[Vision2020] FW: The Giant Coffee Table Touchscreen Computer

Sat Aug 17 15:46:28 PDT 2013

I hate many of the changes that were made in Windows 8.  Let's move 
random things around so the money we sunk into training for Windows 7 
can be kissed goodbye.  Every time I try to do something that was more 
or less simple in Windows 7 I end up googling how you're supposed to do 
it in Windows 8.  Don't get me started about the whole hibernate instead 
of shutting down thing.

The coffee table computer is probably the perfect place for Windows 8 
and it's new metro interface, though.  It's big and flashy, there can be 
a lot going on and you can see all of it.  It has a touch screen, so the 
huge boxes make sense.  You probably aren't going to do more than one 
thing on it at a time, unless you use their admittedly cool multiple 
user thing.  And you're not expected to do any actual work on it which 
requires lots of input for which a keyboard or mouse would be advantageous.

Using it on a laptop without a touchscreen or a desktop computer is 
where it doesn't make any sense.  I don't know what idiot it was that 
thought that using the same interface on your PC, your XBox, your phone, 
your tablet, and your coffee table was a good idea.  And whichever 
mid-level manager came up with the idea that it should be permanent and 
not optional should be fired.  From a canon.  Into the sun.  Yes, I 
stole that from Futurama ;)

That's why I like Linux and open source software.  In Linux, the desktop 
environment is separated from the rest of the OS.  You can switch them 
out on a whim and suffer no problems.  Try KDE or Gnome if you want 
flashy, try Unity if you want to emulate Windows 8 and the iPad, try 
XFCE if you just want something lightweight that won't get in your way.  
It's great for control freaks like me.  Windows makes me feel like I'm a 
faceless drone in a megacorp somewhere.

Paul

On 08/17/2013 01:25 PM, Art Deco wrote:
> Just clicking the Desk Top Tile puts you back in the a Windows 7 type 
> desk top environment with a few irritating changes.  Tileland is very 
> limited and a real pain in the ass.  The system administrator is not 
> allowed access to many everyday application.
>
> I hope a lot is fixed in 8.1 due in October.
>
> w.
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 17, 2013 at 3:12 PM, Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com 
> <mailto:scooterd408 at hotmail.com>> wrote:
>
>
>     That's quite a bold claim to advertise a 'Windows 8 computer' as
>     'fully functional'.  It doesn't seem to me that Apple's IOS has
>     been out on the market long enough for Microsoft's same consistent
>     mode of operation of stealing / copying it yet with any decent
>     quality on performance and usability. Although at first glance,
>     the tiled icons on Window 8 make it look close enough to the
>     appearance of the iPhone GUI.
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     From: thansen at moscow.com <mailto:thansen at moscow.com>
>     Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 06:47:39 -0700
>     To: vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>
>     Subject: [Vision2020] The Giant Coffee Table Touchscreen Computer
>
>     The Giant Coffee Table Touchscreen Computer
>
>     image.jpeg
>
>     This is the wooden coffee table that incorporates a fully
>     functional Windows 8 computer with a 32" touch screen. Ideal for
>     viewing enlarged photos or maps, playing with an interactive Koi
>     pond, or allowing multiple users to comfortably view the same data
>     from the couch, the wooden table is topped with an antiglare LCD
>     screen that functions like a tablet computer. The screen's six
>     touch points allow for easy navigation, its 1366 x 768 resolution
>     provides a sharp image in any ambient lighting condition. The
>     tempered-glass surface can hold books, dishes, remote controls,
>     and its IP34 water rating makes it safe for everyday splashes and
>     spills. The tablet has an Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz processor, 6 GB of
>     memory, 500 GB hard drive, and is Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled.
>     With four USB ports, as well as DVI, audio-out, and microphone
>     ports. Includes wireless keyboard and mouse. Plugs into AC. Black.
>     48" L x 30" W x 18" D (50 lbs.).
>
>     Available at Hammacher Schlemmer at:
>     http://www.hammacher.com/Product/Default.aspx?sku=12343&cm_cat=Social&cm_pla=Facebook&promo=social
>
>     Add Skype and a webcam (or two) and let your imagination go WILD!
>
>     Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
>     "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
>     http://www.MoscowCares.com
>     Tom Hansen
>     Moscow, Idaho
>
>     "There's room at the top they are telling you still
>     But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
>     If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
>     - John Lennon
>
>     ======================================================= List
>     services made available by First Step Internet, serving the
>     communities of the Palouse since 1994. http://www.fsr.net
>     mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com>
>     =======================================================
>
>     =======================================================
>      List services made available by First Step Internet,
>      serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>     http://www.fsr.net
>               mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com>
>     =======================================================
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> art.deco.studios at gmail.com <mailto:art.deco.studios at gmail.com>
>
>
>
>
> =======================================================
>   List services made available by First Step Internet,
>   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                 http://www.fsr.net
>            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> =======================================================

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20130817/b0ab4916/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 116795 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20130817/b0ab4916/attachment-0001.jpe>