From the I Must Be Living in a Parallel Universe Dept, I read with interest of PC Magazine announcement today that it has issued its “Annual Report Card on Service & Reliability Of Major Technology Companies” in which it says that ”consumers are more satisfied with the computer products and peripherals they’re using and the companies behind them this year than in 2002″. That seems unlikely, based on my experience and mailbag, but I did splutter some serious coffee when I read lower down their press release that “Overall, service and reliability has improved, due in large part to the effect of Microsoft Corp.’s Windows XP”. The release went on to say that ”Windows XP has brought computer users the stability of Microsoft’s corporate operating systems – Windows NT and 2000.” Editor in chief of the magazine, Michael Miller, is quoted as saying: “If an OS performs better, so does the hardware it controls.”
Well, yes, that’s true. But why do I keep having to reboot my XP preloaded notebook because it goes slower than my grandpa’s Vespa? And why do some minimized programs just flash away when I try to switch programs, as if it’s a Dirty Old Man’s convention? And why does the computer spontaneously reboot of its own accord, usually on Monday afternoons or when there’s a half moon? I may be in a minority around here, but my impression with XP is that it’s somewhat better than Windows 98, but it still gives me the shivers. The idea that somehow things are much, much better is just silly.