Category Archives: User Interface

Horde’s Idiotic Email Interface

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Jim

I use Horde for my web-based email here at mischel.com.  Not because I particularly like it, but because it’s the best of the three options I’m given by my ISP.  The other two options are Squirrel Mail (aptly tagged “Webmail … Continue reading →

Posted in Idiocy, User Interface | 1 Comment

User interface design is not just for computers

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Jim

I don’t claim to be a great user interface designer, but I’ve designed a few programs that people have found useful.  And, like many computer users, I know a bad design when I have to struggle with one.  And, like … Continue reading →

Posted in User Interface | 1 Comment

Is that code really from Sun?

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Jim

I updated my Java runtime the other day, and now every time I open a new tab in Internet Explorer, I get this message box: It looks like somebody at Sun forgot to sign their update agent.  At least, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Oops, User Interface | Comments Off

Going Too Far Back

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Jim

The other day I intended to close a Remote Desktop window and instead hit the Close button (the X on the right of the window’s caption bar) on the console window running our data broker. Nothing like an abnormal exit … Continue reading →

Posted in Programming, User Interface | Comments Off

Internet Explorer clipboard protection is broken

Posted on June 6, 2008 by Jim

This morning I copied a URL from the browser to the clipboard and then tried to paste it into the email message I was writing in another browser window. Internet Explorer popped up this confirmation box: I wouldn’t mind so … Continue reading →

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Take back the desktop!

Posted on February 19, 2008 by Jim

I know, I’ve dipped into this well before. But this bears repeating. At some point in the 30 years or so that I’ve been working with computers, we’ve lost sight of the most important fact: computers are supposed to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Idiocy, User Interface | 5 Comments

Norton AntiVirus

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Jim

I’d never used anti-virus software on my personal computer until I bought this notebook two years ago. I’d never had trouble with worms, viruses, trojans, or other malware, but people I trust and respect convinced me that I was just … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, User Interface | 2 Comments

Is there a question here somewhere?

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Jim

I uninstalled the Nero InCD program today while I was cleaning up my Windows machine. The uninstall program told me, before I confirmed that I wanted to remove the program, that I would have to reboot in order to complete … Continue reading →

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