A primary philosophy that has driven this writer for 30 years and more relative to computer technology is quite simple: make it work as well as possible for the actual end user (whether that is myself or someone I am providing technical support to, either professionally or privately). In many, many cases, to get this result (of the computer technology working as well as possible for the actual people who are actually using it) requires breaking the “rules” laid down by the various software vendors.
All of the big vendors (whether of proprietary or free software) have their various prescriptions and instructions as to how you are “supposed” to use the software they provide, whether it be an operating system or a specific software package. Yet, if one strictly adheres to these “rules” then it is quite often very limiting relative to actually getting the best possible results (in both functionality and performance) for the actual users.
An Illustrative Example
Back in the later 1990s a company where I was working paid for me to attend the full set of MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) courses. It was fine, but actually quite boring as I’d already learned essentially everything that my instructors were teaching in all the classes, by doing years of actual full-time work supporting the software in question.
More than that, the instructors were often insistent on a particular way of doing certain tasks being the “only” way or the “correct” way. Yet, due already extensive personal experience supporting the very server operating systems and software they were talking about, at times I knew what they were saying (straight from the Microsoft “rulebook”) to be incorrect.
A few times during these week-long quite boring courses (when I bothered to pull myself away from the network Quake game that I had got going at the back of the classroom with a few other renegades) I actually piped up to make specific corrections to what the instructor in question was teaching us. On each of these occasions the instructor immediately assumed me to simply be a troublemaker and corrected me.
Yet, at my insistence, the instructor did go away in the evening to check on what I was saying, only to return to the class the next day (in each of these instances) to explain that the way I said it was needing to be done was actually correct. This due to bugs and limitations in the software (and therefore due the “rulebook” not telling the full story).
Making the Computer Technology Work
This is one of hundreds of such examples that could be given where simply “following the manual” or “rules” is not sufficient to get the software actually working as well as it possibly can. The hundreds and hundreds of actual human beings that I’ve supported over now 30 years of professional computer work mainly want one thing: for the damn computer to do what they need it to do (and as well as it can) for their job or creative project or whatever it is!
So what’s the big deal if one has to fudge things, cobble things together in an unusual or unspecified (by the vendor) way, or even modify the system files in ways that the vendor says are not “allowed”? If that’s what needs to be done to actually make the computer work well, then that’s what needs to be done. There are many, many situations with computer technology where the “rulebook” is completely limiting and simply needs to be thrown out the window. If one truly wants the technology to work as well as possible, that is.
Yes, manuals can be very helpful in getting to know an operating system or piece of software. But, what manuals do not generally explain is all of the bugs and limitations in the software (that might otherwise contradict the various claims about features and capabilities of the software). In this era, it is extremely easy to get on the Internet, do a quick search, then read through all the descriptions of similar situations with whatever software you are using (or having problems with) and how it can be made to actually work better.
Be Willing to Allow Mistakes
A very significant part of learning for any of us is our mistakes. One needs to be quite willing to allow mistakes to happen and not “beat oneself up” about it overly much, especially with computer technology. Much of my own learning with computers has come about through the many mistakes I’ve made. Not on purpose, understand, but during the course of attempting to do a good and responsible job relative whatever the task at hand.
When one breaks something with the software on a computer and has the interest as well as aptitude to fix the situation, it is quite often a prime opportunity for learning a great deal. Much of which can never really take place if one always rigidly follows the “rulebook” as given by whichever vendor made the software in question.
No Operating System or Software is Perfect
There is truly no “perfect” operating system of software. It doesn’t exist! All software (and hardware!) has bugs and limitations. All. So a core matter is simply to determine what one is trying to accomplish with the tool called a “computer” so that one can choose what system and software will best serve that purpose.
A common theme on this blog is comparing a computer to a hammer. They are both tools to do work. In this early 21st century moment of history, it seems that there is an unbalanced amount of attention being placed on computer devices (most especially by the more affluent minority of the 7.7 billion human beings, so particularly those living in “first world” countries).
Computers don’t “resolve” or “solve” any fundamental problems for humankind any more than a hammer does. They are both simply tools that can be useful for certain jobs. Unfortunately, big tech firms with their huge economic dominance in this era are peddling their bug-ridden and spyware-infested devices and software with greater and greater vigor.
Such corporate entities are selling us the idea that “their” devices and software can somehow “make life better” or “make us happier” or whatever nonsense. However, it is all mainly just a con job to get as many of us as possible plugged into their spy-grid, so they can then gather and sell on as much information about every little detail of our lives as possible. Thus, we, the actual human beings using their devices and software, become the product.
This corporate trend in recent years means that switching to a Linux based operating system has become a more attractive option for many people. If what you are mainly doing includes things like surfing the Internet, watching videos online, sending a few emails, managing your photo collection, and typing some documents then Linux is an excellent choice. Yet, Linux based systems come with all their own problems and issues that are a little distinct from the issues with proprietary operating systems, though with quite a bit of crossover as well.
Thus, choose the operating system and software that works best for you, based on the work you are intending to do with your computer device. And be playful enough to break the “rules” prescribed by whoever provides the hardware and software you are using, if breaking those “rules” means that you get a better result in terms of functionality and performance from these expensive toys called computer devices that you have spent your money on!
Savoury Tech 