[MD] Quality computing

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Ian on "booting"]
A program you need before you can run any (other) programs.

[Arlo]
This is right. There is big difference (tech-support wise) between 
saying "my computer won't boot" and "my computer won't start". "Boot" 
is a specific step in what is a longer chain-of-events required to 
bring your computer/OS to the initial configurations set by you. 
Nearly always, there are several programs that "start" when the 
computer is "booted". Your computer can "boot", but your OS can fail 
to "start" (while other programs do successfully start). You can 
"start power" and fail to "boot".

You guys (not Ian) make it seem like learning a new word or two is a 
bad thing. Does "mouse" work for you, or would you prefer "mobile 
selection device"? I think the cool thing happens when these words 
influence other areas of our lives (a small demonstration of the 
power of concepts, perhaps). "Networks" has drastically impacted the 
way we think of the human brain and our cognitive processes.

Now the overall desktop metaphor... well, although Microsoft had high 
hopes for the "window" metaphor, it really amounted to nothing more 
than files and folders. The user recreated habituated activity from 
previous genres to her/his computer activity. Microsoft also has big 
plans for how Vista will break us out of the drab file/folder 
approach. Will it work? We'll see. Apple has led the way on this, and 
Apple too is mostly all file-folder. The graphics have gotten 
prettier, but the way we engage the "files" has not.