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It's a sad time when people are afraid of their own computers, but
that's where Microsoft Windows users are at currently. It's reminiscent of Hal
from Space Odyssey. Computer owners fear that if they launch the wrong
program, visit a 'bad' website or simply
view an email, they will trigger an unstoppable torrent of emails and
virus spewing from their computer. Then comes public humiliation and
chastising for not having performed the mandatory daily software and virus update
routine (which often times wouldn't have prevented it anyway). If the
PC were any other type of product, it would have been recalled by its
manufacturer, and congress would have stepped in, demanding
accountability.
Lets be clear
where the blame lies - it is on Microsoft's shoulders for
writing very low quality software and then even worse, not standing
behind that software in spite of garnering unprecedented profits. Each
new outbreak prompts the Microsoft PR machine to point fingers at users
for not maintaining their computers, or at deviant hackers, when they
should really
be pointing the finger at their own wobbly software. I'm not excusing
virus authors. In most countries, authoring software which
intentionally
harms computers is a criminal offense and it should be. I should
point out also, that all software will have vulnerabilities since it is
authored by fallible humans. What I'm challenging is the number of
vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, and Microsoft's abandonment of
their responsibility to invest a tiny sliver of their profits in
proactively
resolving the problem.
I was in the SIPphone offices the other day to test some new SIP
software on a Microsoft Windows XP box. I spent half of my time closing
unwanted popups, which bombarded the screen. All the while, this very
new computer (less then a week old) was operating very slowly. Later on, we
discovered that this computer had virus issues. I'm not sure how people
running Microsoft computers get their work done, since they need to be
constantly vigilant about installing software patches and updating virus
software.
Every analysis I have seen that looks at the cost of maintaining Microsoft
software has overlooked the enormous costs of virus protection, which has become
absolutely
mandatory. The poor quality of Microsoft's software has caused billions of
dollars in lost time and outages for companies. Multi-billion dollar
corporations like Symantec and McAfee have
been built largely by taking money from consumers who are forced to
pay to clean up Microsoft's mistakes. Some larger companies now
even have employees with titles like "Patch Managers," whose full time
job is to constantly update computers in an attempt to thwart virus attacks.
What a sad state of affairs for the PC business! It's a shame that the
public outcry hasn't forced Microsoft to take responsibility for the situation that
they are largely responsible for creating.
Fortunately there is something users can do - switch to a desktop Linux
machine. By abandoning Microsoft Windows XP, you can get back to using your computer as a tool to get work done in your business or
in your home. Many Lindows employees spend their weekends installing
Linspire for their neighbors and friends who are desperate to be rid of the
virus nightmare which seems to have no end. My message is that the
world doesn't have to suffer through poor software which invites
hackers, like Microsoft Outlook. Desktop Linux is a viable alternative.
If you know someone who fears using their computer or is disgusted with
viruses help them out, buy them a copy of Linspire.
-- Michael
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