thoughts on week 3

Mac OS X vs. Linux vs. Windows XP vs...

I am going to combine all three readings into one post this week due to the fact that I felt the same after reading each. First let me start by saying that I am a Windows user at home, and a Google Apps user at work. So the whole Linux and Mac OS X ideas had me feeling mildly clueless. As a not-really-into-caring-what-is-running-my-computer kind of person, I have always chosen Windows because I had heard of it. That is basically the main reason. If someone would have come up to me and wanted to teach me about Linux or Mac OS X, I wouldn’t have wanted to listen because I knew I would go with Windows either way.

You have to wonder if other people think the same way I do (gosh—I hope so!). Is it terribly imperative to know all the information about every product out there before buying one? Probably…to a degree. I think it would have been helpful to have had information on other operating systems. It is good to look at the pros and cons of each. That was one thing I like about the Linux article. It not only pointed out what users would like about the product, but it also pointed out some quirks to the system. Other than having a few people argue over the true job of an IT person, the blog didn’t give me that, nor did the Mac OS X document.

There was also a great deal of talk of learning how to use the software. This is a gimme no matter how you look at it. Obviously when you are going to be working on something different, you need to know how to use it! As I said earlier, at work we just changed over from Windows to Google Apps. Am I an expert on Google? Heck no! But the more I used it, the more familiar I become with it. It also helps that I have to teach the kids to use it as well, so I am using it several times a day doing the same applications.

Just because the Linux article gave me a perspective on both sides of the fence, that wouldn’t mean that I would buy into it. Any of the three would be fine with me…providing I was able to do what I have to do with my computer. It just so happens that Windows is what I was familiar with. But after working with Google Apps for three weeks, I am becoming more familiar with it as well. So I guess I have to go back to my original thought and second guess it. Perhaps if I had to choose another software, it would be more beneficial to look at all the prospects, the gods and the bads, and maybe make a more informed decision instead of a comfortable one.