As a computer user, don't you sometimes feel like this guy? Proof positive computers are still too complex.

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As a computer user, don't you sometimes feel like this guy? Proof positive computers are still too complex.

Saw this on Clementine's posterous and just laughed out loud. Seriously, we have too many different things we have to worry about when using a PC.

We've got to simplify. It's great to create, but to edit is divine.

(painting by Derek Bacon)

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over 2 years ago Ari Gesher responded:

I would disagree. This is sort of like saying that cooking is too complicated and it needs to be simplified. Thinking about the milieu as 'computers' misses the point that it's really the activity 'computing'. As a general purpose tool, PCs will always be complex and hard to manage -- they're layer-upon-layer of imperfect abstraction, each adding value and power at the price of complexity.

You can build simpler machines, simpler abstractions, but it always comes at the price of flexibility/power.

over 2 years ago Garry Tan responded:

You're right -- it's just computing. But maybe we don't need so much computing... these things should just be self-healing and self-managing.

over 2 years ago Chet Woodside liked this post.

over 2 years ago Sachin Agarwal responded:

Hilarious.

I think a lot of this changed for me since OS X came out. Before that, there was a lot to worry about. Virus software, Norton Utilities, defrag.

Since OS X, I haven't needed any of those utilities, haven't defragged even once.

And things you had to previously install separately now come pre-insalled and work out of the box (media players, browsers)

My parents can do way more with their computers than they ever could before, and they have to learn way less. In fact, I don't think they've ever picked up a computer book.

over 2 years ago TuanAnh Nguyen liked this post.

over 2 years ago La tête près du bérêt responded:

The guy on the picture is certainly not a Mac user. I am, and I don't need all that silly stuff he's wearing.
BTW, Garry, I thought you used a Mac too, was i wrong ?

over 2 years ago Yung-Hui Lim liked this post.

over 2 years ago Mike Tee responded:

I think the "web2.0" tools are leading the way to a more simplified life for all. I only have to look at how my parents use the computer to know that some things can be improved. Cut & paste, for example, is still beyond them.

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As a computer user, don't you sometimes feel like this guy? Proof positive computers are still too complex.