I’m Not a Moron

No – there’s no poll to accompany that statement. Sorry.

That headline is aimed directly at software makers. I understand that there are still a tremendous amount of newbies out there who need software that holds your hand and treats you like you’re 8 years old. Yes, there are families who share a PC who need help with parental controls and network security. But I know what I need and what I don’t and it’s a never-ending source of frustration that it’s increasingly difficult to find software (from the Windows OS on down) that allows you to opt out of idiot-mode.

Let’s start with the biggie: Windows. I’m a Windows guy. I know my way around Unix/Linux but that’ll never be my day-to-day OS. Mac? Can’t work it. Don’t want to learn. Don’t want to join the smug self-satisfied Apple cult. (Especially because iTunes sucks…) I prefer to stay squarely in the overwhelming majority and stay with Windows. But every new version of WIndows, in an attempt to be even more “user friendly”, becomes more infantile and condescending. “Are you sure you want to type a lower-case ‘t’? If so click Yes”. I want to see file extensions. I want to delete files. I want to be able to have a security setting that’s not the online equivalent of SPF 90. If I choose not to allow my computer to automatically download and install updates (and ususally reboot itself), please stop telling me why my computer is in dire peril!

My antivirus/antispam software is even worse! I use Norton 360, but not for long, because there’s no room for choice. I use a different program for my backups. Stop nagging. I already set IE to erase my cache files – stop giving me daily warnings. Monitor what I want monitored and leave me alone about the rest!

I’d like to think that the rest of the world is getting better at this stuff. So how about letting us pick our own level of condescension?