Working with XP again
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I recently started a new job where we use Windows XP in a corporate environment; I have to say the change has been less than enjoyable. At my previous job we worked with iMacs running 10.5 Leopard and I got quite used to the little time savers and shortcuts on the Mac that could allow me to get things done quicker. I know that most of the functionality built into the Mac can be duplicated by third party programs on XP, but in a corporate environment we are not allowed to download or install any applications - we aren’t even allowed to change the desktop wallpaper beyond the pre-installed ones that ship with XP. To be fair though, we weren’t allowed to download or install any third party productivity enhancing apps on the Apple side either.
One of the biggest problems I have with XP is that it is a pain to manage more than 4 or 5 open windows at a time. On the Mac and in Windows 7 there are great options for navigating through open windows but in XP my only real options are to either remember which of the cryptic “internet exp…” task bar buttons belongs to what window or I can right click on the taskbar and tell Windows to tile my open windows. Once I do that everything shrinks down to the point that I can’t use them. It is a workable solution and, had I not used OS X or Windows 7, it would probably be acceptable to me. But I have used Windows 7 and OS X and the XP way of doing it looks like ass.
The second biggest gripe is level of security and paranoia that is required to run XP in a corporate environment. In order to make sure that the whole network doesn’t become infested with horrible viruses or spyware, most of the sites that you might want to go to have been blocked. There is no YouTube, there is no Facebook, there is no Flash gaming, there is no MySpace (not that I disagree with that one), and there are no “non-professional” sites allowed. At Apple, we had free reign to go to any site we wanted to, safe in the knowledge that we were all but malware proof. That isn’t to say that there aren’t companies out there that use XP that don’t allow you to go wherever you want to, but the one I am at won’t.
Another problem about living with XP again, and this one just might be confined to this business, is that we have to use Internet Explorer 6 for everything. Yep, one of the eight largest companies in the United States and they still only allow Internet Explorer 6. Downloading and installing Firefox is prohibited.
My final issue with XP is that it is ugly. Yes, I’m used to the Mac interface and it bothers me when I see poorly designed interfaces and some might say that eye candy isn’t important, but if you have to sit and look at that computer every day for 8 hours a day, it can at least try and not be ugly. The windows are slow to update when you move them around, the fonts are big and bulky, it requires entirely too many clicks to get anywhere in the control panel, and the entire experience feels like using a computer that is outdated - but that’s probably because Windows XP is close to being 10 years old.
It is these problems that lead me to hope and pray that businesses that chose to stay with Microsoft adopt Windows 7 as their platform of choice. Not just so that I can work without the headaches of XP, but so that we all can.
10 Comments
Fort
October 10th, 2009
at 2:58pm
Wow, when I was the IT person for my old work, I encouraged people to get off IE anything and use Firefox. With the wholes in IE6 now, even I have left it to the dustbin of the past for FF3.5.3. Anyone not using FF, beware.
Buffalo
October 10th, 2009
at 5:53pm
Using IE 6 is brain dead.
If you were using IE 7 or IE 8, you would be able to use QuickTabs (click on “Enable Quick Tabs in tabbed browser settings from the general tab in Internet Properties).
Companies forbid or limit use of FF for all kinds of reasons, but mostly they can’t control it as tightly.
Is security the issue with blocking or is it worker productivity?
Flash is useless.
I don’t have problems with 10 windows. I don’t work full screen with any window. If the open window of an app requires more than half my screen real estate then either my monitor is too small or the designer was arrogant in requiring that my whole attention be riveted to his one app or web page.
I also employ MSVDM, though that does not affect the statements above. As it is a MS generated utility, maybe it can get by the screening process? How do they feel about this stuff: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx
Aryeh Goretsky
October 10th, 2009
at 11:14pm
Hello,
Sometimes it is easier to use the Alt + Tab key combination to switch between applications, or select them from the Task Manager.
Unless your work requires you to visit Facebook, MySpace or YouTube there is not reason you should be accessing those from a work computer. Likewise for playing Flash games. It sounds like your employer is doing a good job of making sure employees use their work computers for work.
At my employer, we have similar policies in place, and all anyone needs to do in order to access a blocked site is contact their manager and the IT department and explain what the business justification is for accessing it; typically, it takes an hour or so for IT to respond.
If your employer does not have a similar policy, or you feel your computer use should not be so restricted, perhaps you should change employers to one with more lax policiies. You could even consider starting your own business, which would allow you to set all the policies not just for Internet usage, but what sorts of computers and operating systems are used in the workplace.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
InternetNut
October 11th, 2009
at 1:03am
I honestly agree with Aryeh Goretsky. It would seem that work does not believe that social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace or video-sites such as YouTube are not required for your job. It would be useless giving people the method to access websites like this, as they may be tempted to visit them, and therefore work is basically paying somebody to sit playing on Flash games.
I believe it all depends what type of employment your in - if your a web designer, Macs are for the company. If your an data-entry clerk, Windows is best. Are the two intentions of the different companies identical or different in some ways?
hackonia
October 11th, 2009
at 6:18am
InternetNut: Both companies are in the same business - technical support.
Dominique
October 12th, 2009
at 12:14pm
My college still uses XP for their “cutting edge” laptops. It’s so stupid since there are so many XP-only issues thar people run into. Me? I use Windows 7 on my netbook and I’m able to speed past them.
natatos
October 12th, 2009
at 12:18pm
At school we have to use XP one 1GB computers and we have to use the latest version of office it’s so bad it’s sad.
geoff
October 12th, 2009
at 12:24pm
I still don’t understand the corporate mentality of NOT allowing folks to download apps to make their jobs more productive. I was also at a gig where EVERYTHING was IE centric; I fortunately was able to run FF, but 80% of the web services failed and was stuck using IE6 - now on a mac and i loaded up a virtual xp & vista image - how archaic trying to do anything vs. OSX. How did I survive. hopefully if enough knowledgeable and technically savvy folk get into positions of decision making we can rid the desktop of redmond’s influence - I for one will surely fight for that campaign .
Jacob
October 12th, 2009
at 12:42pm
Other than the comment about the “look” of XP, most of the complaints are about your company’s policy. Don’t put all the blame on XP, sir.
James Lehman
November 8th, 2009
at 1:16am
I see that too Jacob. He’s complaining more about work conditions than OS. I’m not sure what all you are clicking on in control panel that makes it “too many clicks” when it only takes me two or three clicks tops for anything in XP control panel. XP being nearly 10 years old looks as good as any modern Linux OS even without modification.
Looks doesn’t encompass everything either considering my employer sent back and demanded a refund on 350 Windows 7 license because it was understood that “XP MODE” worked with old drivers which it does not. The problem is not just software but, also very expensive (think 35,000.00 printer) that only works with XP 32 bit drivers. As a matter of fact the IT team is working on porting over to Linux/Wine because that hardware cannot be replaced cheaply. It is weird world when Linux could holds more compatibility than Windows.
One of my dear friends owns a fabric house and their chemical mixer machine (2 million) runs on Windows 98 software/drivers. It is stuck that way because the company will not update it and the software itself was a custom job costing thousands. Doing anything with that system since it was machine and software combined would open the company for copyright infringement suits.