Are Microsoft users abuse victims?

[elfs]

Omaha asked me this, in relationship to her Mac, but I have to wonder about it in general. I mean, it really does start to sound like it sometimes: "Oh, it's not Windows' fault, it's mine. Really. If I worked harder at our relationship, I wouldn't have the crashes and the viruses and the spam. I just have to do what Bill tells me, and it will all be okay, right? I mean, that's really the issue. I stay because I know it'll get better. It will. I've put too much time and effort into it to give up now."

Just musing.

Comments

[mitomi.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess I'd have to count myself in the alleged minority of people who are happily using Windows XP Pro.

I used to be a Mac-head, and ran a machine with Linux for a couple of years, and have used FreeBSD most recently as my 'alternative' OS. Windows 95 and 98 I never cared for much, but XP has proven to be as stable as anything else I've used (Moreso than Macintosh pre-OS X)

Maybe I'm unusual in the fact I know how to use a computer rather well, and have been able to operate all the OSes I've tried quite well. The real question is, are the people who can't work their Windows machines going to do any better on any other platform? From what I know of end users, the answer is no.

[jenk]

The real question is, are the people who can't work their Windows machines going to do any better on any other platform? From what I know of end users, the answer is no.


From my experience in Windows support and testing, a lot of problems could be reduced by switching to a closed system (say, Mac - using only Apple hw, only Apple's OS, only Apple peripherals), putting it behind a firewall, and installing only a few apps. This would reduce the untested code paths dramatically. Of course many folks wouldn't be happy with such a system....

[(Anonymous)]

i know iw wouldnt be happy
but on my comp im running currently 2 operating systems
XP pro and 2k pro

as soon as i find a good way to fast switch hard drives im gonna put my BSD drive a lil 5 gig drive that i use to practice my alt os's maybe one of you could recomend a method to keep my primary disk xp but my tertiary drive bsd or linux