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Everyone knows that a blue screen means that the OS crashed. Maybe they should be more helpful instead? Like, you know, actually show a human-readable descripti

Everyone knows that a blue screen means that the OS crashed. Maybe they should be more helpful instead? Like, you know, actually show a human-readable description of the error, so the person who sees it knows where to start troubleshooting. Something like "kernel-mode driver for device X performed an invalid memory operation, please try updating it or report this to its developer" instead of "PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA".

kube-system 5y ago
I generally agree, but I don't think > "kernel-mode driver for device X performed an invalid memory operation, please try updating it or report this to its developer" is a good example of a user-friendly error message either. My experience in writing software and supporting it for end users (even highly educated users) has taught me that a large percentage of people will stop reading if they encounter any technical words or indirect statements. Honestly, I feel like the "Your computer ran into a problem and needs to restart. We'll restart it for you" message that Microsoft settled on is probably about the common denominator. It has no technical terms and it doesn't give the user an opportunity for decision paralysis.
- elzbardico 5y ago
  People got more impatient over the years and now expect things just to work. I had a computer shop in the late 90s (my first and only business ever) and as lot of my clients where pretty much helpful with their observations when they brought their machines for me to fix. It is not that people were smarter, of course, but they did expect to have to dirty their hands with their stuff from time to time. Nowadays, besides all of our protests at the contrary, stuff is way more reliable and ease to use, and people got used to complicated stuff just working.
  - kube-system 5y ago
    Agree 100%. The idea of "what a computer is" and "who a computer is for" has changed quite a bit. I sometimes forget how far computing has come until I see an old news segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KDdU0DCbJA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KDdU0DCbJA
  - grishka 5y ago
    > People got more impatient over the years and now expect things just to work. Except most of the time, things aren't aware of that. Yes, today's operating systems are more reliable thanks to memory protection and better abstractions. But that's compensated by insatiable product managers that absolutely have to keep updating a feature-complete product at any cost with features and UI redesigns no one ever asked for.

kube-system 5y ago

I generally agree, but I don't think > "kernel-mode driver for device X performed an invalid memory operation, please try updating it or report this to its developer" is a good example of a user-friendly error message either. My experience in writing software and supporting it for end users (even highly educated users) has taught me that a large percentage of people will stop reading if they encounter any technical words or indirect statements. Honestly, I feel like the "Your computer ran into a problem and needs to restart. We'll restart it for you" message that Microsoft settled on is probably about the common denominator. It has no technical terms and it doesn't give the user an opportunity for decision paralysis.

elzbardico 5y ago
People got more impatient over the years and now expect things just to work. I had a computer shop in the late 90s (my first and only business ever) and as lot of my clients where pretty much helpful with their observations when they brought their machines for me to fix. It is not that people were smarter, of course, but they did expect to have to dirty their hands with their stuff from time to time. Nowadays, besides all of our protests at the contrary, stuff is way more reliable and ease to use, and people got used to complicated stuff just working.
- kube-system 5y ago
  Agree 100%. The idea of "what a computer is" and "who a computer is for" has changed quite a bit. I sometimes forget how far computing has come until I see an old news segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KDdU0DCbJA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KDdU0DCbJA
- grishka 5y ago
  > People got more impatient over the years and now expect things just to work. Except most of the time, things aren't aware of that. Yes, today's operating systems are more reliable thanks to memory protection and better abstractions. But that's compensated by insatiable product managers that absolutely have to keep updating a feature-complete product at any cost with features and UI redesigns no one ever asked for.