software acceptability perceptions
For the last few weeks I’ve had to use Microsoft Windows for a computer science project and being a GNU/Linux user this was something which I wasn’t really looking forward to. However, using Windows while being around Windows users has taught me something about what is considered acceptable when it comes to software.
If you’re not a GNU/Linux (or OS X) user then you’ll probably have no idea of what I’m alluding to so I’ll just lay it out…software crashes. Software crashes are a natural part of software use as it’s almost impossible to create software which is completely bug free. However, I’m not talking simply about the fact that software crashes, but rather about the frequency at which it happens and the overall effect that it has on the operation of a computer.
And this brings me to the point of this post – Windows crashes all the time, brining the system to a complete halt, and it’s considered okay! “Just restart” is the most common response I get from Windows users when I tell them Windows has crashed. I find this completely unacceptable – when a user pays over R1000 for an operating system, the user should demand an operating system which is stable and secure. The notion of formatting a harddrive and reinstalling Windows as a means of fixing a problem is completely absurd.
In no way am I saying that GNU/Linux is without it problems – it definitely has it’s fair share. However, GNU/Linux crashes with only a fraction of the frequency that Windows does and when it does crash the crashes rarely result in an unusable system. Also, the idea of reinstalling to fix a problem is unheard of.
Windows users consider all the problems associated with Windows to be problems associated with computing, when in fact this is in no way true. Computing is supposed to increase efficiency, not lead to problems which usually result in data loss which in turn can result in the loss of hundreds of thousand of Rands. The poor state of Windows is in no way acceptable, and paying users should stand up and demand quality software, and if they cannot be provided with quality software then they should look to start using alternatives.
Note: If this post is somewhat loaded, it’s just my frustration at having to use crappy software for the last few weeks.
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OK I am comming from an MS background. I’m a .net specialist. Windows has it’s issues, but to be honest i went from MS to OS back to MS in under 3 years because I found the frustration’s with Open Source GUI’s too much to handle whilst writing code. I know it is a case of each to his own.
My machine hasn’t crashed in 6 months, and if your installation (just like with OS) is don’t properly you dont have issues. And I find that MS ppl generalize about OS and visa versa. Each side has it’s pro’s and con’s and it’s place in our IT community.
I believe the on going war between the two is useless and a waste of energy. Each has it’s place, and each has it’s experts.