SoKy Local Business or "SoKybiz"

A better title for this post might be, “How Microsoft forced me to change to a Macintosh.” Or; “When new versions go too far.” Or; “How to run off your loyal customers in one easy step.”

There have been many influences on my desire to change my software and hardware preferences. The most recent was the purchase of a new Dell computer for my wife who takes care of the calendar as well as the invoicing for SOKY Happenings.  It came with MS Vista Home Premium. While the interface offered a VERY easy way to move her old computer preferences to the new one, it was so different from the old operating system that I had to essentially relearn the interface. NOT GOOD!

NOTE: I ended up having to spend more money to upgrade to Vista Ultimate because it would not join the network domain and upgrading from Home Premium to Vista Business wasn’t even an option. Caveat Emptor: If you must remain with Microsoft, either stick with XP or buy Ultimate, the other versions of Vista for business are useless.

MS Vista is so different than XP that I felt that I was learning an entirely new system. I understand the need for innovation and I do admit, it is much cleaner and nicer, but it forced me to consider where my time was being spent and how it could be better spent.

I went through this when Internet Explorer made its most recent upgrade to version 7. It was so much different that I actually started using FireFox more often. In the end, I stayed with Explorer but those days are nearly over as I will explain below.

I also felt the pains of re-learning when we upgraded Microsoft Office to 2005. We owned a travel agency at the time and all workstations were upgraded. The biggest issue was with Outlook and it took some time for everyone to learn the new format. I remained with Outlook 2000 because of my unwillingness to change.

Don’t even get me started about the changes made to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access etc.) in the latest versions. WHOA! It took me forever to find all of the buttons I used to know where they were. It still gives me heartburn when I want to do something I was accustomed to doing before the upgrade.

Due to the graphics and layout requirements of my magazine company, and the need to be compatible with the commercial print industry, I have purchased a MAC Pro. A wonderful 64 bit dual processor machine with the latest greatest Mac operating system (Leopard) and Adobe CS3 design premium. I just finished my first issue of the magazine using the new computer and software and I am MOST pleased.

For the record, I was not easily swayed to the Mac. Actually, I embraced it kicking a screaming. I tried my best to use Microsoft programs and even PC versions of Adobe, but a good friend of mine brought me a “spare” (older) Mac with Adobe software installed and in less than 1 hour, showed me how to create my magazine in a manner that would speak to the commercial printers computers as well as operate much faster and with better results. I used that loaner for 7 or 8 months. I was so reluctant to embrace the Mac that I installed Vine Server on the loaner so I could use it as a remote desktop on my PC. I have since changed my strategy and instead of forcing the Mac to work on the PC, I will be forcing the PC software to work on the Mac.

My point to all of this is simple. The changes in browser software caused me to use a different browser; the changes in productivity software caused me to use it less, the changes in operating system software caused me to abandon not only the operating system, but also the hardware I had grown accustomed to. The bottom line is simple, if I’m going to have to re-learn the technology, then I will chose the technology that is faster and more reliable. If I have to find new ways of accomplishing the same tasks, then I might as well look at all of my options.

At least in my case, (and from the sales numbers that Apple is reporting) the major changes made by Microsoft to their operating system and business software were all the incentive I needed to consider a more affordable alternative. While I will continue to use the software on the new computer, I will also be learning new software that may in fact replace Office, Windows and even the development software I’ve used in the past. Heck, I’m even considering learning PHP and JSP as an alternate to ASP.NET. Once again, Microsoft changed the language so much that I have to learn all over again and even the development software (Web Expression vs FrontPage) has changed to the point that I might as well consider my options. And yes, Adobe CS3 Design came with Flash and Dream Weaver.

Innovation is one thing; the days of forcing your customers to learn new ways of doing the same things are over. People have a choice and they are voting with their pocketbooks.

This was posted by SoKy : 6:55 AM