Technobuddy

By Dan

June 26, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

Having worked in the tech world since the pre-Windows 3.1 days, I can certainly accomplish most tasks from the C prompt. My colleagues can as well and, as a result, generally find much fault with the Windows OS. However, I have recently come to the conclusion that we just don’t get it. Microsoft does.

Windows was created so that the average user could find his/her way around the computer. Twenty years ago, computers were only for nerdy programmers such as myself typing BASIC from the command prompt. Without Windows, that might still be the case. Instead, computers are now in virtually every living room.

A few years ago, many techies were very high on Linux as the OS of choice for the general population. That hasn’t happened. Why? It’s because as techies we just don’t get it.

I remember standing in line at a now defunct Linux store and hearing an employee explain to a housewife that Linux was every bit as easy to install as Windows. For the next ten minutes he inundated her with talk of command line tasks and mounting drives while she stared at him blankly. The employee just didn’t get it. She just wanted to click on the IE icon and surf the net.

For most Americans, the concept of drag and drop takes some thought. The more user friendly the OS, the better. Yes, it’s not as stable as Linux. Yes, certain utilities are cumbersome. This bothers techno-geeks and developers such as myself. However, for the average person, Windows has made the PC highly accessible and for the most part a pleasant user experience.

By Keith

June 26, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

I normally work on network servers and in this role I have a different view of what should or should not be part of the operating system than a typical end user. I have always found Windows to be overloaded with services that are simply not needed on servers. (3D ScreenSavers and Solitaire do NOT belong on your corporate servers)

My biggest pet peeve is the Graphical User Interface (GUI) which I don’t have the option of unloading in Windows. In Unix and in Linux I can do all of my administration from a remote desktop and never even run a GUI on the servers. This makes a lot of sense because running the GUI consumes a lot of system resources.

Every extra service running on a machine increases the potential for a system crash, reduces performance and risks opening up additional vulnerabilities.

ActiveX has my vote for worst of the worst because of the tremendous security vulnerabilities it raises.

By RH

June 26, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

How about Vista?

By sam

June 26, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

I’m going overseas on vacation, and don’t plan on taking my laptop.

Is it possible to use cybercafes, etc to check my financial accounts without compomising my security to keystroke loggers, etc?

What are your suggestions?

By C. Henry Adams & BIE

June 26, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Typically, we try to avoid slamming or cheering on Microsoft or Linux (Unix).

But, I would have to agree with Dan and Keith comments.

As for Vista? Well, all I can say is that one of my relatives enjoy playing chess on her laptop.

Regarding Cybercafes Overseas or anywhere…I would not check my “personal anything” on a computer not owned by myself.

A suggestion …look into getting an electrical power converter and take your laptop.

Just a thought.

C. Henry Adams & BIE http://www.networkingmenu.com

By CC

June 26, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this

As a techie, the worst thing about Windows is the awful Microsoft marketing hype about every new feature they’ve stolen from someone else and dumbed-down to get it to work on the Windows platform but, as a user, I have to admit that Windows has reached the point that it works well. I like Mac OSX better but I find that, for day-to-day use, Windows XP is just as useable.

Worst feature? The effort they have gone to for backward-bug-compatibility to keep old programs working (See “The Old New Thing” for a long explanation) but that really only affects developers.

Best feature? Visual Studio is an amazing tool for doing software development and their overall support for developers is very good as well. Apple may be better for developers coming from Unix platforms but overall I still think Microsoft has the edge.

By harold

June 26, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

being subjected to this perpetually pointless column is one of the worst things about windows

By Gary

June 26, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

As a techie….I cannot recall a single windows installation I have performed where I was not able to choose what or what not to install. This would refer to 3D Screensavers and Solitaire.

By Susan

June 26, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

For me, the worst feature ever of Windows has been the menu system - it just doesn’t seem intuitive to me.

By Randall

June 26, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this

I’ve actually been fairly pleased with Windows. My gripe (and it’s sure not a feature) is the fact that it is a memory hog. But XP and Vista have seemed more stable than earlier versions.

By Randall

June 27, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

I’m old and have been around computers since the earliest days. So my gripes are small ones. After all I remember Windows 3.1. Believe me people, things are so much better now.

By cnerd

June 29, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

I miss my vic 20

By Bill

June 29, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

I sort of miss my Leading Edge Model D.