google lost the plot?

[richard_cocks]

It's search engine is top notch, always will be, but when it comes out with statements like "get google toolbar, save time typing names not URLs", well that makes me angry, that's reinventing AOL's "keywords" (although self bindable) and that sucks, it's dumbing down of the internet, as though somehow covering up how it all works teaches people how to use it more responsibly.

At best it means you can effectively "bind" a favourites item to a work in the URL bar, well so? with a bit of effort IE can do that, and using a menu for favourites is EVEN quicker. (how hard it is to press alt+a+letter)

I thought a pop-up blocker was annoying coming from a leading search engine, but then gmail and now this? I wish google could accept it's a kickass search engine and not try to use it's semi-monopoly and it's name to launch half-baked programs.

I wouldn't trust my bank to sell me CDs so why trust a search engine to produce browser addons so much?

[Strawbs]

I've already forgotten a ton of DOS commands - and I'm not sorry either!

I had to think for 5 minutes the other day when trying to access the Windows file structure in DOS on my win98 powered laptop, I just couldn't remember the "Edit" command ...The sooner I can get shot of that thing the better, I never want to have to think that hard ever again. :cool:

[richard_cocks]

what does this have to do with DOS?

[Strawbs]

it's dumbing down of the internet, as though somehow covering up how it all works teaches people how to use it more responsibly.I'm saying that Windows has been "dumbed down" for some years now - I fail to see what's wrong w\ dumbing things down for the lazy or uninitiated! Not everyone wants\needs to take a course on Internet Protocol! It's all about ease of use IMO.

Although I would never install a toolbar, it's not for the reasons your pointing out - it's more because of cookies and tracking.

peace. :t

[richard_cocks]

True, but some areas of windows dumbing down is extremely dangerous, "hide extensions for known filetypes" is one of them, you can spoof a .bat to look just like any innoculous file, have it called something friendly etc etc.
It's just taking knowledge away from users all for the sake of what? So they don't "screw up" something by renaming something and forgetting the extension? (not that it doesn't warn again anyway when you change an ext)

This is just causing ignorance, at least before people would know what a .doc WAS, now if MS get their way people won't be able to etll the difference between files without looking at the pretty icon or changing view to detailed to see what windows calls the file "like "word document" or something) which is just a disaster waiting to happen.

No wonder users are getting more frustrated with windows. (which is clear, look at how many people download toolbars and "helper" programs, if windows didn't go out it's way to try and hide bits from people then people might learn something).

Strawbs - if you wanted a file with a complete list of your files/directories (which is something that people want to do) how would you do it?

I saw a user the other day TAKING SCREENSHOTS OF EXPLORER and printing them out, because there was no other way she knew how to do it! and she's not exactly unsavvy either, she's perfectly competant with windows but windows doesn't provide a good way of doing this except via the command prompt or donwloading an external program.

Dumbing down is not good when the real users are forgotten over some perfect "demographic" user.

[cdroman]

I like the way windows has dumbed down XP. I have talked all my friends and relatives into using it and have never had less calls for help from them. The frustration with windows is and the reason alot of people use toolbars is due to spyware,pop-ups and the constant onslaught of nasties being thrown out there day to day. Many users don't have the slightest clue nor the time to spend on learning the ins and outs of an OS. The easier it is for them the better.

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by richard_cocks

Strawbs - if you wanted a file with a complete list of your files/directories (which is something that people want to do) how would you do it?

You don't say whether you mean an electronic listing, a hard copy or what (and I rarely, if ever, need a full listing of my files\directories)!

I would explain the dumbing down along similar lines to the Car driver, the Mechanic and the Manufacturer! Many people can drive a car, but lift the bonnet and they have no idea what they are looking at. Driving with defective tyres\brakes\steering is also dangerous, but most tend to leave the technical aspects to those that know better ...even when it means paying to have the spark-plugs changed.

If my car breaks down, I can usually fix it myself - but that doesn't mean I have, want or need the capability to build myself a new car or fabricate a new piston. Where Computers are concerned, I can also build one if the need arises, but I'd rather just replace a broken component where possible! There are those that can build the components from scatch too, so how far should this knowledge go before we can say we know enough.

The price of a good mechanic is always fairly high in comparisson to what he will actually do - same goes for the Computer tech (don't deny it you techs out there), but some folk are more than willing to part with their money rather than having to sit and learn something they see as irrelevant. If they just want to drive, they don't need to know exactly what happens under the bonnet when they turn the key! Lifestyle and personal finances are probably the biggest deciding factors in what level people are prepared to train to IMO.

Sorry about the Car\Driver analogy, it just seemed easier to fathom at this time of the morning. :t

[genesound]

I don't get it.

If google people never took a chance, there wouldn't even be a google. :p

And where else you gonna buy a CD (certificate of deposit) but a bank?

[genesound]

I've been ruminating :p

I think, perhaps, that much of the user base out there, really don't know many of the ins and outs of windoze, much less IE... egads... I've been using windoze since it was (apparently) an incidental interface for excel... and I find new stuff that has been around forever, all the time. It's (windoze) not convenient to find this stuff if you don't already know it. It doesn't convey itself well to someone who is just doing accounts receiveable or some other computer intensive task. Add-ons for inclusive functions in the OS are marketable if for no other reason than their call to attention and their ease of use. Why **** a reputable source for trying to improve a user's experience? :) :t

[Strawbs]

Language & Profanity! (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162904)

I didn't quote you because you may want to edit or delete those last two offerings. :D

[BipolarBill]

genesound, we don't need a blow-by-blow account of all of your ruminations. You had 6 posts in this thread and only two had any real value. I cleaned up the mess. Please don't spam the boards.

As far as Google's new applets and features, I love them. Until Google beefed up the toolbar, I had to wait for MSN to search out a keyword - poorly and slowly. Google rawks! :cool:

[richard_cocks]

I decided to read more into the toolbar, I'm now even more worried than I was before.

The Google Toolbar updates itself automatically, so you never need to install a newer version as long as you use the Toolbar.

^ I don't even let windows update itself automatically, and I trust microsoft, I certainly wouldn't let an IE addon from someone that actually I only trust to deliver search results do so.

Ok, so the browse by names thing is AOL keywords under a new name, but the point of URLs is that it's fair registration, who controls which websites get keywords? There's probably a lot of money floating around the background of these "browse by name" things, and that can't be good for fair competition on the web.

"BlogThis! - "Blog" stands for web log, your own online journal for publishing information on the web. The Blogger site is currently only available in English. To use this feature you must set up a free account with Google's Blogger service."

Google owns a blogger service too? Whatever next :rolleyes:


Google are a great search engine but why does this seem to qualify their take-over of web-browsing?

p.s. soft OR hard copy I'm interested in either. And if a list of files is too useless, how aboiut a list of directories, that should be easier, and probably more useful :)

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by richard_cocks
Google are a great search engine but why does this seem to qualify their take-over of web-browsing? Take a pill, Richard. No one is forcing you to install the Google Toolbar. It's your choice.

Why do I get the feeling that this is more about the Google IPO than actual facts? Google provided a service and made no money for years. Now that they are asking something in return for that service (no matter how painless it is), you are crying foul?

Give it a rest.

[kwebb]

Really. I am still not sure this isn't a joke. I am reading these posts and thinking, "surely this guy's not serious?".