Later this year Microsoft will launch the new Windows 7 – bringing the curtain down on the much-maligned Windows Vista, released just two-and-a-half years ago. Short in name, short in lifespan.
The new update will no doubt be a relief for computer users. The Vista system caused too many problems with computers (my own included) and aroused so many complaints that it’s easy to see why millions of users refused to upgrade from the previous Windows XP.
Luckily I won’t have to deal with Vista for much longer as I’ll need to buy a new laptop within the next three months. But while, in this case, swift change is welcome, I also understand the dissatisfaction with the pace of technological progress.
Updates to hardware and software are being made faster and faster – so much so that the old joke about your computer being obsolete as soon as you leave the shop is now a fact. It makes me tired to think about it, and it also makes me wonder whether it’s still possible to produce something that’s intended to last for more than just a couple of years.
Another thing I’ve noticed about new computer software is the tendency to reduce everything to the icons on the desktop. Being a strict minimalist, I avoid littering my desktop with these little pictures, and even hide my toolbars in Office so I’m not distracted by multiple menus and shortcuts.
But it’s a Sisyphean labour – and a quick glance at the new Windows interface shows a whole new array of icons and menu ‘ribbons’ to deal with. Even so, hopefully the update will see a vast improvement in reliability, and my new laptop will be my partner in work, rather than a petulant child with unpredictable moods.
