Can’t We All Just Get Along (Microsoft, Apple, Linux)
I just read a really interesting article talking about why everyone seems to hate Microsoft, and why that hatred is pretty much useless to making any real change or improving anyone’s situation.
The article states that Linux and Apple have both stated that there’s no need to try and compete directly with Microsoft.
Similarly, I spent many years working with grizzled old *NIX developers and administrators who also realized that railing against the then-emergent Microsoft hegemony was a waste of time. What did they do? Spent hours bickering over the relative superiority of emacs and vi.
and Steve Jobs said
I remember many years ago, when Steve Jobs first returned to Apple and said in a historic keynote that “we have to let go of the idea that in order for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose”. I’m paraphrasing - those might not have been his exact words but they certainly support the spirit of what he said that day. It’s one of the smartest things I think he’s ever said. And I think the company has prospered since then, in large measure, because they’ve left the demonization of Microsoft to others
If both of these “competitors” have chosen not to fight the giant, but instead focus on their own products and what they can improve on, then why is there such the banter and fighting among those on each side claiming their product is better or the other person’s products suck?
It may just come down to the “argument” is the geek’s favorite “indoor sport” according to the author Marc Orchant. I LOVE IT!
I’ve been sitting here this morning working across the desk from my business partner that’s adjusting to Vista and Office 2007 on his new Toshiba laptop. The laptop he just upgraded with 2GB of RAM and is now a bit happier at the performance of Vista. Yet, he continues to complain about why you should have to upgrade a new laptop with 4x the OEM installed RAM to begin to enjoy the operating sytem. He also jumped quickly into the frustration of finding where the features and tools he was familiar with in previous versions of Excel, are now nowhere to be found in Excel 2007. Granted, I’m still trying to answer the question for him on why the “Macros” option is in the “View” toolbar.
After seeing his frustrations as a user that was completely comfortable and satisfied with the previous version, I can see why the migration to the new platform was much easier for me as a user.
What you won’t see us doing, although he joked about it, is ditching Microsoft in favor of Linux or even the old TRS-80 from Radio Shack. Why? I’ll tell you why, because the both of us have made good money working for clients that rely on Microsoft applications and technology every day. We continually build applications and solutions that are based on Microsoft software because that’s what businesses need and use.
Are we sell-outs? Are we just supporters of Microsoft products because supporting them pays the bills? I don’t think so. If you’re going to fault me for that, then you should also begin faulting any auto repair shop for working on our gas-guzzling, environment choking, chunks of metal, fiberglass and rubber.
Now, one of these days when I have some free time to really figure out how to use it, I’ll try installing Linux on a couple of old machines in my house. Anyone know of some great resources online to help me answer all my questions about Linux?
Tags: Apple, developers, Linux, Microsoft, Radio-Shack, Security, Steve-Jobs, TRS-80, usersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Business Users, Corporate News, Home User, Microsoft Hardware, User Experience
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