Intuitive and Me
Intuitive and Me
January, 2003
Time to buy a new version of Quick Money. Mine was two years old and who knows what wonderful goodies are packed in the current one? So, down to Best Buy, get it, and install it. No problems. Of course, you have to immediately update it from Release 1 to Release 3 (current releases are never shipped, it seems). Data conversion—no problem. Let’s open it and see what’s there.
Hmm. Doesn’t look like the old version. I cannot see how to make it show things I thought important. I go through all the menus and options. Nothing helps. I look in the user manual to find out how to contact the manufacturer. For big bucks per minute, there is an 800 number. Nope. Ah, a web site. I log on and follow instructions for FAQs, but cannot get any real answer to my questions. Hidden at the bottom of the screen is a link to an online chat with a service representative, at no charge. The following summarizes my online chat session with Das, the service rep:
Me: In the 2001 version, when I opened the program, it went directly to my checkbook register. Now it goes to a Home Page and then I have to click to get to my register. Can I get around this?
Das: Your Home Page can give you all sorts of information about your checking account.
Me: But the only choices are summaries like the balance in the account, no details. Right?
Das: Yes, we have enhanced the current product with new facilities. (He then leads me through how to customize the Home Page, which I already know.)
Me: There is nothing offered, not a single option I can choose, that I care about. I don’t want a Home Page. I want it to look like the 2001 version did and go directly to my checkbook register.
Das: You are just used to the way 2001 looked. You will soon be used to the 2003 version and all its new facilities. You cannot get around the Home Page. Or our ads for additional paid services that appear about everywhere you look. (Implication: Your data is converted, buddy. You’re sunk.)
Me: Okay. Well, how about the nice vertical bar on the right? In the 2001 version, I had places to click for online updates, my investment portfolio, common reports. Now, I have to go through layers of menus by clicking on icons in the tool bar. Any way to make it look like before?
Das: No. We did not have room due to all the new facilities we have in the new version.
Me: Looks like formatting and spacing to me. No problem with room. You just decided to eliminate an easy way to access stuff that existed before.
Das: When you get used to the 2003 version and see all the new facilities in it, you will forget about the old version.
Me: If you log complaints, here’s mine: It’s harder to do what I want to do. Why eliminate things that worked?
Das: You will like all the new facilities in the 2003 version.
Me: Yes, master. It’s all clear to me now.
January, 2003
Time to buy a new version of Quick Money. Mine was two years old and who knows what wonderful goodies are packed in the current one? So, down to Best Buy, get it, and install it. No problems. Of course, you have to immediately update it from Release 1 to Release 3 (current releases are never shipped, it seems). Data conversion—no problem. Let’s open it and see what’s there.
Hmm. Doesn’t look like the old version. I cannot see how to make it show things I thought important. I go through all the menus and options. Nothing helps. I look in the user manual to find out how to contact the manufacturer. For big bucks per minute, there is an 800 number. Nope. Ah, a web site. I log on and follow instructions for FAQs, but cannot get any real answer to my questions. Hidden at the bottom of the screen is a link to an online chat with a service representative, at no charge. The following summarizes my online chat session with Das, the service rep:
Me: In the 2001 version, when I opened the program, it went directly to my checkbook register. Now it goes to a Home Page and then I have to click to get to my register. Can I get around this?
Das: Your Home Page can give you all sorts of information about your checking account.
Me: But the only choices are summaries like the balance in the account, no details. Right?
Das: Yes, we have enhanced the current product with new facilities. (He then leads me through how to customize the Home Page, which I already know.)
Me: There is nothing offered, not a single option I can choose, that I care about. I don’t want a Home Page. I want it to look like the 2001 version did and go directly to my checkbook register.
Das: You are just used to the way 2001 looked. You will soon be used to the 2003 version and all its new facilities. You cannot get around the Home Page. Or our ads for additional paid services that appear about everywhere you look. (Implication: Your data is converted, buddy. You’re sunk.)
Me: Okay. Well, how about the nice vertical bar on the right? In the 2001 version, I had places to click for online updates, my investment portfolio, common reports. Now, I have to go through layers of menus by clicking on icons in the tool bar. Any way to make it look like before?
Das: No. We did not have room due to all the new facilities we have in the new version.
Me: Looks like formatting and spacing to me. No problem with room. You just decided to eliminate an easy way to access stuff that existed before.
Das: When you get used to the 2003 version and see all the new facilities in it, you will forget about the old version.
Me: If you log complaints, here’s mine: It’s harder to do what I want to do. Why eliminate things that worked?
Das: You will like all the new facilities in the 2003 version.
Me: Yes, master. It’s all clear to me now.
posted by Bud Hirsch at 9:30 PM
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