Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

I have been working with computers for 33 years now.  From an Atari 800 to my current MacBook Air, from Windows 3.1 to Windows 8, I have worked with, experimented with, and generally used these interesting devices.  I have a "gripe" worth sharing.  Maybe you do as well.

Here it is:  I get a uew, improved version of my workhorse.  I'll pick on Mozilla Thunderbird as an example, but various other programs and apps would work as well.  Somewhere along the line the developers and programmers and user-interface people get it "right" -- for me.

I would be happy if these people kept beefing up the security, maybe made it work faster, or let me hook other programs into it more easily.  But. . .

You know, when you hear the word "But" what a person really wants to say is coming next.

"But". . . leave me a way to keep using the program with the interface and features I love!  Don't force me to accept changes that are useless to me.  Don't sabotage success.

If Microsoft wants to make a version of Windows designed for social networking folks (Windows 8) fine.  But leave me the option of a Start button and the things that work for me efficiently and well.  Beef up security, make it work better with Mac computer and Linux computers -- but essentially leave me a ten or fifteen year window to keep working the way I want to.

Ditto, Thunderbird.  I have given it up.  Reluctantly.  It doesn't work right anymore.  I had features I don't need or use and they get in the way.  They may be great for someone, but let me keep using the older version with better performance and security.

Is that too much to ask?

I think of my friend and his hamburgers.  He like hamburgers.  He likes them with onions and pickles.  He does not like them with cheese!  And he does pretty well getting restaurants to provide him with hamburgers without cheese.  He goes back to those eateries and has not had to give up hamburgers.

Software developers -- take note!

What do you think?  Leave a comment and let us know.