Software Annoyances #1
Windows Update:
It’s nice to know a service is running that keep abreast of all the tweak and security fixes needed for the world’s most ubiquitous operating system. But those word-bubbles at the bottom right of your screen are hard to ignore, and once clicked on you get a friendly reminder that "You can continue working." But you can’t, really, because the installer invades the center of your workspace with at least four pop-up windows: I’m going to install now; is it okay to install now; legal-document-you-don’t-care-to-read listing all-the-rights-you-don’t-have despite the money you spent; Okay, I’m installing now…
I’m typing this as I finally give in to allow MS to install IE7 (I use Firefox, but I’m tired of the interruptions.) Seven times during the creation of the above paragraph, the caret focus inexplicably de-focused on what I was working on. In the middle of typing a word, I hear the digital plink-plink of wasted keystrokes, causing me to point-and-click at the top window to refocus attention on my work, insert the cursor into the correct spot in the document, and finish the word. Wait, it did it again?
Then comes the "please restart" window, which I ignore because - HELLO! - I’m working, here! But I have to wrap this post up. In a couple of minutes, ad infinitum, I will be reminded by my friendly operating system that its waiting to restart…
…Yep. It just asked me again. Microsoft should reassess its idea of "continue working." As the man said, "I don’t think it means what you think it means…"