[dba-Tech] What if Microsoft...

Hi Tina:

Just an aside... Linux may not be everyone's cup of tea but as far as
reliability is concerned it is absolutely top-drawer. There is a reason why
almost 90 percent of servers are Linux and Unix based. It is not because of
the initial cost either as if they were not stable they would not be used
regardless.

Along a similar line, FreeBSD, a version of Unix, which is the Apple kernel,
claim, they have only had two real reported errors since the 90's. All the
fighter jets, commercial air-craft, space-shuttles and unmanned space crafts
now use Linux. Linux is used everywhere where reliability is a
requirement...not an expectation.

This goes to show just how incredible the people behind the whole OSS
movement have been.

Microsoft can only dream of having a line of products of such quality in
design, maintenance and creativity. It just goes to show how well a staff
does not perform when they are under incredible pressure to produce, always
fearing being fired and have limited feed-back on successes or failures.
Money alone just can not build or buy quality...

Jim       

 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Tina Norris
Fields
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 12:37 PM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] What if Microsoft...

My practice stems from my experience when Windows XP was new.  I bought 
a new laptop computer just before WinXP was launched.  It came with an 
upgrade certificate to be redeemed when WinXP became available.  So, 
pretty much as soon as WinXP was out, I redeemed my upgrade 
certificate.  That was an amazing adventure!  I got the upgrade done and 
was pretty pleased with the new OS at first.  Started using it right 
away - was working with a client to remodel a database.  In that 
client's office, WinXP died, leaving me with what they call a "white 
screen."  It was clearly powered and illuminated, not black, but also 
not functioning at all.

I spent several hours on the phone with tech support at Dell to get the 
necessary updates to the video controller and the computer BIOS - all of 
which had to be done in a particular sequence. Finally got it done after 
basically one full work week of hardware and software analysis and 
careful installation.  It wasn't long before SP1 was issued - then SP2 - 
then SP3 with warnings.  Oh, please!  After all was said and done, WinXP 
became a beautifully stable and useful OS.  Just about then, Vista was 
launched.  Now Win7 is stable, Vista is disgraced, XP is still stable 
and grand but no longer supported by Microsoft.  I'm working with one 
Win7 computer and three WinXP computers in my office right now.

I've had a peek at Win8 and so far, I am not a fan.

On campus, our IT department does not roll out the next version of 
Windows or the Office Suite until about 18 months have gone by, the 
software has had sufficient updates to actually be stable and most of 
the bugs worked out.  Why?  Well, because we need to be able to depend 
on our computers, that's why.  Having our printers suddenly not 
functional because of a new version of the OS or some incompatibility 
introduced by the Office Suite, just isn't acceptable.  I take that same 
attitude in my home office.  Dang! I can't afford to suddenly be out of 
commission because of an unanticipated bug in a new version of 
software.  So, I do actually have concerns about the OS stability, as 
well as the other applications that are suddenly broken by the new OS.

<rant mode on>
Is Microsoft capable of putting out a stable product?  Oh, most 
certainly!  But, in their rush to market, they seem to me not to do so.  
They wait for the beta-testing feedback from their more adventurous or 
"gotta be first" customers, then produce the needed service packs to fix 
the problems.  What's a completely stable OS with no bugs called?  Obsolete!
</rant mode off>

T

Tina Norris Fields
tinanfields-at-torchlake-dot-com
231-322-2787

On 3/12/2013 2:15 PM, Hans-Christian Andersen wrote:
> No worries. I can't speak for Tina, but that is what I meant. I personally
would believe that Microsoft is able to push out a stable and well tested
kernel and OS. Everyone else who writes software and drivers on top of
windows.... Not so much :)
>
> - Hans