Why Your Computer Sucks March 31, 2008
Posted by Enas Yorl in Politics, Science & Technology.trackback
I found this interesting article about the problems with web standards and related whatnot: Martian Headsets over at Twenty-Sided a few days ago. It’s kinda long but worth reading the whole thing to get an idea why computer stuff never seems to work quite as well as you would expect them to by now.
He wrote a very well-written article. He explains in easily-understood terms exactly why open-source is a good idea.
Open source is not the solution and holy grail. but there are many many intelligent people out there doing a darned fine job putting together many difficult elements (I use FC6 as a dual-boot with Winders). I can’t think of a more diverse set of conditions/protocols and they aren’t doing too badly because everyone is involved on a regular basis.
That might be the key right there. We keep expecting software to be stable and work just the same tomorrow as it did yesterday and it keeps not happening. If we start expecting that stuff is always going to be fluid - and things will always need maintenance - then things start to be more of a compromise between realist and idealistic.
I think my clams get steamed the most is when MS plays close to the chest and steamrollers anyone who has a successful approach. It’s the ultimate in power games. They keep trying to buy people out to keep it on a one-one level and crush anyone who doesn’t go that route. In case I sound like a decidedly anti-MS rabid beast, I’m not. I just believe in keeping OS interfaces transparent. Programs you want to keep under your own wing? Have at, have a blast, but at least make it easier for others to write stuff that will run on your OS.
MS could do better in one area - stop trying to forge a monolithic block out of the OS and software that runs on it. Oh. Two things… get rid of the *$#(%#! registry.
Ok, off my soapbox. I’m done. Good article Enas!
- LK
P.S. Don’t flame me if you disagree. Just write back and we can have a nice calm discussion based on logic and thought.
I don’t have much experience with open source OS / software, so it’s hard for me to evaluate it. Here’s the thing though - if any MS OS or software has a security loophole or some other glitch, it often generates big coverage and people points to it and say “See, PROOF MS is teh suxxor!” or that Bill Gates = satan or whatever. Not only that but there are teeming hoards of malicious people out there constantly searching for ways to exploit or break into MS networks. I don’t think that neither Linux nor Apple has that problem, really. I often wonder if how well supposedly superior non-MS OS and software would perform under similar user volumes and expectations, complex network environments, 3rd party development and peripherals, media scrutiny and constantly active hostile attacks worldwide. Not much better would be my guess.
As for their business practices, well I guess that Gates learned the lesson of his own company’s founding - Jack the Giant Killer can suddenly spring forth from virtually anywhere practically overnight. If you’re the giant, it’s best for you to buy up all the magic beans you can find while they’re still just beans!