I work in an industry where we use computers all day and this is painfully clear. I grew up with a mouse in my hand, shortcuts are hardwired into my brain. Watching someone right click them slowly move the cursor to copy, then right click and slowly move to paste, then slowly navigate to formulas then click refresh is brutal. It literally takes them 3-4x as long as it takes me to do the same task.
On the bright side, I only work about 20 hours a week and still outperform them, so thanks I guess?
I was hella unemployed for a while, and the job centre asked me if I was good with computers. I replied "not really. I cab do a little HTML, and can sort of read JS and C++/C# but can't really write anything with them" so they sent me on a course so I could brush up on my computer skills to improve my prospects of getting a job.
I spent my first lesson teaching everyone else what the difference between left click and right click was, and how the little arrow moves when you wiggle the mouse.
It's partially that. It's also because printers do suck more now. Had an HP 5p in the 90s that was a workhorse, reliable as hell, and would simply print whatever you sent. period.
I tried older HP PSC 1315 on Windows 11.
Windows 11: Cannot find drivers, use manufacturer's website.
HP: Windows will automatically download drivers, no downloads are provided.
I feel like there was definitely a golden age for printers, because when I was a kid we had an Epson Stylus Color 800 that was literally Satan crammed into a shitty beige box, but my HP LaserJet from like 2012 is still going strong.
I have a great rule to promote self reliance. I'll gladly help you, but if the answer is in the first 20 results on Google, it costs you 50 euro.
I only had one relative get angry, asking how he was supposed to know if it was. I told him to check, and he angrily said "well then I might as well do it myself".
Not just millennials… I’ve been family IT support since the late 80s. And not just printers. TVs, cable, VCRs, DVD players, BlueRay, stereos, home theater, networking, WiFi, smart appliances, laptops, tablets, phones, etc.
Not just millennials… I’ve been family IT support since the late 80s.
I mean, as a millennial I only missed that by a couple of years. I was already the most computer-literate person in the house when I was 7, in the early '90s.
Trick question: back then, we changed to channel 3 and turned on the device hooked up to the RF adapter.
Also, my parents struggle with changing inputs on the remote now. I'm not sure if they regressed in their old age or never knew to begin with, but either is plausible.
I feel like being competent in electronics can be so aggravating depending on how people treat you. I don’t even want to think about those giant tv/dvd/multi-disc changer set-ups with sound systems people had. Rip.
I have set up so many home theater systems over the years. And before things like HDMI-ARC or even toslink so it was always a pain to get everything plugged in and working. 14 remotes and a multifaceted spell you had to cast to get sound working. Man what a pain…
And I can’t even tell if it’s because printers have gotten worse or millennials are just the IT department forever.
It’s 100 % because you no longer need to understand how information technology works in order to use it.
So our parents didn’t know because the tech didn’t exist (or came late in their life), and our kids because they never needed to learn.
I work in an industry where we use computers all day and this is painfully clear. I grew up with a mouse in my hand, shortcuts are hardwired into my brain. Watching someone right click them slowly move the cursor to copy, then right click and slowly move to paste, then slowly navigate to formulas then click refresh is brutal. It literally takes them 3-4x as long as it takes me to do the same task.
On the bright side, I only work about 20 hours a week and still outperform them, so thanks I guess?
I was hella unemployed for a while, and the job centre asked me if I was good with computers. I replied "not really. I cab do a little HTML, and can sort of read JS and C++/C# but can't really write anything with them" so they sent me on a course so I could brush up on my computer skills to improve my prospects of getting a job.
I spent my first lesson teaching everyone else what the difference between left click and right click was, and how the little arrow moves when you wiggle the mouse.
Gen X here and I memorized only 3 shortcuts: cut, copy, and paste
Good ol'
C-w,M-w, andC-yYou sound like someone who frequently accidentally brings up the emoji keyboard when you're trying to go to the end of the line here on Lemmy.
Alt-E, select copy, Alt-E, select paste.
It's partially that. It's also because printers do suck more now. Had an HP 5p in the 90s that was a workhorse, reliable as hell, and would simply print whatever you sent. period.
Fair enough, printers suck! Laser printers seem to be less of a racket than inkjets, but still..
I tried older HP PSC 1315 on Windows 11.
Windows 11: Cannot find drivers, use manufacturer's website.
HP: Windows will automatically download drivers, no downloads are provided.
Uuuh... thanks?
Soooooo... archive.org.
I feel like there was definitely a golden age for printers, because when I was a kid we had an Epson Stylus Color 800 that was literally Satan crammed into a shitty beige box, but my HP LaserJet from like 2012 is still going strong.
I have a great rule to promote self reliance. I'll gladly help you, but if the answer is in the first 20 results on Google, it costs you 50 euro.
I only had one relative get angry, asking how he was supposed to know if it was. I told him to check, and he angrily said "well then I might as well do it myself".
Exactly.
Those first 20 results in 2025:
“Who were you, DenverCoder9? What did you see?!”
You vastly overestimate the level of these questions. Think "how do I send photos on Whatsapp".
Most of the stuff is accurately answered by the shitty AI most of the time.
20??? I'm pretty sure if you scroll down past 5 results you're already in the top 1% of users doing so.
I thought this was about Gen X, rooky Gen X mistake, sorry, forgot we forgotten.
They don't forget us when they are struggling with their computer...
Same
Today I had to teach two people from different generations, the difference between right and left click.
Did you mention the center wheel click? No? Probably for the best.
💀
Not just millennials… I’ve been family IT support since the late 80s. And not just printers. TVs, cable, VCRs, DVD players, BlueRay, stereos, home theater, networking, WiFi, smart appliances, laptops, tablets, phones, etc.
I mean, as a millennial I only missed that by a couple of years. I was already the most computer-literate person in the house when I was 7, in the early '90s.
Were you the only one who knew how to press the input button on the remote to switch devices?
Trick question: back then, we changed to channel 3 and turned on the device hooked up to the RF adapter.
Also, my parents struggle with changing inputs on the remote now. I'm not sure if they regressed in their old age or never knew to begin with, but either is plausible.
I feel like being competent in electronics can be so aggravating depending on how people treat you. I don’t even want to think about those giant tv/dvd/multi-disc changer set-ups with sound systems people had. Rip.
I have set up so many home theater systems over the years. And before things like HDMI-ARC or even toslink so it was always a pain to get everything plugged in and working. 14 remotes and a multifaceted spell you had to cast to get sound working. Man what a pain…
Oh yeah…I forgot about the basket of remotes.
It's because the kids don't care enough to learn. Seriously.
This is a generalization, it does not include everyone.
It is the printer.
I first started dabbling in computing 40 years ago. I took a Basic Class in the back of a Radio Shack.
Printing and printers have always been a fucking nightmare.
As a Gen X person who also does occasional family tech support, printers have always been shit as far as I can tell.
Also I don't think I've ever encountered a device made by HP that wasn't trash in some way or another.