L
Leonard Grey
Flightless Bird
With the impending demise of the Microsoft newsgroups, we will all soon
be making our last post. Time for all of us to think about what parting
words we can leave as a legacy for future generations to treasure.
I've been reading these newsgroups for well over 10 years, and have been
a contributor for the last several years. At the beginning, I was as raw
as a newbie gets, and I destroyed my copy of Windows 95 so much that
Dell considered taking out a restraining order against me. Eventually I
learned how to operate a computer well, thanks in no small measure to
the help and advice I received through these newsgroups.
Over time I developed an approach to using a computer that relies on
careful preparation, continuous learning and common sense, and that's
what I preach. That approach has given me - who has scant formal
training in computing, all of it more than 30 years ago - enjoyable and
stress-free computing. Really. Of course I have the occasional problem
with my computer, but nothing I can't work my way out of, thanks again
to my approach.
It also helps to have the right attitude. If someone works themselves
into a frenzy over the design of a button, or the placement of a
toolbar, or some imagined privacy disaster that's really about
nothing...well, they have problems that a computer wasn't made to solve.
The newsgroups sure have changed over the years. These days, they're
mostly a vast wasteland. That's not going to get better when they
transition to "Microsoft BS Answers" (I may have gotten the name wrong)
but at least Microsoft will have more success at stonewalling their users.
But enough with sentimentality. If you want to be successful with a PC,
here are my secrets:
1- Prepare in advance before making any changes to your computer;
2- Learn how to use a computer wisely, and keep learning;
3- Always use common sense; and
4- Take it easy.
And for heaven's sake, backup.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est
be making our last post. Time for all of us to think about what parting
words we can leave as a legacy for future generations to treasure.
I've been reading these newsgroups for well over 10 years, and have been
a contributor for the last several years. At the beginning, I was as raw
as a newbie gets, and I destroyed my copy of Windows 95 so much that
Dell considered taking out a restraining order against me. Eventually I
learned how to operate a computer well, thanks in no small measure to
the help and advice I received through these newsgroups.
Over time I developed an approach to using a computer that relies on
careful preparation, continuous learning and common sense, and that's
what I preach. That approach has given me - who has scant formal
training in computing, all of it more than 30 years ago - enjoyable and
stress-free computing. Really. Of course I have the occasional problem
with my computer, but nothing I can't work my way out of, thanks again
to my approach.
It also helps to have the right attitude. If someone works themselves
into a frenzy over the design of a button, or the placement of a
toolbar, or some imagined privacy disaster that's really about
nothing...well, they have problems that a computer wasn't made to solve.
The newsgroups sure have changed over the years. These days, they're
mostly a vast wasteland. That's not going to get better when they
transition to "Microsoft BS Answers" (I may have gotten the name wrong)
but at least Microsoft will have more success at stonewalling their users.
But enough with sentimentality. If you want to be successful with a PC,
here are my secrets:
1- Prepare in advance before making any changes to your computer;
2- Learn how to use a computer wisely, and keep learning;
3- Always use common sense; and
4- Take it easy.
And for heaven's sake, backup.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est