Nosey Adobe

No. No, I don't have to sign in. And it's none of your business
when or how often I use your software.

Exactly what you don't want to see when booting up the computer: a software application login screen that you can't quit. I can force quit, but that's not the point. No software should pop to the front of my computer unless I asked it to. I did not give Adobe permission to place this screen on my computer. At least, not to my knowledge.

I'd like to find another software that lets me be an artist freely and professionally without all the passwords and locking-up that Adobe does. However, nothing is as good as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator are. As industry standards they make it difficult to use anything else.

I like to make comparisons to pre-computer tools. So, for example, if I had purchased a set of brushes and oils from Adobe, it would mean I could only use them if I unlocked them with a password and then only used them in one location. They would have to know when I used my supplies and for how long. (This is what logging in does, tracking where the software is being used, when, and by whom.) I would be unable to donate or gift my used brushes and partially emptied oil tubes. In fact, the only thing I could do that didn't require their consent would be to trash my supplies.

The first joy I had from computer programs was the unending supply of art tools. No more running out to the art shop when my pastels were worn down. No more last minute paint purchases when the tube emptied sooner than expected. No more broken erasers or dull pencils.

Adobe has squeezed that joy right out of their programs.

One Major Issue with The Sims 3

Waiting for the third and final part of The Sims 3 to load.
I could read a book while this part of the game loads.

I may have discovered why it's called The Sims™ 3 and not because it's the third iteration of The Sims. The real reason is the game has to load 3 times. First, to load the "play or buy stuff" panel. Second, to load the "choose your saved game" panel. Third, to actually load the saved game for play.

Oh, and then there's the newly created "Do you really want to play without logging into the The Sims web site?" window. Since I can't create an account or log into my supposed previously created account, NO! I don't wish to log in.

Why do I continue to play this larded up game? Because once I get past all the load screens (after reading a book and washing my hair) it's a fun game. I've made three The Sims* avatars, taken a trip to a Chinese-like country, watched my avatar drive a motorcycle, and customized the house with all the best stuff. (Having a cheat code that gives me 30,000 Sim dollars helps a lot.)

I play mostly because I can't log into Second Life (SL). When I try, that game either won't load or let me teleport and almost always hangs. Then the router gets funky and has to be rebooted. I know it's a first world problem and I should be grateful to have technology even to complain about. Yet, I have friends in SL and fun stuff I enjoy, like flying, dancing, participating in pagan events, and walking around underwater.

Hoping to find a nice, gentle virtual world that loves me as much as I love it. And that those old school programmers discover that letting players actually play makes for happier clients which makes for more sales. Yes?

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*A little wacky that the game is named "The Sims." I checked the web site. That's what they call it and that's how the CD is labeled. And while I'm on the subject, its Eagles, NOT The Eagles.