When a friend is showing you a website or something on the computer, and they’re not pointing-and-clicking and doing things the way you usually do them, does it drive you a little nuts? Like you want to bump them out of the way and show how to navigate the screen the right way?
Some little quirks that get me include:
(embedded video for you RSS readers)
Using the arrow buttons to scroll a long way instead of dragging the scroll bar
In Firefox, using the File menu to open a new tab instead of using Ctrl-T or double-clicking the Bookmarks toolbar
Erasing the URL with the backspace key to type in a new address instead of just typing over it
When this happens, I just want to take the mouse and say “Here, lemme see…” or “Let me show you this…” or “I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!” I guess I’m just a control freak like that.
But I’m just thinking of the other person. All those extra mouse movements and keystrokes can add up to hours, nay, years wasted in one’s life. I can’t let that happen.
So be proud if you’re a backseat web surfer. Just be sure to check our sidebars before hitting the back button. No, the other one… Look out!!
Ah the thing that bugs me the most is when my mother is using the computer and she ALWAYS types “www.” before an address and I’m like, “YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE! LOOK!” It’s irritating.
Oh and I’m a little bummed that MY blog wasn’t featured in one of the videos ;]
I've always thought, "there must be a better way," while clicking file->new tab. So this blog post was both amusing AND informative. Thanks! (I never think to look for the little underscores under the letters.)
And, thanks for the nod, though you typed the wrong address.
And I thought it was just me.
Haha! I hear you.
And I loved the shower wall shots in the first video
I looked all over my mouse and I couldn’t find the scroll bar anywhere. Is it supposed to be next to the wheel thingy? I miss my 3 button logitech mouse…
I am terrible, but it makes my wife mad when I take over the computer. I have learned to just sit there and cry a little inside.
Oh these are nothing. My mom thinks she has to close the entire browser before she can visit a different website, or she’ll just open a bunch of browser windows. I think it’s a carry-over problem from the aol days.
The scroll wheel on the mouse also confuses her, I’m afraid it may die from lack of use after I leave next week.
i cant believe you used my hairy shower wall pic. ewwww.
hehe!
raq – we'll get you on here sometime
amy – oops! those videos were hastily made with dozens of middle schoolers hovering around. well, it's the thought that counts.
georgia – me too.
brent – CM exclaimed "Ewww!!" when she first saw that.
jimmy – the scroll bar is on the screen, on the right side ->
kyle – i'm with you! fortunately, CM is a good computer nerd.
reese – THAT is awesome. maybe she doesn't want the Back button to be mucked with all the websites visited in one session.
tam – it's not often that we can use a hairy shower pic in a video. thanks!
Oh and my youth pastor has Firefox and usually has like 8 windows open. I’m like, “You know, they have these things called TABS you could use instead of having 8 windows open.”
*sigh*
cool dad, now I’m really lost! I looked on both the left AND right side of the mouse, and I can’t find a screen on either one! Hey! My mouse is one of those new red light ones! Maybe they only put the screens on the old ball type mice to keep em from getting dirty? Man, what a good idea! I use to have to clean that all the time.
now, gimme yer other leg.(grin)
i was a TA in college for Photoshop and a Illustrator, talk about frustration.
there were a few people that were so bad that I had an extra mouse in my pocket so I could plug it in and help with having to actually take the mouse from them.
IM still chuckling over this post it;s freaking awesome.
raq – sounds like he’s still suffering from IE Syndrome
jimmy – i had a slight feeling that there was a joke somewhere, but crazier questions have been asked before!
randy – extra mouse? that rules.
I’m definitely a backseat web surfer… oh man, and it’s bad.