Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 17:40:03 -0500 From: "Bob Hall" <rjhalljr@starpower.net> To: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Teaching parents UNIX Message-ID: <20011229174003.A590@starpower.net> In-Reply-To: <024201c19026$9709bf80$0a00000a@atkielski.com>; from anthony@freebie.atkielski.com on Sat, Dec 29, 2001 at 06:06:34AM %2B0100 References: <1009413895.49812ff2Tom_Parquette@myrealbox.com> <005901c18e9e$9edcc510$0a00000a@atkielski.com> <20011227185002.A619@starpower.net> <014701c18f57$14b29860$0a00000a@atkielski.com> <20011228024744.B1098@starpower.net> <01a801c18f9c$a15050b0$0a00000a@atkielski.com> <20011228175531.A575@starpower.net> <024201c19026$9709bf80$0a00000a@atkielski.com>
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On Sat, Dec 29, 2001 at 06:06:34AM +0100, Anthony Atkielski wrote: > Bob writes: > > > I know people like that also. They ignore the > > broken parts and live with slow, fragmented disks > > and up to twenty five active viruses on their > > systems. The systems still run, but they limp. > > It works fine for them, even if it doesn't meet your standards of > acceptance. > > > No maintenance means no OS upgrades, no patches, > > no defragging, no running software to scan for > > or remove viruses or fix system problems, no > > editing the registry, no updating virus signatures > > (necessary to keep the system virus free), no > > remote maintenance via the LAN by the tech > > support people, no hardware upgrades, no > > reinstalling corrupted drivers or updating drivers, > > no updates to shared dlls, no service packs, > > no fixing resource conflicts when new software > > is installed, no backups, no hard drive checks, > > no updating or using repair tools, no updating or > > uninstalling apps, and no reconfiguration to > > accommodate the user's changing needs. > > Yes. And most people couldn't care less. The computer does what they want, > and none of the above matters in the least to them; they don't even know > what any of it means. That may be unthinkable to you, but they are > perfectly happy that way. I've done some on site programming, which made me the only computer-knowledgeable person in sight in some offices. I've managed disguise my elitist, high-standards attitude enough to dupe some people into believing that I was friendly and helpful. Generally, when I solved some maintenance related problem, the user was grateful. To say that people are ignoring problems doesn't mean that they're unaware that something is wrong, or are happy. They continue working with a machine that needs maintenance due to a combination of lack of knowledge and either fear of the tech support people or lack of tech support. Or because they only remember about the problem when it affects work they are doing, and then they're too busy to stop and try to get help. Or some other reason. But not because they're perfectly happy. I've spent a lot of time working surrounded by non-technical computer users, so I know how they feel about their computers. I've also seen the studies showing that computer behavior is a major source of complaints in offices. It's true that most users don't know the meaning of the items on the list above, but they definitely know the difference between a system that has been maintained and one that hasn't. And if I can be forgiven for straying onto the topic of this thread, however tangentially, this is also true for home users getting support from relatives. The more willing the maintainer is to provide maintenance, the happier the user will be with the chosen OS, given the conditions that I expressed before. Bob Hall -- Know thyself? Absurd direction! Bubbles bear no introspection. -Khushhal Khan Khatak To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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