I have just spent a weekend trying unsuccessfully to be productive
on PCs running the Windows operating system. I have come away convinced
of three things:
- Apple hardware and Mac OS X combine to make the superior platform
for virtually all computing purposes. The only obvious exception is
wasting time trying in vain to make your hardware work with your
software and vice-versa. For this, Microsoft software and the
hodgepodge of PC hardware remain unequaled.
- There's a lot to be said for making the whole widget.
- Only a complete idiot would voluntarily use Microsoft
software.
I spent the better part of an evening trying to scan a document and
email it. The problem setup consisted of an unassuming PC running
Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and a Xerox multifunction parallel port
scanner/printer/copier.
These components had previously been working properly. They just
stopped working. No software or hardware changes had been made. One day
it worked; the next it didn't. I am Microsoft, hear me roar.
The scanner began to stop and hang at 97% completion. I exited the
application, and when I launched it again, the scanner status still
showed, "Scan in progress," and would not let me initiate a new scan. I
turned the scanner off and back on. Same result. The only way to start
over was to restart the PC.
I went through the same routine again. In the middle of trying to
scan, the PC suddenly forgot there was a scanner attached. The only way
to get the PC to recognize the scanner again was to restart the PC.
After about three frustrating hours, I hoisted the white flag. I
give up. Microsoft wins again. In the game of Microsoft vs. the end
user, Microsoft always wins. Or Intel, as the case may be. There is a
remote possibility this problem may have been hardware related.
However, having spent thousands of hours troubleshooting and repairing
PCs through the years, I am all but certain this was a software-related
problem.
This is not the only occasion in the past week in which I have found
myself stymied by Microsoft. Earlier, I had an NT server that began to
crash for no apparent reason, displaying the blue screen of death each
time. Over a period of days, every single hardware component was
replaced. The hard drive's contents were even transferred to a new
drive using Norton Ghost.
The problem was only solved when we reinstalled the operating
system.
In over twelve years of using Apple computers, I have never once
encountered a problem for which the solution was to reinstall the
operating system. In fifteen years of using Novell NetWare to power my
servers, I have never once encountered a problem for which the solution
was to reinstall the operating system. This is the all-too-common
solution to problems with PC's running Windows.
One factor that contributes to the lack of stability in Microsoft's
operating systems is the wide range of hardware they attempt to
support. Apple has a much more limited range of hardware to support.
However, as an end user, I don't want excuses; I want results. If this
hardware cornucopia contributes to the flakiness of Microsoft's
products, they need to limit support to hardware on which the OS can
operate without crashing.
That would help, but it would not come close to closing the
stability gap between Windows and the Unix/Linux family of operating
systems. In order to do this, Microsoft would have to follow the lead
of Apple and discard their proprietary operating system in favor of a
completely new OS, built on the foundation of an already proven
kernel.
I wouldn't hold my breath.
How long will the computer world continue to blindly follow the
Microsoft monopoly into continued mediocrity? Fortunately, there are
already some promising signs of independent thought appearing in the
computer industry. This is not the last word on this issue.
Stay tuned. 
