Re: Networks

On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 17:02:06 +0100, "David Kelsey"
<david_kelseyNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>"Malke" <invalid@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:u01dvdRlFHA.1416@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> David Kelsey wrote:
>>
>>> I know this is strictly not the right place to ask this, but does
>>> anyone know why Microsoft seem to give us so much trouble in setting
>>> up a network? Is there some overwhelming issue that prevents this task
>>> being just a matter
>>> of a few mouse clicks? I have never seen so many similar problems in
>>> one
>>> newsgroup before, not since the days of SP1. Doesn't this indicate a
>>> distinct failure in programming skills by the huge brains at MS? At
>>> the end of the day, people sort out the problems in the field, so why
>>> can't our computers sort them out for us?
>>>
>>> David Kelsey
>>
>> You have to remember that this is a tech support newsgroup and so you
>> aren't seeing posts about how great someone's computer works. If you go
>> to a hospital, you'll see a lot of sick people. Does that mean
>> everybody in town is sick?
>>
>> I can't answer your question about why it isn't more brain-dead-easy to
>> set up networking in XP because I'm not a programmer and I don't work
>> for Microsoft. However, I can tell you that it isn't that hard to do
>> either, although many people seem to think computers should be as easy
>> to operate as toasters. Computers are marketed like that, but it isn't
>> true. Computers are complex and powerful machines that require a little
>> more knowledge to use than is required to toast bread.
>>
>> Are you having a problem you'd like help with or are you just venting?
>>
>> Malke

>I did have a problem with setting up a USB2 VPN, but no-one in this group
>had had any experience with this, so I struggled with trial and error until
>eventually I have a two-computer network that works, albeit rather slowly
>sometimes. The point I am making is that if I, a 75-year-old user with 25
>years of experience of computing, but no experience of networks, can set it
>up, it ought to be a piece of cake for a computer, don't you think? They do
>much more complicated things than that, surely, like word processing, and
>spreadsheets and so on, which just work when you install them, and continue
>to work for years. And yes, I am venting, because there is no other way
>that I know of to express an opinion or seek an improvement. I used to send
>stuff to the MS wishlist, but that is like the Bermuda Triangle. I can't
>e-mail Bill, because I gather he gets 4 million mails a day, and he might
>not have time to read mine. I just hope that someone from MS will read this
>stuff and push for something to be done. There must be some way in which
>they can respond to users' feelings and opinions. Maybe they should add a
>group for venting (barred to Linux and Mac users of course, or it would end
>up like ZD Net.)
>
>David

David,

Computers, and network equipment, are sold today in Walmart. Nine of tem
Walmart shoppers have no more knowledge of computers than how to turn them on.
That's the way it will be for a long time, so best get used to it.

Microsoft will keep making them simpler, with stuff like the Networking Setup
Wizard, which makes it tougher for folks like us to figure out. I have to read
this over several times to figure it out.
(1) This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my
network connect to the Internet through this computer.
(2) This computer connects to the Internet through another computer on my
network or through a residential gateway.
(3) This computer connects to the Internet directly or through a network hub.
Other computers on my network also connect to the Internet directly or through a
hub.
(4) This computer connects directly to the Internet. I do not have a network
yet.
(5) This computer belongs to a network that does not have an Internet
connection.

And as long as computers are sold in Walmart, and Joe Sixpack buys one and takes
it home as a present for his sons (daughters) 10th birthday, and plugs it in,
he's going to make mistakes. As Malke says, we see more mistakes than
non-mistakes.

We'll solve those mistakes one case at a time. Hopefully a few folks will read
what we write, and learn from it, but we will probably not know of the folks we
help. But we'll hear from the folks who we tried to help, but couldn't, and
they'll call us names.

You can't help Linux / Mac users - they are a lost cause. Ditto folks who use
NetBEUI for networking.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
.