Choice-o-phobia

I was setup up a wireless router for my Dad the other day. It was one of the newer models that touted "a new easier to use interface that you can setup in minutes". Ahhh, not quite.

I've been in the IT industry for quite a few years now and it still took me 25 minutes to set up the router so that it would work properly for my Dad (who is now in his seventies and is not a 'computer person'). The thing that struck me the most was in an attempt to make it simpler - they made it more complex with options and choices. What type of wireless network? where you connecting to an ADSL line? Did you want encryption with that?

And I still don't remember how I found the reset password page.

This was not the first incident of this either. I have done similar setups with co-workers because they were over-whelmed with the slick looking wizards that would only work if you entered in exactly the information they wanted and not what you had on hand. So much for having it your way.

We have come to a point where we have so many options and choices that its more confusing than ever, and what we end up with tends to be less that what we wanted in the first place. But its not just our technology that has this problem, it's everywhere. Retail stores, car dealerships, and especially restaurants. Consistently, the best places I have ever eaten had less than 5 main courses. The big multi-menu, multi-choice places - not so good. Do a couple of things and do them well.

Less is more. Yup it's a cliche but the thing about cliche's is that they are usually true.

Be good and have fun.