Week 3 Readings

These readings concentrated on operating systems, specifically Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Vista. The Linux and 2 Mac OS X readings were very technical. The Windows Vista reading was more like a sales pitch and not technical at all. As a person who is not very technically inclined, I think this is the appeal of Microsoft products and advertising. Like many other computer users, I jut want the system to work. That being said I have not upgraded to Vista at home because of negative experiences with Vista at work. Before Vista we were able to scan microfilm and email the pdf file to our patrons. This program was and still is uncompatible with Vista. We had to go back to XP in order to continue to support this service.
I agree that there apparently is no perfect operating system. As stated by Amit Singh in "What is Mac OS X" a user should determine which operating system fits their needs.
I thought that the articles demonstrated an interesting contrast between users of the different operating systems. Microsoft seemed to abe able to do no right, while Apple could do no wrong. Linux users seemed to be above the fray. More people use Microsoft which may be the reason they seemingly recieve more complaints.
Another interesting part of the readings was the sections concerning continued support of older operating systems by both Microsoft and Apple. Amazingly, the operating systems that one has to pay for will terminate support of certain "classic" system in set time frames, while Linux, the free system, runs not only on new computers, but "is also the system of choice for old and exoctic hardware that would be useless if Linux didn't exist" (Machtelt Garrels Intoduction to Linux).
I developed a real interest in Linux as a result of the readings. A free operating system tested by a mutitude of tester with no obvious monetary interest is unusual.