Reader Daniel writes in reference to the column of July 8:
you would know your password,
you would save mail on the mail server so you could access it from any computer,
you would have your word processing program automatically start a new document when it starts,
you would leave your desktop turned on, as it's better for the hard drives,
you would get an external email account other than the one provided by your ISP
you would have a spam filter running
you would know how to paste without getting "gobbledygook"
you would turn on auto-save.
you would notice that your typewriter does not have a finished document -- you need to add more time to that section.
Overall, a pretty LAME column.
TechMan replies:
Perhaps TechEveryman would be a better title.
However there was a serious message embedded in there. Your email lists numerous things I should have known or done. My point is why does the average user have to have so much specialized knowledge and do so much preparation to accomplish what should be a simple task.
In my opinion the greatest failing of the computer industry, particularly in software, has been in lack of usability. People want a tool to accomplish their ends. Some people like to make a hobby out of the tool, but not everyone.
I really do believe that usability is the great failing of modern technology and people should be demanding that computers and other devices be easy to use. I'd like to have a discussion here about usability.
First Published: July 16, 2007, 3:45 a.m.