Not too long ago, I remember supporting Windows-based machines was really a pain in the butt for various reasons. But mostly I thought because Windows operating systems in general just sucked. But I’d forgotten how they also came with crappy software, especially with computers from companies like Dell and Sony. So I ended up having to wipe all the SPANKING NEW machines we’d just bought and reinstall Windows from scratch on every machine… What a good way to spend valueable IT support time, huh?
So in essence, when a company thought they paid for a cheap machine, they are actually getting ripped off because of the extra time spent reinstalling the OS and supporting its inferior hardware/software. This drives home a point — Windows (and by extension, Microsoft) still sucks three years after I’d abandoned it from my home.
Take, for example, many people I know blindly think Windows Live Messenger is like the SH*T. So they’d use all those weird features on me not knowing they are not supported on the Mac version (a blessing, I must say). So one day, I decided I’d take a look into it by installing it on my PC emulation software. Five minutes after playing with it, I was ready to get a ticket to Redmond and strangle Steve Ballmer for the worst instant messenger app ever written!
I continue to wonder, how can such crappy software, bundled with crappy hardware, keep such dominance in most homes and businesses? Do people NOT see they are just wasting time and money on such crap? Or am I just having a chip on my shoulder being such a Mac snob? Hah!
Nonetheless, simplicity rules — in design, computing or otherwise.