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 It's strange how history repeats itself. One big circle going around and around. Recently I was working on my Sony Vaio laptop. I have Windows Vista Ultimate installed and I had that darn automatic windows update feature set. I typically keep a whole lot of different browser windows, document windows and spreadsheet windows open. On this bright and sunny day I was working diligently on my latest project. I had a few things to take care of and I made the colossal mistake of leaving my laptop up while I went to take care of some other business. During this time, Microsoft decided that I needed some updates. Ummm.....for those of you familiar with the updates, can you tell me what happens when they are done??????? After they complete, your computer is automatically restarted.
Many of you may be asking yourselves what's the big deal. Well the big deal is that I was working on many things at once and there were many open documents, even some php programming ideas I was toying with in notepad, that weren't saved. Oops! I came back and my desktop was sitting there smiling at me. My documents, my php programming windows, my .NET programming windows, open browser windows and everything else was gone!
I tried to hold back the torrent of curse words, but I was unsuccessful. Most of the time I am really great about saving my documents just in case Windows Vista decides to throw a tantrum. This time I wasn't. The question I ask myself is should I have to remember. When FireFox crashes (yes it DOES happen from time to time!!), I can get back every browser window when I open up FireFox the next time by using the Restore feature. Opera has never crashed on me, but, Windows Vista has. When it does, Opera can automatically restore every single browser window that was shut down. When Internet Explorer crashes, I am out of luck!!! Why? Why isn't Microsoft all over this? Why isn't Microsoft working hard to make the best product out there? What has happened to the company that I knew and loved so much?
I remember when Microsoft first started to offer Internet Explorer for free. (Oh God am I getting old??) Netscape was in a comfortable and secure position. Everything was going along well for them and then here comes Microsoft offering something great for free! Free! Free??? Free?!?!?!?! Netscape laughed a little. I'm sure they thought Microsoft's move into the browser market would be nothing more than an insignificant blip on the radar. They were wrong. Incredibly wrong!
That is ancient history right? Well not exactly. Remember how I started this article off - history repeats itself. Google is now doing the exact same thing to Microsoft that Microsoft did to others - ONLY BETTER. I am writing this article right now using Google Docs. Why you ask? Well, Microsoft included a free trial of Office 2007 on my laptop. I tried it. They removed the classic view in Word that I have been so very comfortable with for so many years. I went to Microsoft's website and tried to locate the place where I could learn how to switch back to the classic view of Word, Excel and so on. Well Microsoft decided that this wasn't important. The ability to switch back isn't there. What???? Change the way that people work in a software product and not give people who are used to a certain look the ability to use the classic view and ease themselves into the new look? Not allow people to learn the new features when they have time? I don't have time to figure out which freakin' "ribbons" hold which function. I design software and websites. I will take the time to learn a new programming language because one of my customer's prefers it. I refuse to take the time to relearn how to use a product I have been using for years. I don't have the time! Needless to say, when my trial period expired I decided not to purchase it. I decided to use my old version of Office. After one particular Vista shutdown, the documents restored but did not save the entire document. It missed a few sentences. It was only a few sentences, but, that was it for me! Google here I come. I use Word & Excel for old documents that I've created, but, all of my new documents are Google docs. Why? Because it's free, it's easy to use, it lets me automatically post things to my blog, it lets me easily share documents with my employees, it's familiar and perhaps most importantly, it just freakin' works! When the last Microsoft updates came around and my computer cut off, I wasn't afraid anymore (I love you Google!). My heart didn't jump into my throat at the realization that I forgot to save my work. Why? Because Google did it for me! Google, can you come cook for me and clean my house too? I have a car. Can you drive me too? Please? Please?? Can you think for me so I can focus on only the essential things in my life?? Can you take away the small minutia in my life so I can be productive???? Please?? So now look at what has happened. I'm using Google Docs instead of paying for Word or Office in the same way that people started using Internet Explorer instead of paying for Netscape Navigator. The only thing left for Google to do is come up with an operating system and .......a.......(dare I say it) web browser ;-)! For those of you who don't know - a Google Browser and operating system are _________ (left blank intentionally)! The circle of history here is clear. Google is on its way to becoming the new and improved Microsoft. Microsoft is on its way to becoming Netscape and some other company is on its way to becoming Google!!!! How does that picture look? I was surprised when I recently went to the Microsoft web site and was told that I had to use Internet Explorer to download some updates. What's going to happen when Google comes out with an operating system that works with everything? Hmmmm????
So what do I have to say now that I'm using a free spreadsheet and word processor from Google that never loses my darn documents and autosaves so I don't have to remember that little detail in my freakin' busy life AND now that I'm only using Internet Explorer for the few sites that require it and to check websites I create before launch because it causes me to lose all of my browser windows when it crashes?????
Microsoft, you have been good to me. You will always hold a special place in my heart. By learning and using your programming products, I went from having nothing to having a whole lot of something. I care so much about you. I still love you. I will miss you.
P.S. Come back soon......XOXOXO Posted By Kila Morton
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