Don't Box Me In

Hate to keep on  griping about stuff, but Microsoft's Windows 8 is a travesty foisted upon millions of people just because it could be done. The poor design and thoughtlessness of this program outranks all  of the other stupidities suffered by Microsoft consumers through the years. I understand the fact that most of the world's computers run on the Windows operating system. Microsoft should, therefore, be mindful that any changes they introduce into the computing environment would quite practically affect the lives of millions of people all over the world.

So many people depend upon their computers to organize their lives and businesses, that the inability to use their computers as they choose (as opposed to how Microsoft dictates) is truly frustrating. Windows 8 makes performing routine tasks, such as downloading and installing .apk apps utterly impossible unless they are provided by the Windows store. To me, that is a travesty that should not be allowed anywhere, regardless of how huge the company that does it. In my opinion it is akin to shooting fish in a barrel. It gives Microsoft a virtual monopoly over users of Windows 8 unless they are techies and hackers.

Another disrespectful feature of Windows 8 is the upgrade process. Previous versions of Windows notified users of the presence of new upgrades to their programs and allowed them to activate them at their own leisure. Microsoft has taken away that autonomy from Windows 8 users.Without warning and with no regard for what you may be doing, Microsoft will seize your computer to perform its upgrades. Microsoft assumes total control of your machine and there is nothing you can do about it! It's like you bought Windows 8 but it owns you. I, for one, hate other people controlling my personal computer. And so do my friends and customers.

As a computer professional, I know that I am offended when Windows 8 brings up its cynical dialogue to ask me what program should it use to install or open an app. How much more offensive can it be to an occasional user to face this same query from his/her trusty machine? For many years, consumers have trusted their machines to work for them and spare them the gritty details of installing and using the programs they want to use. Why burden them with that now? Is Microsoft suggesting that every computer user suddenly become technicians in order to use a computer? Isn't that a throwback to the earliest days of personal computing when one had to learn DOS (at least) to use a computer? Shame on you Microsoft.

Like I said, I hate to keep griping about stuff but Microsoft has to understand that, in this age of freedom, it cannot foist intellectual narrow-mindedness on the world. Year after year I have dealt with Microsoft's mistakes and problems associated with them in my capacity as a computer tech, but Windows 8 is intolerable. What is Microsoft's hidden agenda? To restrict computing to only the technically savvy? To monopolize the .apk market or censor what .apk programs should be available to the world? C'mon Microsoft, we have come too far to allow a technological tyrant to take over the world. Don't try to box me in! Allow Windows 8 to process any .apk app that consumers want to use on their computers without censorship.