wanderer

I need to install a X-win32 on my PC to access the UNIX server. It is where my pain started. During the installation process, a small pop-up window shows that Java has updates for me to install, urging me to act right now because it provides faster, more efficient and more secure performance for my machine. So I clicked. When X window installation is done, I run it, nope, connection failed. tried it again, another window popped up, saying my X-Win32 9.4 has a higher version to upgrade. So I clicked that too. The machine was cranking and crunching for some long minutes and told me, 'Congratulations, your X-Win32 has been successfully upgraded and properly installed.'

With a little excitement, I clicked to run it again, and again it showed the same error message. Deperately I googled for some solution, hmm, maybe I shoud run VPN. So I did, this time the result is different, the error message became simpler, 'Fail to find the host.' WTF? With Java diligently working in the back, now my web browser is frozen. The hard-disk sign are constantly on, any icon on the desktop is unclickable. It is dead.

The universal solution is tun it off and turn it on. Only this time it seemed taking forever. 9:26am, log in; 9:30am, Windows are loading some crap; 9:34am, side bar showed up, and rightly showed the time on the clock again the frozen 9:30am on the lower right corner (you guessed right, it's Vista); 9:36am, wireless connection is hooked up; 9:38am, Norton is loaded; 9:45am, the notorious UAC prompt window finally showed up to let me allow the machine manufacturer to manage some of their product resources. This is usually a vitorious sign for me that the computer is finally ready for use. Not yet, The browser did load, but just showed the homepage, and not going anywhere. In a few minutes, everything is frozen again. I let out some profanity and hard pressed the power button and shut it down.

Sure I am not the only cynist who is crying out loud for the technology stupidity. The computing is like a living thing that has evolved into higher level of complexity and become fully loaded with whistles and bells, but less manageable. But we rely on it more, we nearly couldn't live without them. More often we are seeing the anxiety and frustration the advance of technology brings us, rather than the ease of work. We are tied with them. Life becomes complicated, which is not necessarily the good sign. Computer accidentally teaches us an emotional lesson: no matter how powerful and versatile a tool is, don't let it overtake you.