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Windows is used since 20 years by the public, Microsoft has nothing to prove here ...

You honestly believe that? I've been removing spyware and viruses and just making pcs generally usable for the average user for 10 years. Why? because windows isn't ready for unadministered use by the public either.

Your childish arrogance won't hide the fact that most Windows users are hopeless when the time comes to administer their machines. That's when they call me, usually, and have done so for the last 20 years.

"Your childish arrogance won't hide the fact that most Windows users are hopeless when the time comes to administer their machines. That's when they call me, usually, and have done so for the last 20 years."

As I write this, the above comment has been modded up to a 7! I thought OSNews's mod-limit was 5. Maybe that's changed, but how in the world can the above qualify as a 7?? It's not particularly insightful, informative, or interesting, and even includes a personal attack. A "7"? Give me a break.

Edited 2007-07-30 16:29

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That's when they call me, usually, and have done so for the last 20 years.
"""

Serious question. Why do you help them? To me, everyone, including me, has helped create, nurture, and support the problem that we now have.

I'm in the IT business professionally, and although I have resisted, I've done my part as well, because it made short-term sense. That's how MS operates. By making their "solutions" make short-term sense.

I finally decided that while I can't stop the problem, I don't have to be a part of it. I've made it clear to my Windows-loving employer, (whose philosophy is that a Windows support dollar is just as good as a Linux support dollar and easier to sell) that I won't do it anymore. There are still times that it makes sense to me to support Windows. E.g. when I can edge OSS onto a Windows machine. But I still don't like it. These days, there almost has to be a Linux server involved, carrying the future possibility of moving the Windows boxes to thin client status, before I can support Windows and actually feel good about what I am doing.

That's just me, of course. I respect the fact that different people can have different ethical systems which are just as valid as mine.

But I find that as time goes on, I have become less and less comfortable aiding and abetting the MS Windows/ MS Office monopolies. And so I ignore the carrot hanging from that stick and do what I feel is right.

I would encourage others to join me if their ethical leaning are similar, and if they can do so without compromising other, more important, ethical responsibilities.

Edited 2007-07-30 16:32

I got a family member on linux once. Never again. Sure, twice a year you go over and spend an hour being amazed by the sorry sight of their "computer", as you format and reinstall windows. But that is a far cry from a phone call every day or two, and semi regular visits to do things I can't walk them through over the phone. It's pretty ok now, but I really won't put myself through that again.

The only thing linux really has going for it for non-techies is that its free. The whole lack of malware is seriously outweighed by the overall complexity of the system. And if you tell me its not complex, get your mom using it, and it will completely change your way of thinking.

Yes, most Windows users are ignorant to the point that they do not know what a browser is and what an OS is.

At my workplace most of the dumb-as*es need help even to make a new Internet Connection and install a printer with the "click the .exe file" functionality of windows.

I help them all the time even though I am not a system administrator and use MacOS X and GNU/Linux at home.