blockquote> Maybe I got kicked in the head recently and don't know it, but how are you writing emails in windows explorer?
<a href="http://www.hotmail.com"; target="_blank">www.hotmail.com</a>
<a href="http://www.msn.com"; target="_blank">www.msn.com</a>
<a href="http://mail.yahoo.com"; target="_blank">http://mail.yahoo.com</a>;
<a href="http://www.aol.com"; target="_blank">http://mail.aol.com</a>;
do I need go on? all of these are web based email accounts.
The task bar (startup items) is my LEAST favorite windows function. A bunch of programs that I don't need, take up system resources, and crash often. Yeah, that sounds like a great plan.
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: OBJRA10 ]
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: OBJRA10 ]</p>
It would also be nice if Force Quit actually worked regularly. I've had it refuse to quit applications because they were running in a debugger?! Excuse me, if my file navigation tool is running in a debugger in a release version of the OS, I want to hunt someone down and strangle them.
Windows 2000 fixed one of my longstanding complaints, which is that the more-or-less standard <ctrl>-P <return> sequence for printing a document would start a print job and then cancel it in Notepad.
I have the task bar up on top of the screen because I hate it, and that gets it out of my way. It also puts the menu clock where I'm used to looking for it. Unfortunately, Windows really can't deal with the taskbar being anywhere but the bottom, so it regularly opens windows whose titlebars are not only under the taskbar, but off the top of the screen. Reducing the taskbar to it's "almost hidden" size pops the offending title bars down to visible place, so I now keep the taskbar hidden until I need to look at the time. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
I abhor the totally whacked directory structure in Windows. I doubly abhor the fact that just when you memorize the 150-character path to your own desktop, they move it somewhere else in the next major release. I also wish they would make up their minds about a) what to call the DOS window, and b) where in the task bar to put it. Heck, DOS counts as a misfeature. Can I have a real shell, please?
Finally, I was recently treated to the joy of running a Perl script at a DOS prompt and watching the entire UI freeze up for several seconds while my script wrote output to the console. Three cheers for preemptive multitasking!
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: Amorph ]</p>
On my Mac, if all caps are on, ALL CAPS ARE ON!!! What's the point of the little light saying "caps on" if shift disables it?
been meaning to switch to mac for a while seen as i was going to uni to do graphic design. Anyway my pc I was forced to install a new version of msn messenger because the old wouldnt log in anymore so it downlaods and installs itself then of course has to reboot (quite laughable) anyway on starting up when the bar was gonig across on win2000 it would bluescreen when it reached the end and because it now restarts on bluescreens to try and hide them from the user it basically just sat there killing itself over and over because id left the room for a bit.
Anyway there wasnt a way i oculd figure out what the problem was with the retarded restarting and all so i reinstalled windows 2000 and heres a lovely quote from the installer:
"There is already an installation of windows 2000 detected on this drive, warning your desktop and my documents directories will be overwritten and you will loose all files in these directories"
excuse me but how ****ing moronic is that? imean you'd think the moron who wrote that would say "hey bill why dont we just give them an option to clean install or copy my documents to my backup documents."
so your telling me if i didnt use your stupid 'my documents' 'my music' 'my animal porn' folders then i wouldnt have to worry, christ.
luckily I didnt trust them in the firstplace so used a bootdisk to copy them to my backup documents before running the installer. Oh not to mention the installer was all made in dos ansi mess whatever like the really old windows installers and is one of the most confusing things going.
Been on osx for about 7 months now i think, never had a single problem whatsoever, and ive had to reformat that pc twice in the time (once two days ago cos it decided to not be able to find its OS one day for no reason) Only problem ive seen with osx is my friends ibook that messed up some how and she had to reinstall it but didnt loose anything because osx backed it up during the install, well archived it or whatever it does.
also run ms word (this is always a giggle in the pc labs at uni) then press shut down this is what happens:
messagebox:"windows cannot shut down because microsoft office apps are still running please close them and try again"
2 seconds later
messagebox:"The application word.exe is not responding and will be closed in 30 seconds, click end task to close now"
*click end task*
*windows shuts down*
pure comedy
<strong>xmoger,
<a href="http://www.hotmail.com"; target="_blank">www.hotmail.com</a>
<a href="http://www.msn.com"; target="_blank">www.msn.com</a>
<a href="http://mail.yahoo.com"; target="_blank">http://mail.yahoo.com</a>;
<a href="http://www.aol.com"; target="_blank">http://mail.aol.com</a>;
do I need go on? all of these are web based email accounts.
The task bar (startup items) is my LEAST favorite windows function. A bunch of programs that I don't need, take up system resources, and crash often. Yeah, that sounds like a great plan.
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: OBJRA10 ]
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: OBJRA10 ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Backspace only goes 'back' if you're browsing files. I just tried it.
You know you can delete startup items. Right-click > delete or drag em to the trash.