It was OK, but it was the thin end of the wedge of many things bad about computing since then. I'm referring to product activation and updates.
The internet and operating systems have had an evil feedback loop. To quote from The Outer Limits, 1963:
"We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: There is nothing wrong with your television set."
Even supposedly free browsers like Firefox are getting in on the act, pestering the user with updates, and make it difficult to turn off. My dad complains about this constantly.
More and more, we see external agents dictating policy.
I don't think even Richard Stallman originally predicted the true nightmare that computing would be become.
The internet and operating systems have had an evil feedback loop. To quote from The Outer Limits, 1963: "We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: There is nothing wrong with your television set."
Even supposedly free browsers like Firefox are getting in on the act, pestering the user with updates, and make it difficult to turn off. My dad complains about this constantly.
More and more, we see external agents dictating policy.
I don't think even Richard Stallman originally predicted the true nightmare that computing would be become.