(no subject)

[wileypeter]

I've always tried to be evenhanded about computers, operating systems and other software. I have things I prefer, and I know who manufactures/programs them and I patronize those companies. I'm a bit of an Apple loyalist, and I know that no small part of that is my comfort with the interface and OS. I like the styling, but I'm more a fan of my systems' relative stability.

My wife is more used to Windows systems, so that's what we got for her. By the time we were shopping, all the new laptops came with Vista. She was not a fan, but the OS downgrade was outside my IT comfort zone and it wasn't so annoying that she was willing to take it in for the switch. Gradually she got used to the randomly-rearranged features.

With the pregnancy came the impetus to occasionally work from home. Her work has a VPN system by which one may work at home in some cases, so she signed up. After two frustrating days of struggling to install the software she got on the phone with IT.

You can see this coming, right?

"Wait, you have Vista? Won't work with Vista."


Thanks, Gates.

Comments

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

That's probably the result of MS doing the right thing and closing security holes, though, and the IT department not wanting to spring for a software upgrade.

[wileypeter]

It's possible. Still, I've never run into that with a single OS up-release from Apple. And I know it's not the same, but I managed to use the same version of Photoshop from 2001 to 2007 without a problem on three different Macs.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

The issues are discussed here. Basically, MS has made it expensive to upgrade some VPN servers for Vista, probably so they can sell more software licenses. I don't know if Apple has done similar things or not. Generally, Apple is easier to do business with than MS, but every now & again one runs into difficulties. From a commercial systems viewpoint, there's a lot of good reasons not to depend on MS software for network services--they are expensive and they jerk you around. But it takes considerable expertise to find good alternatives.

Ballmer can bite my shiny metal ass.

[wileypeter]

Apple's pulled some stuff like that (just ask the Adobe video team), but unlike with Microsoft it doesn't seem to be the core of the corporate culture.

Developers, developers, developers, developers, my ass.

[snooks.livejournal.com]

Solution: Get a Wii and play tennis all day.

[wileypeter]

Don't think it hadn't occurred to me.

Had I to do it again (and knew what was coming) I'd likely buy two cheaper lenses and a Wii Fit.

[wileypeter]

Well, I'm a fan but she'd prefer a Windows laptop, XP specifically. Either way, she can't use the laptop she has and we aren't getting her (or me) a new one soon. So downgrade we must. Thanks, Uncle Bill!