Very Sad.....

I was at the local auto parts store and their computer is taking 10
minutes to print out a receipt. I asked what version of windows they
have, The guy did not know. He's worked there for years and uses the
computer all day long. He replied "just windows". I said "but is it
Windows XP or Windows 7, or what"? He replied "I dunno". I said that's
easy to find out, click on the START button, then click on HELP. He
replied, there is no start button. I said how do you turn off the
computer? He said he lets the boss do it, because it's too
complicated......

Unbeleivably sad!

Then I reached over the counter and looked at the computer tower. It
says Windows 7 right on the case....

wrote:
I was at the local auto parts store and their computer is taking 10
minutes to print out a receipt. I asked what version of windows they
have, The guy did not know. He's worked there for years and uses the
computer all day long. He replied "just windows". I said "but is it
Windows XP or Windows 7, or what"? He replied "I dunno". I said that's
easy to find out, click on the START button, then click on HELP. He
replied, there is no start button. I said how do you turn off the
computer? He said he lets the boss do it, because it's too
complicated......

Unbeleivably sad!

Then I reached over the counter and looked at the computer tower. It
says Windows 7 right on the case....

I don't expect most store merchants to be familiar with this stuff. Maybe
I've somewhat succumbed to lowered expectations, I don't know. But
realistically, as long as they can do their job right, that's what's counts.

OTOH, when someone in a store can't even attempt to figure out change
without a cash register or pos terminal, that kinda bothers me. But I've
also heard that they don't teach the multiplication tables in school
anymore, so maybe it's not all that surprising.

Per Bill in Co:
But I've
also heard that they don't teach the multiplication tables in school
anymore, so maybe it's not all that surprising.

I know somebody who had to fill a certain position in a financial
software company. He decided that a litmus test was whether or not the
applicant could demonstrate an understanding of compound interest.

He had to interview 26 (twenty-six!) *college graduates* before he found
somebody.

I call whatever situation that resulted in that a significant national
security threat.
--
Pete Cresswell

casey.o wrote:

I was at the local auto parts store and their computer is taking 10
minutes to print out a receipt. I asked what version of windows they
have, The guy did not know. He's worked there for years and uses the
computer all day long. He replied "just windows". I said "but is it
Windows XP or Windows 7, or what"? He replied "I dunno". I said that's
easy to find out, click on the START button, then click on HELP. He
replied, there is no start button. I said how do you turn off the
computer? He said he lets the boss do it, because it's too
complicated......

Unbeleivably sad!

Then I reached over the counter and looked at the computer tower. It
says Windows 7 right on the case....

You haven't a clue how an *embedded* OS is used to produce a POS (point
of sale) device. The user NEVER gets to see the OS. They don't care
what OS is running the application(s). Their UI to the computer is the
custom POS application that was provided with the complete hardware and
software platform.

Gee, what OS runs in that computer in your car? Why would you care?
You will never buy or use the embedded OS (unless you maintain that
embedded device).

How does a sticker guarantee what OS is currently employed? Could be
the POS application is running on Windows XP, or some Linux, or even
back on some ancient DOS. Sorry but you were NOT clever by looking at a
sticker on the box. You were also not clever even if you knew the OS
because the employees and bosses don't know and don't care what embedded
OS is employed on the POS device. That's not their job. That's the job
of whomever compiled a platform to perform the tasks required by the
business. They might've reused an old box with an old sticker but the
OS doesn't match the sticker. In fact, in a well built POS, the users
can't get at the OS at all. They're not supposed to dig that low into
the platform. They're not allowed to **** up the files, services, or
background processes on that platform.

When you go to the ATM, tell me how you know what embedded OS is
employed by that device? Yep, that's right, you're not allowed to
access the OS in any manner whatsoever and you haven't a clue what
embedded (and often highly customized) OS is running on that ATM. It's
none of your business getting at the OS and you don't care what is the
OS when you use an ATM. So you're just as stupid as the car shop clerk
that you lambasted.

You really think customized platforms that are highly customized, use an
embedded OS, and are a specific-use platform have to present the GUI
that you're used to on your general-purpose platform? You simply
exposed your limited exposure to how computers can be deployed. Guess
you've never yourself used a well-protected kiosk machine. So what OS
is running on that self-service video movie dispensing machine? Why
would you care?

Not all computing platforms are going to present the same GUI that
you're used to with a general-purpose OS on consumer-grade hardware.

