I was going to post something related to this article but instead I will post a short rant concerning personal computers.

Question: Why is it impossible to have a computer that works ?

All I want is a lightweight, compact, optimized computer that is fast, does what I want and doesn't get into my way. Apparently this is too much to ask for.

No, I don't want all your eye-candy, clippies, graphical assistants, cute special effects and animation. I just want the darn thing to work. Get it ?

When you try to escape Microsoft's malversations and malevolence and end up using Linux, Why must Firefox be crammed down  your throat ? Why must Ubuntu's package be messed up and refuse to work properly ?

I'm desperate for a SMALL AND FAST operating system. Why is it that when I download Damn Small Linux, it refuses to work.

Why must Flash be forced down our throats, ruining our web surfing experience ?

The first thing that I ask of a computer is speed. I would like that when I type text, it doesn't take a second per character to display. I would also like that when I close a window, it doesn't take ten minutes to close.

Why is it impossible to have a computer that works ?

I remember a time, back in those primitive days in the 1980's. There was a thing called a came console, like Atari. All you had to do is insert a game cartridge, press power on and it worked.

Why hasn't this philosophy continued into the modern computer and internet age ? First, could we please make things work before we make them cool or nice looking ?