Input for dissertation: Windows XP for the user

[Robert Polding]

I am currently completing a Master's Degree dissertation, this is the
second of two threads for which I would be very appreciative of input.

The dissertation is looking at three OSs: Red Hat 9, OS X and Windows XP
and examining the benefits and drawbacks of each in a clerical working
environment (i.e. office work involving the sort of thing a secretary or
office admin would do).

Please could anyone involved with users or users themselves comment on the
advantages and disadvantages of using XP from the point of view of
a user, particularly focussing on the underlying technologies, i.e.
networking, file system, display system, general operating speed,
problems encountered, stability, ease of use and anything else you
consider important in your experience. I am also interested in anyone who
uses it in a corporate environment, and their experiences with XP.

The information will be used in a dissertation, however participants in
this thread will remain completely anonymous. This is not for discussion
from the point of view of an organisation, a separate thread will cover that.

Thank-you for your input, it will be very valuable to my work.

Robert Polding, MSc Information Systems, The University of Sheffield

 

[Mike]

The way I loook at it is this:

XP - Familiarity, Industry wide support, Powerful branding, Wide ranging
product placement, 95% market saturation.
Linux - Super stable, fans of Unix will like it, unfamiliarity, still for
geeks only despite windows GUI's.
Mac OS X - Reliability, still considered a graphics designers niche machine,
loyal user base.

My two cents

 

[Rob Schneider]

All three are the same. They are only operating systems. Clerical
staff use applications to implement busines work processes. They don't
"use" operating systems.

Any of the three options will enable the people to do the job, as long
as they have the right applications. They will all do it nicely. They
will all do it effectively. It's no use arguing which one is better or
"best". That's not the issue.

Build three economic case for each. Define what work processes you are
baseing your work. Companies work on bottom line. Develop cost
scenerios for intial purchase, implementation, and going costs. As this
for a Masters, reasonable to expect that you can build and defend a
reasonable comprehensive model.

From the company's perspective the "best" will be the one which most
effectively affects their bottom lines.