My weekend Windows experience, or why I love Apple so much
May 24th 2010 3:00 PM EDT
All I wanted to do was install a Wi-Fi remote-controlled webcam. Nothing spectacular. I had looked at a number of webcams on Amazon.com before settling on a rather inexpensive Chinese-made device. According to the vendor, the camera was "Apple Mac and Windows compatible," so I ordered it. It arrived quickly, and a glance at the manual revealed that I would need to use Windows to set up the camera prior to using it with an "Apple Mac." Since I always keep a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate running under VMWare Fusion for such emergencies, I felt this would be a quick process.
Yeah, right.
Fortunately for you, I've documented the installation procedure for posterity. Now you can enjoy my own personal vision of Hell. It's called using Windows.
1) Screw antenna into base of webcam at 6:55PM. This is going to be fun!
2) Plug in power supply. Camera moves for a bit, then settles down.
3) Fire up Windows, then realize that I can't use the camera software install CD since it's one of those mini ones that were so popular in 1998. They don't work in slot-type SuperDrives. Need to download the software from vendor's website.
4) Start up IE7 in Windows.
5) Can't get to downloads page from IE7 so download and install Firefox.
6) Go to vendor site, get to the downloads page. Can't download the software until I download and install the Flash plug-in.
7) Install Flash Player.
8) Download the software, finally. It's an .rar archive.
9) Windows has no idea what an rar file is. I have it "use the Web service to find the correct program." I find out that WinZip or StuffIt Expander will work.
10) Realize that WinZip is a program that, with all the add-INS, will cost me almost US$37. Didn't it used to be free?
11) Go to StuffIt site and download free StuffIt Expander. Wait while McAfee scans for
Mac