VanguardLH wrote:
casey.o wrote:

I was at the local auto parts store and their computer is taking 10
minutes to print out a receipt. I asked what version of windows they
have, The guy did not know. He's worked there for years and uses the
computer all day long. He replied "just windows". I said "but is it
Windows XP or Windows 7, or what"? He replied "I dunno". I said that's
easy to find out, click on the START button, then click on HELP. He
replied, there is no start button. I said how do you turn off the
computer? He said he lets the boss do it, because it's too
complicated......

Unbelievably sad!

Then I reached over the counter and looked at the computer tower. It
says Windows 7 right on the case....

You haven't a clue how an *embedded* OS is used to produce a POS (point
of sale) device. The user NEVER gets to see the OS. They don't care
what OS is running the application(s). Their UI to the computer is the
custom POS application that was provided with the complete hardware and
software platform.

You've got a point there, in retrospect. If it's an embedded OS, which
seems very likely, who knows what it is. Maybe it's even a Linux
derivative.

On Thursday, May 8, 2014 7:51:45 PM UTC-5, VanguardLH wrote:
casey.o wrote:



I was at the local auto parts store and their computer is taking 10

minutes to print out a receipt. I asked what version of windows they

have, The guy did not know. He's worked there for years and uses the

computer all day long. He replied "just windows". I said "but is it

Windows XP or Windows 7, or what"? He replied "I dunno". I said that's

easy to find out, click on the START button, then click on HELP. He

replied, there is no start button. I said how do you turn off the

computer? He said he lets the boss do it, because it's too

complicated......



Unbeleivably sad!



Then I reached over the counter and looked at the computer tower. It

says Windows 7 right on the case....



You haven't a clue how an *embedded* OS is used to produce a POS (point

of sale) device. The user NEVER gets to see the OS. They don't care

what OS is running the application(s). Their UI to the computer is the

custom POS application that was provided with the complete hardware and

software platform.



Gee, what OS runs in that computer in your car? Why would you care?

You will never buy or use the embedded OS (unless you maintain that

embedded device).



How does a sticker guarantee what OS is currently employed? Could be

the POS application is running on Windows XP, or some Linux, or even

back on some ancient DOS. Sorry but you were NOT clever by looking at a

sticker on the box. You were also not clever even if you knew the OS

because the employees and bosses don't know and don't care what embedded

OS is employed on the POS device. That's not their job. That's the job

of whomever compiled a platform to perform the tasks required by the

business. They might've reused an old box with an old sticker but the

OS doesn't match the sticker. In fact, in a well built POS, the users

can't get at the OS at all. They're not supposed to dig that low into

the platform. They're not allowed to **** up the files, services, or

background processes on that platform.



When you go to the ATM, tell me how you know what embedded OS is

employed by that device? Yep, that's right, you're not allowed to

access the OS in any manner whatsoever and you haven't a clue what

embedded (and often highly customized) OS is running on that ATM. It's

none of your business getting at the OS and you don't care what is the

OS when you use an ATM. So you're just as stupid as the car shop clerk

that you lambasted.



You really think customized platforms that are highly customized, use an

embedded OS, and are a specific-use platform have to present the GUI

that you're used to on your general-purpose platform? You simply

exposed your limited exposure to how computers can be deployed. Guess

you've never yourself used a well-protected kiosk machine. So what OS

is running on that self-service video movie dispensing machine? Why

would you care?



Not all computing platforms are going to present the same GUI that

you're used to with a general-purpose OS on consumer-grade hardware.

You are wrong.

I worked for Macy's, and it was trivial to know the O.S. of the cash register.

Andy

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Bill in Co:
Bit I've also heard that they don't teach the multiplication tables
in school anymore, so maybe it's not all that surprising.

I know somebody who had to fill a certain position in a financial
software company. He decided that a litmus test was whether or not the
applicant could demonstrate an understanding of compound interest.

He had to interview 26 (twenty-six!) *college graduates* before he found
somebody.

I call whatever situation that resulted in that a significant national
security threat.
--
Pete Cresswell

I'll raise you one, and just say for even simple interest. :-)
Of course, saying one is a college graduate nowadays doesn't guarantee
anything in that area, especially if one's major is in the humanities (i.e.,
I'm not sure compound interest calculations are part of their curriculum).
But I think this stuff used to be covered in high school in the old days -
along with resume writing (and being able to write a complete sentence).
And also (heaven forbid) - being responsible.

But the problem is not really due to the colleges so much - it's derived
from the K-12 levels and the reduced expectations of students nowadays.
And, of course, "absentee parenting", which is in large part responsible for
this mess. That's why we have so many remedial ed courses in colleges
nowadays.