InfoWorld: Imagining a day without Microsoft
Ever wonder what a day without Microsoft might be like? Ephraim Schwartz did, and hypothesizes what it would be like. While I agree with most of this points, one point struck me as extremely short sighted and presumptuous:
“We would also find out how bad the Linux and Apple vendors are at providing patches, compared to what [customers] got used to from Microsoft,â€? Pescattore says, adding that Microsoft is much better than Apple and Linux at delivering security patches. “If you keep getting into car accidents, you know how to fix dents.â€?
I just love that last line – “if you keep getting in to car accidents, you know how to fix dents“. That’s just brilliant. It puts the whole security onus on the customer, as if it’s their fault that their software is riddled with holes. Microsoft is re-cast in the role of the auto body shop, not the car manufacturer. A more correct way of restating this would be:
“If your car keeps breaking down because the vehicle wasn’t designed properly in the first place, why would you keep buying from the same manufacturer?”
This article just illustrates the narrow view most in the IT world have. Microsoft is all they have ever known. While it gives them fits of frustration, they would rather stay with the devil they know than dance with a devil they are unsure of. The best one can do in the face of this is to continue to educate the masses on the alternatives, be it commercial (Apple) or free (Linux).
Category: News
