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IF YOU THOUGHT that old-school Microsoft games like Solitaire and Minesweeper were just added because they were easy to program – or some engineer was obsessed with them – you’re dead wrong, according to Mental Floss.
It turns out that both games were reportedly designed to teach people the skills they would need to use these newfangled personal computers.
Take Solitaire for instance, which was rolled out in 1990. Sure, it was convenient that it was a game that could be played with one person, but the real purpose was to teach people how to use a mouse.
Mental Floss says Microsoft needed to convert people who were used to command lines into “drag and drop” aficionados. What better way to do it than to get them to drag and drop cards for hours on end?
And it worked, destroying countless hours of worker productivity in the process.
Minesweeper, released in 1992, was also designed to help users acclimate to a mouse — but this time to the concept of “right clicking” and “left clicking.” Microsoft needed these actions to be instinctive, and, again, what better way to do so than to make users do it over and over again while they thought they were just having a good time.
In 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8, which didn’t have the classic games. People could download them, but Solitaire and Minesweeper didn’t come bundled.
But perhaps Microsoft has realised its mistake because it is bringing back Solitaire for Windows 10. Mental Floss writer James Hunt’s theory is that Microsoft is bringing back Solitaire for another instructional reason: How to use the Windows Store.
Although it could also be that a generation used to having the comfort of a familiar lo-fi game on every PC they’ve ever owned missed it and complained. But, unfortunately for Solitaire fans, Microsoft is continuing its Windows 8 tradition of having the game be ad-supported. So if you want to play ad free in Windows 10, you’ll have to pay €1.49 a month.
If you want to learn what Hearts and FreeCell were designed to do, read about them over at Mental Floss.
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whenever there’s a viable flight option from Shannon I will always choose to fly from Shannon, heck I’ve gone via heathrow / paris to avoid flying from Dublin, and forget cork straight off.. the damn road to cork is a joke.
The road goes two ways you know
It’s a much better airport than Dublin and someone should tell David McWilliams that it’s in Clare not Limerick…
Shannon is a small airport. Ireland has to many airport for 6.3 million people.
Shane there is no comparison between Dublin and Shannon Airports .
Shannon passenger numbers 2013 : 1.6 million
Dublin passenger numbers 2013 : 20.3 million.
They’re not comparable .
@Michael.. you bring up a very fair point but I wasn’t comparing the traffic volumes :) but that would be a good reason why Shannon is better
Shannon airport is minutes away from the Wild Atlantic Way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anftlby4gSE The West’s Awake.
The problem with Shannon is that nobody wants to go there
Have flown the last few times from Shannon to visit my in laws and its a doddle.. As someone who hates travel the most important thing is NO DELAYS and NO HASSLE.. Shannon will oblige..
Contrast that with a 16 hour delay while i was 5 months pregnant in Dublin in 2008, 6 hour delay in 2008..
Gimme Shannon anyday
Good for you, but most people want to fly to Cork or Dublin, that’s why Shannon is always destined to be a bridesmaid
16 hour delays can happen anywhere and are rarely the fault of the airport.
The big advantage for an airport like Cork or Shannon is that you pass through security, immigation etc. so much faster than in a bigger airport.
However, delays are where their downside kicks in. If you pick up a long delay, large airports usually have a number of facilities where you can amuse yourself. In a small airport, if you’re lucky, you might find a decent book in the bookshop.
Pierce.. I wouldnt agree with that.. Destination choice in Shannon was limited and now that they have added more flights thanks to Michael O Leary the Airport is more successful. People are voting with their feet.
Dublin will always be the busiest airport and thats ok cos its the capital city. Was only in Cork once and it was ok. The roads into and out of both are a bloody nightmare.
Shannon is doing a fine job of serving the West. Most of dont want to go to Dublin thank you very much. Too much bloody hassle.
I don’t know how you think that Dublin airport is responsible for a 16 hour delay or that Shannon airport would never experience flight delays! Yes, Shannon is faster to pass through and you’re less likely to experience small delays but major flight delays are nothing to do with the airport.
Clearly you haven’t a notion what people want.
This is in reply to Pierce2020′s original comment.
don’t mention the war planes
Delighted that Shannon is on the up and up no thanks to Fianna Fáil or unions. Twenty years ago Shannon Mail order had a turn over of 13 million pounds equal 20 million euro went out of business thru mis management and unions. Thanks to Michael O Leary I won’t have to drive 100 miles to Kerry , or Knock forget Dublin or Cork.
Thats the problem with Ireland. So many of you choose to live in sparsely populated areas. But want a service on your doorstep. Whether its airports, jobs or broadband. 6.3 million people on the island with 12 airports. Crazy.
New Zealand with a smaller population has 40 airports with services and 12 served by international connections.The Mid west and Shannon region is not a sparsely populated area either. As it stands 2million people are now within 90 mins drive of Shannon airport.
Bobby you understand that of the 4.6 million people living in the Republic of Ireland over 3million live outside the greater Dublin area. Those people are also paying their taxes and have as much right to services as those within a stones throw of the capital.
In all fairness New Zealand is rather big compared to our little burb but I get your point. BTW Shannon was always viable but suffered by being Dublins lacky…i.e. not allowed to compete. Now all bets are off. Go Shannon.
If the state no longer has direct ownership of the 2 companies, how will this affect Shannon Free Zone in the light of EU competition law?
Do companies there benefit from a tax free status and if so should they continue to benefit?
Exactly what I was thinking Paul when I read the article. The Shannon Development Company has been offering govt tax breaks and incentives to sources tenants and customers for their premises. Assuming those tax breaks are gone with govt ownership , SDC’s costs will jump immediately without the equivalent jump in Revenue.
Folks, take a look at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications report on the Bill. See in particular Section 5.3.1
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/transportandcommunications/Report-on-the-General-Scheme-of-the-Shannon-Aviation-Services-and-Miscellaneous-Provisions-Bill-2013-Laid-6-Nov-2013.pdf
more imaginry jobs
Great News for The Mid West
All who live in Clare,Limerick, Tipperary and North Kerry should use Shannon Airport whenever possible!
Let’s get Shannon going!
It has all the facilities. Local- long runways- pleasant staff- cheap car-parking !
Let’s get Shannon moving under new management!
I wish them well!
have your say