BAP #2: Solo techsupportitis
Published June 3rd, 2005 edit replace rm!
Spending all your time doing tech support for your own work environment
This one has inflicted me a lot in the past. Since I found the solution I am no longer troubled by it. I have classified various versions of this:
Techsupportis geekae
Geeks like me are natural tinkerers. With Linux and Windows we are constantly tempted to install the latest version of software, drivers, kernels etc. (This is also known as emergitis with Gentoo fanatics).
The trouble is that it is very easy to get tempted down this path and all to often things go wrong. I have in the past lost many days of bootstrap time doing this.
My solution in the end was to buy a Powerbook. It is hard for me to bring the mac down. I’m sure if given enough free time I can do it, but I feel like I can just focus on my work. If you are a diehard linux guy Ubuntu has many of the same “It just works” features that OSX has.
Techsupportis Virii Windus
I have heard so much about how windows users spend so much time repairing damage from virus and spyware attacks.
Save your self a lot of energy and do one of the following:
- If you are a windows techie, lock the machine down once and for all
- If you are a geek linux or mac
- If you are neither of the above, just get a Mac. They aren’t as expensive as they used to be.
Summary
If you are a writer, write!. If you are a programmer, code! Do what you need to do and dont get distracted by all the technical noise that surrounds us all.