More trouble than they're worth?

[Ant]

Computers that is...

Sometimes it just seems like you're spending more time getting or keeping them running than actually using them.

I know if you're a bit technically minded and enjoy fiddling around with stuff, it's not too bad, but for most people, they just want something that turns on, does its job, then turns off again. Rather like radios used to do in the old days.

Picking up a new work com last week with it's SATA drive and no OS, then trying to install XP (yes nlite and whathaveyou), and failing at the last minute time and time again over and over, just made me think what the heck is it all in aid of?

Certainly not about getting any work done.

Here's a thought for consipracy theorists, why don't people who make and sell a product, make it so that you can actually use it out of the box, instead of having to pay for extra stuff from a 3rd party such as MS?

Like when they sell it, it's all yes it'll do this that and the other at breakneck speed and reliability, but only if you some more give money to the Gates Foundation, for which BG will received heaped praise, but you'll just get a headache.

Thoughts?

[Able]

Although on the whole I agree with you, (except I'd be out of a job if all PC's never broke, lol) you can indeed buy comp's pre installed, or, you can buy a bare comp and you can put free OS on them. I rather like the idea of choice, which means you have to rely on 'specialists' to do the stuff that you can't do. I, for instance, would never attempt to fix my car or do my own accounting. Just because you struggle to get a particular task done with your pc doesn't mean they should all work 'right out of the box'.
Just my 2cents.