Confession
April 19, 2013
My background
I did research, designed circuits, developed software, maintained a small computer park, set up quite some office automation: all with one common denominator, UNIX & GNU/Linux. My efficiency decimates when deprived of my standard computer platform. Call me an addict.
Deep shame
However, I have to make one confession, and I hate my guts for it: in my department, I’m known as ‘the Microsoft expert’. People ask me help and advice for windows-, office- and network issues they encounter. And... you can take my word for it: they bring quite a few problems. Whenever they come and ask for help, I have to suppress my natural reaction ‘switch to a decent operating system, use some decent software...’. However, my current employer set up the entire business as a Microsoft bunker. Therefore, I cannot but answer: ‘let me take a look and see how I can solve your problem’. You may ask how I manage to solve their problems, not being a Microsoft expert at all. Well, certainly not because of the ease of use of all the Microsoftware.
In the land of the blind...
How come I’m the local Microsoft techie? The title explains it partially. But, I think the main reason is that operating systems and software that are based on simple and sound principles, that are not hidden behind a corporate shroud of secrecy, teach you the fundamentals you need to know to have them ready like a Swiss army knife: applicable in all situations. E.g., think of the UNIX philosophy ‘everything is a file’, or the TeX/LaTeX – distinguish between content generation and typesetting, i.e. do the former yourself and let the latter be taken care of by the software, which requires understanding the nature of typesetting.
The brain of the Microsoftware user is cooked by WYSIWYG, GUIs, wizzards, and the principle ‘everything is initiated by a click’. He’s also deprived of good, free, documentation and of the obligation of having to understand the fundamentals to be able to use something. One might argue that there’s a benefit in the latter, but I think it is a very short-termed benefit.
The benevolent reader will recognize a plead for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Does that mean, I’m totally against proprietary software? No, I’ve developed proprietary software in my own start-up. However, that software was targeted to non-novice, well-funded business partners. Besides, it was developed on a decent platform. Say no more...
Do I blame or despise Microsoft? Not at all, gaining their market share cannot be based on luck alone. Their contribution to the popularization of the personal computer is to be applauded, no doubt about that. However, It’s not my first choice, and these days, I don’t consider it a wise choice for the general public.
What about Apple?
Well, people also come to me and ask me for help with their iPads. Then, I always decline. Though apple’s stuff is based on a more sound software base, I’m not willing to involuntarily sell my soul again. Besides, Apple’s well appreciated devil (and I mean the ‘well appreciated’: consider the ‘devil’ to be a compliment) is no more. So who’s there to sell my soul to?