Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Reviews

    Getting Real Work Done

    By
    Andrew Garcia
    -
    February 20, 2009
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      One of the more frequent comments that I have gotten from readers in reaction to my January look at the first beta of Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows 7 desktop operating system was that Windows Vista and–guilty by association–Windows 7 got in the way of people doing real work.

      Only a few have bothered to elaborate on what they mean by this, but I suspect that those with this complaint fall into two camps: those uncomfortable with the new UI and menu structure introduced in Vista, and those who have run afoul of the User Account Control security functions.

      UIs are not natural things. They are artificial constructs borne out of committee and group think, and are therefore never what any one specific person wants. They’re a consensus. Whatever is left is something most people essentially memorize and get used to. Personally, I stuck with the Windows 2000 interface for the last nine years, but Windows 7’s new taskbar and start menu really appeal to me.

      On the other hand, I tend to view UAC in the same way I view public urination laws. Yeah, following the rules of either may slow me down from my daily appointments, but for the sake of health (staying free from malware), sanitation (keeping the registry and file system uncluttered), and social mores (not spreading a worm or botnet to others), the laws–and the feature–are worth having on the books.

      I’ve been using Vista on my work machine for a full year now, utilizing UAC the whole time. Not only is UAC active, but I require an over-the-shoulder password in order to make a change (as in, I am not an admin and therefore need a secondary admin account for approvals). In that time, I’ve learned exactly which applications behave as I think they should under UAC, which applications have idiosyncrasies or problems (with security products being among the worst offenders due to their constant need for updates), and when I can expect to need those admin credentials.

      My count of UAC prompts over the last seven days? Six, and all occurred as I intentionally upgraded software. I wonder if six in a week qualifies as getting in the way of real work?

      A lot of people hate UAC because the feature breaks legacy applications. But this is not the fault of Windows really, but of the third-party software. It’s bad code, written by lazy, hurried, or unconcerned developers adhering to development standards 10 years in the rear view mirror. I can’t tell you how many product vendors I have talked to who have given me the same spiel about their software, saying in essence, “We’ll get the features right, then fix the security later.” And I am galled whenever I read about developers with the temerity to complain about the new security features in Windows getting in the way of the fast development of their code.

      Always operating your computer with full administrative permissions has always been a broken model. No other mainstream operating systems encourage operating as root, and with Vista, Windows finally is trying to join everyone else. But users continue to balk, because they have grown accustomed to working by the rules of their broken model. Stated plainly, sticking with Windows XP because later Windows break applications only serves to reward and enforce those sloppy development practices. In truth, it is not just Vista (or Windows 7) breaking those applications. Windows XP, like Windows 2000 before it, could certainly be operated by limited rights users, and a whole cottage industry has sprung up in the Windows eco-system just to solve permission problems for limited rights users on those systems.

      To make an apples-to-apples comparison, whether Vista/Windows 7 is to blame for your loss of productivity, or whether it is actually due to bad software, I ask those steadfastly sticking to Windows XP to remove your administrative credentials from your user account. Get familiar with the “Run As” command, with multiple logins, and dealing with application permissions. Then make your assessment.

      Alas, I admit I have been complicit in furthering these bad practices with shortcomings in my own testing and analysis for eWEEK. Therefore, I make this pledge — from here on, in my reviews, I will ensure all software I test designed to run on Windows desktops operates as advertised with only limited user rights. And I will call out those that fail this litmus test.

      Maybe together we can put a stop to the garbage foisted upon us.

      Andrew Garcia
      Andrew cut his teeth as a systems administrator at the University of California, learning the ins and outs of server migration, Windows desktop management, Unix and Novell administration. After a tour of duty as a team leader for PC Magazine's Labs, Andrew turned to system integration - providing network, server, and desktop consulting services for small businesses throughout the Bay Area. With eWEEK Labs since 2003, Andrew concentrates on wireless networking technologies while moonlighting with Microsoft Windows, mobile devices and management, and unified communications. He produces product reviews, technology analysis and opinion pieces for eWEEK.com, eWEEK magazine, and the Labs' Release Notes blog. Follow Andrew on Twitter at andrewrgarcia, or reach him by email at [email protected]

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×