Computer Geeks in Movies.

[kokopup]

While i do not profess to be computer geek, i did make my living for years on computer systems. I spent most of my time in the Unix and VMS world but had my fair share of time with Windows which I do not consider a true operating system.

blue

I see alot of Macs in movies yet Macs arent as widely used as Windows machines. Of all the people I know who are Mac users only one fully utilizes its potential. The rest are lucky that OSX is built on Linux.

Actually Mac OSX is a fully licensed version of UNIX. While Linux is Unix like it is not the same. Actually like Linux, Unix has so many different versions that the Berkeley Egomanics that created it would not recognize many of them.

Because of the holes in Windows most of the far east, Japan leading the way is moving almost entirely to their version of Linux.

[blue]

Amateurs think about operating system. Professionals think about productivity suites/server apps.

That is not a ding, that is advice.

When you get into the business side of the technology world you have to think like a end user. (No, not a 'remove brain' deal, an actual real end user who does job x.) They don't care one bit about operating system. They care about doing this job. See where I am going?

And, FWIW, as long as safe computing practices are used, Windows OS, especially Windows 7, is perfectly safe for use. We could get into WHY Microsoft stuff is the big target, but we can save that for later if you want. LOL

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Also, FWIW, my company supports about 5,000 desktops/laptops and about 500 servers (and growing big time) with a 4.5 person technical staff. We utilize a variety of software tools to help us do this while having minimal on-site time.

Moral? Making money in this business has very little to do with actual technology. It has more to do with process management.

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Calm down, dinging Windoze is now a hobby of mine. Another hobby is looking into way's to make client Users more productive without using Windoze, this will be a long time hobby and only a hobby as Windoze is my boss's bread and butter. Without Windoze my boss wont make as much money, same boat you are in . Im not pushing or even suggesting anything Unix on our contract clients but I do suggest it to our in shop clients who cant grasp Safe, Best Practices. However, some of our contract clients have users that could get viruses on a DVD player or a toaster oven and they could be just as productive with a Mac or a Linux machine without the Windoze headaches. Win7 is easier to lock down then XP, so we'll see, I do predict our in shop services for virus/malware mitigation will not be slowing down when Win7 gets a bigger market share. I also predict our in shop calls for BSOD, system sluggishness, and system conflict issues wont be any less with Win7 getting a bigger market share.

There are fewer and fewer "jobs" that I cant do on my Ubuntu netbook that contract clients do on their work stations. What I cant do on my netbook I can do on the clients servers.

From my limited experience some end users do care about the OS, its whats familiar and they fear change. To them a a new password policy is frightening.

If it werent for my mom my stepdad would still be using a Macintosh II. If he nukes his PC again Im setting him up with Ubuntu.

Microsoft is the major player in the computer world, if that isnt the reason they are the biggest target Ild like to know about it.

While i do not profess to be computer geek, i did make my living for years on computer systems. I spent most of my time in the Unix and VMS world but had my fair share of time with Windows which I do not consider a true operating system.

blue


Actually Mac OSX is a fully licensed version of UNIX. While Linux is Unix like it is not the same. Actually like Linux, Unix has so many different versions that the Berkeley Egomanics that created it would not recognize many of them.

Because of the holes in Windows most of the far east, Japan leading the way is moving almost entirely to their version of Linux.

Thanks for the clarification, but isnt Mac OS a closed source OS? Either way I do not find OSX very intuitive and it annoys me. I may build a Hackintosh in the future to play with the OS more.

For me the Unix based Ubuntu OS is very intuitive, easy to use and makes my job easier.

The impetus for me starting this thread was the proliferation of Mac's in movies where the users are peaceful and benevolent, the Stieg Larson books made movies as an exception, and movies portraying hackers and computer malcontents as PC/Windoze users.

[Puckstop31]

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Calm down, dinging Windoze is now a hobby of mine. Another hobby is looking into way's to make client Users more productive without using Windoze, this will be a long time hobby and only a hobby as Windoze is my boss's bread and butter. Without Windoze my boss wont make as much money, same boat you are in .

It's WINDOWS. Use Win7. Then get back to me.

Bill Gates leaving the company was the best thing that ever happened to MS.

Im not pushing or even suggesting anything Unix on our contract clients but I do suggest it to our in shop clients who cant grasp Safe, Best Practices. However, some of our contract clients have users that could get viruses on a DVD player or a toaster oven and they could be just as productive with a Mac or a Linux machine without the Windoze headaches. Win7 is easier to lock down then XP, so we'll see, I do predict our in shop services for virus/malware mitigation will not be slowing down when Win7 gets a bigger market share. I also predict our in shop calls for BSOD, system sluggishness, and system conflict issues wont be any less with Win7 getting a bigger market share.

