A long winding road out of beta

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My guess

My view is that society in general doesn't see software as a product in which flaws could actually harm them. Sure, it's a hassle to have to clean malware off your system or reboot to install new software, but the bottom line is, most people outside of technophiles don't really care that much (an attitude which, I think, drives technophiles crazy). The computer is just a machine, not a necessity. If it doesn't work, turn it off. Very few lives are actually dependent on a properly working computer, and in those cases where lives are at stake you'll notice that flawed software is rarely used. There's a reason why Windows isn't used in critical systems (by anyone who knows better), and when it has been there have been problems.

The only real harm that can occur, identity theft, is almost always caused by user ignorance, not software flaws. It's just that more 'ignorant' users use Windows than any other OS, so it seems like Windows is at fault.

"Would ANYONE buy a car that hasn't been fully tested? Would anyone buy a baby stroller or car seat that hasn't been tested?"

These are items in which flaws can directly harm people. Faulty brakes, for example, can kill the driver and/or others. Faulty car seats and baby strollers can seriously harm children. What harm does a bug in a spreadsheet program cause? What harm does spyware actually cause, beyond inconvenience?

Now, maybe if computers become as pervasive in our lives as those in futuristic programs such as 'Star Trek', people will feel differently. But that won't happen until software (and computers in general) goes through some massive changes. Even Linux is nowhere near ready for that kind of role.

Carl Rapson

Posted by: rapson   Posted on: 02/11/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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