Vista - General MS attitude toward design

I'm a power user. I've been using PCs since MS-DOS-Only days. Rather than
just rant like several I've seen, I'm going to try and be constructive. I
hold no hope it will have an affect, but I'll feel better if I say it.

I just purchased a new custom built Vista Ultimate Machine with 3Ghz
Core2Duo 2GB RAM. I also purchased Office Pro and am a very heavy Access
user in my work. In general, there are many things I like about Vista. So
far I like the new Office UI and am warming to the new Vista UI as well. I
am (though old and experienced) pretty open minded to changes and the
evolution of the products. In my view, MS has a single fatal flaw that
prevents them from being premier at anything but marketing and monopolizing.
That is - their fundamental design assumption that they always know what's
best and generally refuse to allow anyone else to have a divergent opinion.
I truly understand and appreciate the need for so many wizards. I understand
that most PC users need guidance and support. In my view, however, it is
unforgivable that there are not easy-access 'portals' for advanced users.
We're not all beginners!

I work with massive Access databases all day every day as a software
consultant with a client list that includes several Fortune 500 companies. I
nearly cried when I first opened my databases on my new monster machine to
discover that they were MUCH slower to respond than on the 4-year-old XP
machine I replaced. Patiently I searched and tweaked until I removed
virtually every kind of error checking and 'let Microsoft do it for you'
option I could find. Performance is now acceptable but certainly
disappointing and I have no doubt there is much going on behind the scenes
that is nothing more than unnecessary bloat for my purposes that I wish I
could eliminate.

The ultimate impetus for this post however is the truly disgusting backup
utility. Talk about dumbed down! Once again, I truly do understand the need
to make things simple for the average user. There is no possible viable
explanation, however, for why there is no 'advanced' mode where I can ignore
your wizard and specify how and what I want backed up specifically. I have a
150mb program drive and a terra byte for data. I want to CHOOSE what gets
backed up so I don't have buy a server farm for my backups! I've been
writing software for 30 years. I know what it takes for you to create all
those wizards and try to make things user-friendly. I also know that it
would not be a big deal, by comparison, to add the kind of flexibility
customers like me require. Once again.... I'm going to have to go buy a 3rd
party product for something that MS really has no excuse not to provide.
This example is, I believe, indicative a general MS flaw in design approach
applicable to all your products. Simplify it all you want... but for
heaven's sake get out of my way! Let me do what I need to do. I know
you've heard this before. Every time a new Windows comes out I foolishly
hold out a little hope that MS finally gets it and realizes that all their
customers are not new to PCs and has incorporated that concept into their
software. Every time, I'm disappointed again. Sigh.


----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/com....vista.general

=?Utf-8?B?UGF0IEtlbGxlcg==?= <PatKeller@xxxxxx>
wrote in news:3509DE7A-A219-4AD4-8497-27CAA0642056@xxxxxx:
Here's Microsoft's answer:
(http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/ar.../28/54583.aspx)

Why doesn't Windows have an "expert mode"?

We often get requests like this:

There should be a slider bar somewhere, say on the Performance
Tab, that ranges from Novice to Advanced. At the highest level, all
the geek settings are turned on. At the Novice level, all the
settings for beginners are turned on. In between, we can gradually
enable stuff.

We've been trying to do something like this since even before Windows
95, and it doesn't work.

It doesn't work because somebody who is a whiz at Excel will rate
themselves as Advanced even though they can't tell a CPU from a box
of Cracker Jacks.

They're not stupid. They really are advanced users. Just not advanced
at the skill we're asking them about.

And before you go mocking the non-geeks: Even geeks don't know
everything. I know a lot about GUI programming, but I only know a
little about disk partitioning, and I don't know squat about Active
Directory. So am I an expert?

Adam
--
Visit my PC Tech blog at www.leinss.com/blog

I agree and understand that users often over-rate their own skills. It is
not Microsoft's job, however, to save them from themselves at the expense of
those who really need the advanced capabilities. It's a bogus reply - and
proves my original point that that the MS 'attitude' toward software design
is flawed. They really don't get the concept as a corporation -- and they're
wrong. They literally look down to their users and build to the lowest
common denominator. I still could understand that if they simply allowed
those of us who know what we're doing to be able to do it. Forget a slider,
Microsoft. The decision and coding process around what goes where on the
slider would be impossible to well-implement. Just give us an 'expert' mode
and let the user decide whether or not to take the risk. Put all the
discalimers up you want. The fear-mongering should scare most away but still
allow the real geeks to do what they need to do.

