~OT: Computer misconceptions

From: Paul Braun <nerdware_at_laidbak.com>
Date: Sun Feb 7 23:19:58 1999

Date sent: Mon, 08 Feb 1999 15:03:28 +1100
Send reply to: classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu
From: Huw Davies <H.Davies_at_latrobe.edu.au>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: ~OT: Computer misconceptions

> At 05:16 PM 05-02-99 -0600, Lawrence LeMay wrote:
>
> >I thought they invented the General Protection Fault, or whatever
> >it was called. And the blue screen of death. and probably many
> >other ways of saying "we dont know how to program, and we know it,
> >so instead of debugging our programs we spend time finding ways
> >to report cryptic error messages that normal users cant be expected to
> >understand".
> >
> >BTW, the blue screen of death is a masterstroke of obfuscation.
>

And it ranks up with the error messages that tell you absolutely nothing, or the
annoying dialog box that tells you that you must reboot your computer for
changes to take effect after every single mouse click.......I just had to reboot
seven times trying to get "Plug 'n' Play (!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?) to install a
_at_#%^!%#$@ modem.
> Surly the AmigaDOS Guru meditation was both earlier and more obscure?
>

Ahhhh, but I had to do something really stupid to get a GM to come up. Unlike
my wintel box at work, where it'll just crash because I had the audacity to move
the mouse and then *****HORROR!!!!****** click the button..........or, my mouse
will just stop working for no apparent reason. However, this is the OS that I told
Bill I wanted. Just ask him.

Plus, I could multitask (albeit somewhat limited) on my A500 with 1mb of ram.
> Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies_at_latrobe.edu.au






Paul Braun
NerdWare -- The History of the PC and the Nerds who brought it to you.
nerdware_at_laidbak.com
www.laidbak.com/nerdware
Received on Sun Feb 07 1999 - 23:19:58 GMT