A couple of years ago when I telecommuted full time, I found myself working out of a Starbucks several days a week. I didn’t do it for the coffee or the internet access, because I had both of those at home. I did it for the people. I enjoyed having a set of physical coworkers, even if they worked behind the counter and I programmed at a table. The point was, I had an emotional connection with those people, and they made my work more enjoyable.
Erika and I tend to become regulars at restaurants for reasons that are probably similar. We love it when the staff recognize us, get to know us, and make us feel like a part of the family.
I think that might also be a reason that I enjoy using Flock over, say, Firefox or IE. Flock’s developers blog, and as they blog, the product grows and focuses. You can read their blog posts to see what they’re up to, and download the latest builds to see their changes in action. They build the software every couple/few hours, and that’s where you can get the latest and greatest toys they’ve put in. I find it very personally engaging and involving to see a product grow like this, and it builds an emotional connection. Microsoft has tried to jump on the same bandwagon with blogs, but it feels so completely different – sanitized, structured, and bland.
One of the Flock blog postings that caught my eye this morning. Vera took offense at people who talk about software that their mothers could use. I immediately felt guilty as I read that post, because if I haven’t made that exact comment in the past, I’ve made something pretty close to it. Vera’s point is that mothers aren’t inherently dumber than anyone else, and they’re just as qualified as anyone else to use good software. She also points out that a lot of smart people use some pretty bad software (like Internet Explorer) simply because they don’t have the time to learn new software.
I completely agree that smart people use bad software because it saves time – my own struggles with Linux over the years bear that out. I’m still using Windows, and yes I know it sucks compared to Linux, but I don’t prioritize my time in a way that would allow me to learn a new operating system. But here’s the deal: even if I did successfully replace all of my tools with a working Linux setup, would I push the same setup out onto my family? Heeeell no. I don’t even like doing Windows support for my own family, and I’ve been using Windows for over a decade. The thought of struggling with supporting a new operating system for people in other cities fills me with dread and horror.
And here’s the kicker: smart people also use GOOD software because it saves time. When I bought my first Tivo, I immediately recognized how much time it would save, and how easy it was to use. I then turned around and bought both Dad and Mom their own Tivos for holiday presents. Know how much time I’ve spent managing their Tivos? Zero. Tivo manages itself.
That’s why I hold out hope for Flock over Internet Explorer. I would never talk my parents into using Firefox because I’d have to manage their extension collection, and that wouldn’t save any of us time. With Flock, almost everything’s built-in, and that will save all of us time. (And no, my parents aren’t using Flock yet – I draw the line at telling my parents to download the latest build.)
We must be in the same boat — I do support for my entire family, too, and that includes my 91-year old dad’s Mac and (grudgingly) my husband Windows machines. My aunt and cousin call on me, too. Maybe that’s why I keep pushing for products that they can use — so I can quit spending so much time maintaining and troubleshooting all their computers. I wonder how many of us one-person IT departments there are?