When girlfriends become technoweenies

Actually, I think you’ll find that it’s quite common practice these days for most web users to browse the web via search – I do it all the time.

According to an article by Cabel Sasser earlier this year, advertisers in Japan are actually starting to adapt their adverts to match this behaviour, and I’ve spotted a few adverts like this in the UK in recent months too. I guess there’s a reason why Google is generating millions of dollars a month!

(As to ‘An Island Paraish’ – ah, women!)

I’ve never heard of navigating using Google before. How interesting. I tend to do the opposite — I search from the address bar. I either just type “hsbc” (which does technically go through Google), or use a defined search shortcut (”g hsbc”, “yt rickroll”).

As for other halves, Sophie’s a half-geek. She’s proficient in Windows, knows MS-Office like the back of her hand, uses Firefox. She even installed and played with Suse (Linux) before I knew her. She still uses a computer mainly for games, admin, and craft though.

It is nice being the techie one, but I do find it a pity I can’t talk more about my work sometimes. All the same, she understands the significance of Open Source, and even bought be the Big Buck Bunny DVD for my birthday

Not being as big of a geek as you lot means the gap between myself and my significant other is probably much less than you guys notice. However she still does some very odd things that seem rather long winded compared to the eventual result. Although she is still the only one that knows how to use the Tesco online shopping site.

I also use the address bar to search now.

Never mind Jonboy, maybe it’ll just click one day!

If you used Google Chrome instead of crappy net explorer, typing hotmail.com straight in to the url bar would bring up www.hotmail.com or, if it was spelt wrong, would bring up google’s search with, no doubt, the correct spelling at the top of the search. That way you get to train her to use the url bar, but allow for spelling mistakes and the comfort of a soft google pillow incase it all goes wrong. Good times.

@James - internet explorer?! that sir, is libelous.

… and anyway, chrome doesn’t work on mac.

I think every major web browser except IE has had a reasonably intelligent URL bar for years now. Chrome doesn’t offer anything new in that regard.

My other half is half-Geek.
She cooks a mean Lamb Souvlakis!

I think people may have missed the point of this article.. a ‘technoweenie’ doesnt know the difference between search/address url. So they type hotmail.com in a search box and it does (eventually) lead to the hotmail site -but they are oblivious that a quicker way exists. Iv also known (few) ‘technoweenies’ type google.com into the search box, click the first result (no surprise what that will be), and then start their desired search.

And to address(or search) your second point; If having sharing an intimate relationship with a computer makes you feel superior to your girlfriend, let it be..

oh you crazy mac guys and your ways…

In fact, Google Chrome works on only 1 Operating System out of hundreds. I can only assume they’ll get their act together before long in order to attack the mobile market. They’re probably already secretly working on an Android port.

Thinking back to the main article, I find it interesting to see how difficult “technoweenies” find it to get their head around when to double-click. As much as I’m used to it myself, I submit that the double-click is at fault, not the user. KDE, for instance, is making an effort to remove the double-click (or at least make it an optional setting.)

Paul - you been at that Android port again?

Matt Clegg - at last, someone who gets me… Yes, I love to have that feeling of superiority over her in whatever respect I can. Goodness knows I have to clutch at any straw that presents itself.

Forget Technoweenies, let’s for a second talk about Technozombies - those of us that let our blogs die slow, miserable deaths, where the only activity to be found is near the decaying final post, it’s flesh being chewed over for months on end…

In other words, new post please!