"Adam Leinss" wrote:

Vista has the worst design, its a darn right CATASTROPHY... it has been such
a disappointment...

I WANT TO PUKE WHENEVER I AM FORCED TO USE HORRIBLE VISTA!!!!

Other STUPID designs are :
Windows Media player 11 (part of vista but available also on XP)
IE7 (part of vista but available also on XP)
The office 2007 Ribbon toolbars
Windows Live Mail Desktop (this is hideous)


"Pat Keller" <PatKeller@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3509DE7A-A219-4AD4-8497-27CAA0642056@xxxxxx

Pat, I agree that each o/s should offer improvements over the prior in
functionality and security.
The Vista Backup method might not provide the flexibility you desire,
though it is better than the prior o/s included applications.

I'm not sure I necessarily buy the entitlement part regarding backup
tools especially when other third party sources have been providing
products with a history of satisfied customers, obvious success,
programming and tech support resources and long term experience.

Imo, it also would seem obvious, that in running any business supporting
Fortune 500 clients that industry proven backup software protecting
important data would be a default choice rather than rely on a tool
bundled with an operating system.

--
...winston
MS-MVP Windows Live Mail


"Pat Keller" <PatKeller@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3509DE7A-A219-4AD4-8497-27CAA0642056@xxxxxx

It's not about the backup tool. That was just an example. The point is that
the tool exists and it would a perfectly acceptable tool to use if MS simply
LET me use it. The roadblocks they put in the way cost time an money to
build. I'm perfectly capable of deciding on adequate backup methodology
without ANY tool, 3rd party or MS, to rely on.... good heaven's were only
copying data after all. I'd say that's a pretty basic OS function and I've
used manual copying for many years to control my own backups without a
problem.

My point is the attitude that says I'll spend all the money it takes to do
it the way I (MS) think it ought to be done - but not one cent toward
flexibility or any real user control. Of course this is an over
generalization, but as an MS customer for decades, it is undoubtedly the
prevailing way that software has been, is, and will - apparently - continue
to be developed at MS. Pity.

Words like 'improvement' and 'better' are like "beauty". They are in the
eye of the beholder. In general, what MS calls 'improvement' is more what I
would call 'bloat' with little value to me or other advanced users. I am not
ranting. This is quite simply a fact in my rather extensive experience.

"...winston" wrote:

"PUKE WHENEVER I AM FORCED TO USE"
Another ridiculous comment.
No one forced you.
You made the choice.
The fact you complain so much in general and complain about being
"FORCED" displays something of the processes you use in making
choices.

No one has been forced to use Windows Vista.
Exercise your choice, most everyone else does.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Tie Various" <noneofyourbusiness@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4728df8f@xxxxxx-privat.org...

"we're forced"
Not at all.
We all have a choice and if Windows Vista does not suit you, there is
no reason why you should use it.

Windows XP computers will continue to be sold well into next year and
Windows XP will probably be supported for several years after that.

Of course you are right, no one is conned either since all the
necessary information is available.
Everyone is free to choose Windows Vista, Windows XP or any of the
many operating systems from other sources.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Pat Keller" <PatKeller@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:84E9A54A-74D8-49FD-A367-28B2C5B1CF04@xxxxxx

You've got to be kidding. Really? As a mater of fact, I have owned Macs in
the past and I currently run my own Linux Server. Computers and OS's are
only good for running software. The best software for my business needs runs
under Windows... period. I'm not saying Windows isn't a good product. I'm
not saying Office isn't a good product. That doesn't mean it can't be better
and address the needs of a wider audience. If one wants to run Windows
software, one is 'forced' to buy Windows. If one wants to avoid an upgrade -
your only avenue would be to write all your own drivers and applications
because the existing stuff stops working. I'm sorry but in this reality, you
are quite simply mistaken. Certainly XP is not obsolete at the moment but it
will be. I never claimed that the force point was this moment in time.

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

Pat;
"If one wants to run Windows software"
The key word is "wants", you and not Microsoft or anyone else choose.
If the program is the driving force, contact the manufacturer for
other options.
Change programs to one supported by the operating system you choose.

"because the existing stuff stops working"
What stops working?
None of my hardware, software or operating systems stop working.
The closest I have been to stop working is trial or anti virus
software.
And none of the AV I have used are from Microsoft, well I have Windows
Live One Care on one computer mostly for testing.

Exactly who is forcing you and what can you do about it?
For the present, not Microsoft at all, and possibly several years
before Windows XP support ends.
Until the have choices and nearly full control.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Pat Keller" <PatKeller@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FEDD40B0-F71C-4EDC-B31B-345BEAFADC18@xxxxxx