My Birthday Ain't So Happy With Windows 8.

Well I finally broke down and bought myself a Toshiba laptop with Windows 8 operating system. I decided to give myself this premature birthday present because I am going to take blogging seriously. That's right...I said "seriously". I've got so much to write about that I have to get serious about blogging. And my birthday is coming next month. So, kill 2 birds with one stone! My close friends know that I am not one to rush after new-fangled technology until I have given the inventors enough time to straighten out the kinks. Over the years, I have seen so many technological faux pas that I have become rather cynical about new computer technology. And my personal encounters with Windows 8 have not changed my mind. Don't misunderstand me, I'm impressed with the capabilities of the system, but I am completely befuddled as to why Microsoft would go to such extreme lengths to make using a computer unnecessarily difficult for its customers. Being technically inclined, I approach all computers from a technician's standpoint. However, many of my friends are computer illiterates, and those who aren't have somewhat limited computing knowledge. Many of them work with computers and are skilled in using particular programs, but when their personal computers start giving problems, they have no clue as to how to proceed. I remember one customer whose system became infected with a virus. I was unavailable to help at the time so he was talked into purchasing an entirely new system by an incompetent technician at another establishment! (I removed the virus from his old system within 30 minutes.) Back to my new laptop. I must admit that I had a bit of trouble exploring it when I got home. Booting up was no problem. Switching apps was no problem. However, to close apps and customize my startup screen was a nightmare! That's when I really began to critically examine the Windows 8 experience. I had to conduct in-depth research to locate the on/off button on the doggone machine! Kudos to the video makers on You Tube. Apparently I am not alone in trying to decipher Windows 8 operation. Does Microsoft really believe that consumers would read boring volumes of instructions before playing with their computers? Especially instructions written in computer-speak? After many years of suffering through Microsoft Windows systems, I had finally become tolerant of the niceties of system operations. Even Windows Millenium was partially tolerable. But apparently some genius at Microsoft believes that making the use of a computer simpler for consumers as time passes is not a good idea. Instead of simply clicking the little "x" at the top-right of the screen to close an application, (as in all previous Windows versions), now a user has to become a computer tech or risk destroying their machines by improperly shutting them down. What happens when an app crashes for the first time? My hair stands on end as I write. I have repaired several Windows 8 based computers over the years, but I never had to experience the frustrations of the owners in depth. I could not understand what they were going through. I have removed viruses from systems and replaced power supplies, etc. But these were elementary tasks. Even setting up in-home networks were not complicated as it has now become. I can now understand the frustrations that my telephone customers are experiencing when I try to talk them through a "simple" computer problem. Previously, I was able to coach a thorough "newbie" over the phone how to use a computer in a couple hours. Now I don't think so. Even personally trying to teach a close friend how to use my "gift" has led to total frustration. It has taken me a very long time to convince this person to become computer literate. Windows 8 has destroyed all my arguments in minutes. This experience reminds me of the old song "The Hat I Got For Christmas". Although I am glad I gave myself the gift before my birthday, I am now singing "My birthday ain't too happy with my gift"! All thanks to the morons at Microsoft R&D who were so ecstatic with their technology that they forgot to cater to the needs of their consumers. Another Microsoft moment.