The New York Times introduced Times Reader…I decided to take a look using the 30-day free trial.
I was not warned beforehand that in order to use the service I had to install a piece of software from Microsoft called Framework 3.0.
That was where the pain point came. It must have taken a good 45 minutes to get these bits installed while my younger one was waiting impatiently to go out for a smoothie.
On the other hand, playing a movie on my laptop using Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’ option was a breeze. The only drawback, I had to use Internet Explorer. It does not seem to work with Firefox.
Once you jump past the Framework hurdles Times Reader is easy enough to install and use. It also makes for easier reading but who will have the patience and comfort to sit through the Microsoft installation.
As a footnote here is the lyrical description of 3.0 by Microsoft: "The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 (formerly WinFX), is the new managed
code programming model for Windows. It combines the power of the .NET
Framework 2.0 with new technologies for building applications that have
visually compelling user experiences, seamless communication across
technology boundaries, and the ability to support a wide range of
business processes."
Excited now! or scared.
Keep it simple and think about the end user as they say.
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