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Tread lightly on the things of earth

Mike’s weblog about computing, politics, and faith (a progressive view)

Tags: , , , , , , Computers, plumbing, and raising expectations

Posted in Weblog (filed under computing)
—Mike @ Thursday August 28, 2003

Once again we’re seeing a security panic and much hustle-bustle over the latest round of Internet worms and viruses. The way you hear TV and corporate IT people talk, the problem is inescapable for Internet users everywhere, part of the human (computing) condition.

In fact, worms and viruses are quite easily escapable, as is supporting the neverending antivirus software racket. Just step outside the Microsoft box. Computing — to say nothing of thinking — outside the box is fine advice indeed.

I’m a big fan of Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and NetBSD. In part it’s because I’m lazy — if I can opt out of unnecessary security headaches, I do. If I can fix things and have them stay fixed, I’m there. No Microsoft software, no major security or reliability problems. Works for me, makes me happy. YMMV.

John Gruber at Daring Fireball has some pointed and well-considered observations himself on corporate IT, email, viruses/worms, computers and reliability — in general, on the shortcomings of an “all Microsoft all the time” computing policy.

Basic theme: CIOs can and should expect their computing infrastructure to be as reliable as their facilities’ plumbing. Implied recommendation: Don’t put up with crap.

In the follow-up, John mentions —

It’s my experience that your typical IT [person] knows next to nothing about Linux.

I wouldn’t have thought this possible if I hadn’t seen an example of it with my own eyes — an IT support guy at work told me with pride that he knows “nothing about Linux and never will. All I know is Windows!”

Especially in these days of tight corporate budgets and shrinking support staffs, shouldn’t a working knowledge of free, reliable, secure open-source software be a requirement for computing professionals? I certainly think so.

Good thing the support guy doesn’t report to me — I’d have fired his butt. :-)


2003-09-18 update: See also today’s related articles —

Comments

  1. I have to tell you that I'm reading your entry as my other machine (Microsoft piece of @#$%) is doing a virus scan. What a horrible way for me to use my precious computing time screwing with that thing. One of these days I'll convince my family that we just don't need a Windows box! — Martin    Sunday August 31, 2003    #
  2. In general, I would agree that all of the non-microsoft solutions are great, but a vast majority of computer users are pretty much stuck with wintel computers. The average user (aka my mom) finds Apple too expensive, and Linux, even Lindows too much of a pain to use. I wish that apple's hardware was cheap enough, or linux installed easily enought that everyone could use it, but until then I think Windows XP is about as much as we can hope for. At least the average user can use automatic update, third party anitvirus and firewall software (I like zonealarm and NOD32) and have a reliable computer. Beats the heck out of windows me in any case...lol. — Bob    Tuesday September 9, 2003    #
  3. Bob's objection that "Apple is too expensive" is lessened significantly now that 1GHz G4 eMacs are down to $799 retail. (Granted, for optimum performance you need to spend ~$100 more to bump its RAM up to 640MB.) I just set up Mac OS X Panther on a new eMac for my parents -- it's far and away the nicest $899 computer I've ever played with. Just glorious. — Mike    Saturday November 15, 2003    #