Ubiquitous computing (pardon me) my ass!

Ubiquitous computing promises a new computing age where everything is very easy.

Yeah, is that so? No freaking way!

Since 1990 I'm waiting for computer administration to get easier.

Don't tell me we're getting there, 'cause I might slap you.

Beeing an open-source developer is a nightmare!

Why? Let me give you an idea...

You're waking into town, and your mind is wandering, pretty chicks, nice bar, cool house, oops is red :)

An idea pops up, you jump into a cab, rush home, fire your computer. Tic-tac, tic-tac, you're really anxious...

You update your Subversion working copy of your favourite open-source software ready to implement your idea. TortoiseSVN alerts you that there is a new version available. You go grab it.

Restart is needed... tic-tac, tic-tac, you still haven't wrote any line of code.

The computer comes up, F-Secure connects to get its updates, got them, starts trashing your hard drive. Tic-tac, tic-tac, Java scheduler found a new version, do you want it? Of course you do. Tic-tac, tic-tac where is my line of code??

Yahoo Messenger connects to its server, discovers a new security update and alerts you. Do you want the update? Of course you do... tic-tac, tic-tac, hmm, I was rushing for something, what was it? A, the new cool idea for that open source software... Restart? Ok, fine by me...

The computer comes up again, a yellow shield appears in system tray. Hover, "Downloading Updates 2%", aaa, is Microsoft Tuesday - the patch day. Tic-tac, tic-tac... aaa, the line of code. You start Eclipse, open your project, open the file and start writing finally. Eclipse starts seaching for updates and found plenty. Let it slide... then restart it.

Oh, I need some Eclipse API help... Start Mozilla Firefox, locate the package and class, start reading. Suddenly Mozilla tells you it found a new version and it will restart after its installation, you smile because is cute and let it slide this time too. The yellow shield tells you that you need to restart your computer to finalize the updates, you politely refuse. Tic-tac, tic-tac, you write another line of code. The yellow shield popus up again: "Should I restart now"? Tic-tac, tic-tac where was I? You close all programs and hit restart! Meantime you hit Microsoft Update on the other two computers you have to keep them updated.

The computer is up again but now it doesn't connect to the wireless router D-link DI 514. Is the network down? You check on the other computer which is directly on LAN. No is not! Oh, the wireless router just freezed, you pull the plug, wait for 30 seconds (tic-tac, tic-tac), push the plug in again.

The computer connects to the Default network, you open your browser, type http://192.168.0.1/ navigate the menus and push in the configuration saved on your hard drive. The wireless network goes down... tic-tac, tic-tac... and up it comes again with security and everything. The computer connects to it. Now you're ready.

Hmm, what was I doing? Aaa, those lines of code in that open-source project.... Let me first chek for a new firmware for the D-link DI 514, maybe they fixed the freezing. The firmware is new, you're happy, you push it in, everything works well, meantime you restart the other two computers you have to be Microsoftish up-to-date. Let me not to tell you about updating Yahoo Messenger, TortoiseSVN, Mozilla Firefox, Java and other stuff on those two. Where was I now? Ah, that cool idea for that open-source project...

Damn, I should have wander more downtown :)

Well, it might not be exactly like this, but you get the idea :)

I'm really waiting for the day when I need to upgrade my fridge

firmware with a new cool version that does dollar shaped ice-cips....

Cheers,

za-k/