Be honest.

How many BSOD/Virus calls you get are the result of user doing things on the internet they should not be doing? Reading chain emails? Pron? Etc?

Hmmm?

If the USER practices smart computing....

There are fewer and fewer "jobs" that I cant do on my Ubuntu netbook that contract clients do on their work stations. What I cant do on my netbook I can do on the clients servers.

From my limited experience some end users do care about the OS, its whats familiar and they fear change. To them a a new password policy is frightening.

Again, this is not personal.

But, get into a 30 million dollar process manufacturer and get back to me.

DOn't forget TCO, user training and user productivity. Technology is EASY. Making it useful to a business is another subject altogether. Eh?

Our business is getting the client to use technology to make their job easier. Is Ubuntu/Open Office worth a month of downtime and user training? Is it worth the headaches the customer's client will have ?

Microsoft is the major player in the computer world, if that isnt the reason they are the biggest target Ild like to know about it.

Have I said otherwise?

I often tell clients... "Yes, going to Mac will save you in AV costs. About $1000 a year. But it will cost you $100,00 to move your staff to Mac's"

You see?

[blue]

It's WINDOWS. Use Win7. Then get back to me.

I did, beta. RC, and RTC. If I didnt have a choice outside of windows, Ild stick with XP.

Bill Gates leaving the company was the best thing that ever happened to MS.

After Balmer steps down Ill agree.

Be honest.

How many BSOD/Virus calls you get are the result of user doing things on the internet they should not be doing? Reading chain emails? Pron? Etc?

Hmmm?

Thats the thing. My own machines, when I used XP, should have been so riddled with viruses, malware, trojans, redirects, fake anti viruses, rootkits,,etc, etc.... because of where Ive been on the disgusting areas of the Interweb it really shouldnt be a competition. But my home machines remained fairly clean of any sort of malware/virus/trojans. My XP machines also stayed fast because I wiped and reloaded them every few months, I stored anything important on a server so I can restore my PCs in less then 45 minutes.

From what Ive seen Facebook, Myspace, and fansites spread more malware then pron sites these days.

If the USER practices smart computing....

Thats the problem. Getting the Basic User to practice Safe, Best Practices

Again, this is not personal.

Im not attacking you, I dont see you as attacking me.

But, get into a 30 million dollar process manufacturer and get back to me.

Why would I want to do that?

DOn't forget TCO, user training and user productivity. Technology is EASY. Making it useful to a business is another subject altogether. Eh?

Wouldnt TCO be less with open source technologies? More tech savy employees would be more valuable to businesses in the long run I would think. Am I wrong?

Our business is getting the client to use technology to make their job easier.

I very much agree. ETA: But is making them dumber in our best interest?

Is Ubuntu/Open Office worth a month of downtime and user training? Is it worth the headaches the customer's client will have ?

Im not arguing that it is and I would not push Ubuntu or OpenOffice on a client/user. To many clients/users are afraid of something that isnt MicroSoft based.

Have I said otherwise?

Nope.

I often tell clients... "Yes, going to Mac will save you in AV costs. About $1000 a year. But it will cost you $100,00 to move your staff to Mac's"

You see?

Absolutely.

My question is what would it cost to switch to Unix based workstations with Windows based servers?

[Lady's Human]

Wouldnt TCO be less with open source technologies? More tech savy employees would be more valuable to businesses in the long run I would think. Am I wrong?

Have you ever tried to get someone who is technologically illiterate to change to a new application? The easier you make it, and the more familiar platforms you use, the easier training becomes.

Easier training=cheaper training and a more efficient operation.

In many cases the applications costs between different platforms is negligible, and compatability and ease of use trumps all.

A more tech savy IT person is great. A tech savy graphic artist is still a graphic artist at the core. The arts training and ablities are what matters, and you tailor the platform and app suite around the population, not vice cersa.

[blue]

The dumbing down of users, I hear what you and Puck are preaching.

[Lady's Human]

It's not dumbing down users, it's tailoring the applications to the users.

I can teach a geek to use Photoshop in a heartbeat, but I can't teach a geek to be an artist. Hence, Photoshop has a GUI which is intuitive and makes it easier for an artist to be an artist.

[Puckstop31]

The dumbing down of users, I hear what you and Puck are preaching.

Not at all.

Time is money. What will make the user the most efficient at their job with the least amount of capital/training investment?

Like I said in my first responce... OS is not anywhere near as important as productivity software and the process it supports.