Ballmer takes on Google, the economy and Windows 7

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My objective thoughts on MS vs. Linux and a little on the article

First I will begin with MS. I first began using Windows in High School. A teacher had a computer which I used for writing, transferring my writings to digital media and for games. At the time it was simply a computer to me, nothing really new, just a different OS. I'd worked with computers off and on for the 8 years prior, beginning on the Apple II in elementary school so computers were nothing new to me. I learned the basic processes but none of the upkeep necessary for the system. I bought my first computer while in college and installed Windows 98 as I could get a copy from someone for free who had just upgraded his system. I was running a very low powered computer and never bothered defragging my hard drive or running any antivirus software on it due to the small store space available and the limited amount of RAM on my computer, 128 Mbs. I continued to use that computer until the hard drive died, finally upgrading to a much beefier PC with 1 Ghz processor power and 256 Mbs. This was my first instance using Antivirus software as I could now actually run it without killing my PC. At the time there weren't so many viruses I was aware or and I still didn't know anything about defragging a computer. This didn't happen until my next computer, the one I'm currently using. I now have a 1.8 Ghz PC with 512Mbs RAM and a 127 gig HDD. I taught myself about free software as I can't afford the expensive stuff but I do help friends with projects. I taught myself how to use my CD burner, how to install extra RAM when necessary, how to troubleshoot most basic computer problems and have taught myself general computer maintenance. I've also come to realize how much general computer maintenance is necessary when using MS Windows and so I taught myself about Linux.

My first real encounter with a Linux distro was with my aunt. I saw her working with my uncle, reading huge, technical books, trying to compile data to make programs by following the techniques described in the book, using the terminal at times and then testing out the programs they had just created. At the time I had my PC running WindowsXP and wondering just why they didn't just buy Windows like a lot of you out there are thinking now. They finally gave up and did buy Windows this year. Incidentally, I will convert them back to Linux soon. I recently switched to Ubuntu and have found that, contrary to their delve into the Linux world, it is actually extremely easy to work with. The most nerve wracking areas of working with Linux involve Windows. The first was cutting the cord. I agonized over that decision for a week before finally installing it onto my system. In over a month, I've gone back to XP 3 times total, none of them necessary now that I know what I'm doing. I will use XP only long enough to remove all of my data and then I'll simply remove it from my HDD. The second difficulty was in learning the software, but I've done that many times when learning a new program in Windows. These are no different. I've come to realize that an OS doesn't have to be something that controls your life while you're at a computer. Since switching to Ubuntu, I've stopped having to defrag my hard drive. I've stopped having to clean the cache nightly just to keep my computer running optimally, I've stopped having to check for viruses constantly just to keep my computer up and running. I did install a firewall, that's something that was much easier to do in Linux. I simply checked the repositories and installed it. With MS, I'd never know what I was getting until it was too late. There are a few problems with Linux, but all are minor inconveniences compared to Windows. 1)Lack of many games on the market. Though there is a very good graphics rendering engine built off of open source tech, game designers don't use it. 2) Proprietary software tends not to run on Linux. Of course, with the huge amounts of high quality, free software available, this is necessarily a bad thing. The less we're given, the more we make for ourselves. 3) There's a learning curve necessary for moving to Linux. Of course, moving to Apple from MS or to MS from Apple has the same learning curve so it's really not that big a deal after all
As for the article, Ballmer does seem very frightened about the future. With an albatross the size of Vista around my neck, I'd be frightened too, especially after realizing that Linux has the ability to adapt much more quickly and soon the public will realize this. I've mentioned in comments elsewhere that the best way for MS to do business is to actually try competing rather than just trying to be a Monopoly in everything. If you continue to try to keep people either dependent completely on you or unable to use any of your technologies while someone else comes along who will allow freedom of technology and even asks for your input as to how to make that technology better, who will end up with more people? The answer, of course, is the one who uses technology best. Currently that's not MS. Windows uses proprietary technology in order to be noncompatible with other software. A better idea would be to become compatible with other software but start using it in new and exciting ways. For example, if MS Office, rather than changing its formatting to such an extent that no other Office Suite could be 100% compatible, would instead focus on doing things that, while available to see in other Office Suites, you just can't do anywhere else, that would be a very good way to sell more Office software and have happy customers beating down the door to get it. If that same Office Suite were easier to use or required less steps to do that really unique thing that others could see but not do, that would be yet another reason to go out and buy that software. In the article, I didn't read Ballmer mentioning anything of the type. Instead, he talked about trying to fight Google and going onto mobile platforms. Why would you ever try to take on so many different opponents when you're already struggling with the ones you have?
I hope I'm wrong and Windows 7 is something exciting and new. Something that makes Hackers weep and Virus writers have to go out and get a job. I don't see that happening though. I see Ballmer putting his head in his hands saying "If I don't see it, it's not real". I see Windows 7 being able to do some cool things, but still being vulnerable to viruses and Hackers and malware and I see Apple and Linux taking more and more and more market share until MS finally snuffs out. My reasoning is pretty simple. If you don't innovate you die. MS hasn't been innovating, it's been stagnating. Having a monopoly can do that to you. Again, I hope I'm wrong.

Posted by: tmsbrdrs   Posted on: 01/15/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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