New Laptop
I am writing this blog from my new laptop, which I finally decided to get after weeks of hesitation. Part of me has been attached to my old one. It has served me well and is still functional. On the other hand, I cannot do much else when my programs are running. In the end, I rationalized that a faster computer boosts my productivity, which is probably untrue because multi-tasking most likely gives away to web browsing and online chatting.
It has been over three years since I last set up a computer. The transition process turns out much easier than I thought. Windows operating system disk allows me to transfer all my files and settings between computers within a local network. I still need to install software, although the installation process is much shorter. Windows file transfer wizard already copied most of the system files and the users pretty much just need to enter the license keys to get them running.
I also noticed it is easy to switch products. For instance, during the installation, both Eudora and Mozilla Firefox transfer all personal settings, address books, bookmarks, etc., from their Microsoft counterparts, so we can use them in no time. This makes sense, especially for fringe products, as often times, the cost of switching products can be inhibiting to average users even though the new ones may actually be better.
Often in defense of Microsoft, I have argued with my computer geek friends that, to average users, software products are like cigarettes: habit, habit, habit. Many end users freak out at the smallest changes to the software they use daily. This is not my conjecture. I can back this up from my personal experience: I worked in computer support before and have been around and observed people who need computers every day for their jobs. Habit is the source of momentum, the root of a large royal customer base. Microsoft is thus a natural monopoly, I would argue.
Habit is why it is a good idea for fringe products to transfer settings from the market leaders in the software industry. I must say I still miss the Internet Explorer interface a bit, but Mozilla interface is not so different. I can live with it and gradually get over my addiction to IE. After all, Mozilla is a safer browser. By the same token, it is not a bad idea to follow suit on the interface, although one is treading on a thin line here – you don’t want to start infringement lawsuits.
It has been over three years since I last set up a computer. The transition process turns out much easier than I thought. Windows operating system disk allows me to transfer all my files and settings between computers within a local network. I still need to install software, although the installation process is much shorter. Windows file transfer wizard already copied most of the system files and the users pretty much just need to enter the license keys to get them running.
I also noticed it is easy to switch products. For instance, during the installation, both Eudora and Mozilla Firefox transfer all personal settings, address books, bookmarks, etc., from their Microsoft counterparts, so we can use them in no time. This makes sense, especially for fringe products, as often times, the cost of switching products can be inhibiting to average users even though the new ones may actually be better.
Often in defense of Microsoft, I have argued with my computer geek friends that, to average users, software products are like cigarettes: habit, habit, habit. Many end users freak out at the smallest changes to the software they use daily. This is not my conjecture. I can back this up from my personal experience: I worked in computer support before and have been around and observed people who need computers every day for their jobs. Habit is the source of momentum, the root of a large royal customer base. Microsoft is thus a natural monopoly, I would argue.
Habit is why it is a good idea for fringe products to transfer settings from the market leaders in the software industry. I must say I still miss the Internet Explorer interface a bit, but Mozilla interface is not so different. I can live with it and gradually get over my addiction to IE. After all, Mozilla is a safer browser. By the same token, it is not a bad idea to follow suit on the interface, although one is treading on a thin line here – you don’t want to start infringement lawsuits.
posted by Kishuki | 8:47 PM
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