This is Microsoft’s latest annoying addition to Windows.
there is an ‘oem setup’ you can run. so ive been taking old desktop PCs, running them through the oem setup where i can configure the drivers and everything, and then shut it down.
Then on first boot when i hand it to a new end user, they just follow the instructions. i tell them to leave most things default and theres never really any issues… printers sometimes i spose
I propose an “e-printer.” It’ll just be an e-reader that you can send images, documents, any non-moving media to via a “print” icon. It’ll have options on how to format the file browser, including a view called “piles” where it shows a disheveled layering of whatever files are in that directory instead of a folder icon. Previewing items in the “piles” view would let you “thumb through” the corners of the “printouts” until you find the one you suspect is the right file. The first select shows an image preview of the file, the second select fully opens the file. Extra points if we can open the file using a voice command such as “ahhhh, there it is.”
so, a pdf ‘printer’ basically. anything you print gets dumped to pdf files… which can be previewed, searched, annotated, organized into directories (piles) etc. as well as sent to and shared with others, or even printed on a dead tree.
most of my ‘printing’ is already done this way.
Actually, yes. And make it compress and process the PDF real slow-like with a bunch of horrible noises that are frightening to pets.
My intent though is to avoid the inclusion of dead trees in this process, but still create an analog for all the horrible inconveniences of printing on dead trees that my older tech support clients argue are features.
OSX had stacks, and has quick view that does all that piles stuff. I tried them out for about a week when they were first introduced. Grids are better for a reason.
And the print dialogs all have save PDF instead, but automating an eReader upload is a neat idea.
Stacks was exactly my inspiration web describing piles, and gallery is kinda my inspiration on how to “thumb through” files. Except my idea would require a lot of resources dedicated to high quality compressed previews of documents.
Also, I’m not proposing this like I think I’ve come up with an invention. I’m just hoping that my random musings would inspire someone with far more technological knowhow than myself. When I worked in mobile tech support, I quickly realized that the majority of issues that let bad-actor computer repair companies take advantage of old people revolved around printing stuff.
Even though I no longer work in tech support, I still offer free basic tech support and computer repairs to older members of my community to try to make amends for having worked for such bloodsucking companies.
