Provocateur
I take my hat off to David East (Feedback May 25). Having often wondered which controversial phrase would guarantee the most responses to a Guardian letters page, I had pondered over "Man U are actually quite a good team", "Wasn't life better under Mrs Thatcher", and "thin people are obviously more intelligent than fat people". However, "Microsoft products always work first time" is simply the best.

I will now stand aside so you can fill the rest of the page with the endless responses from disgruntled PC users and smug Mac-heads.
Derek Chelley
derek.chelly@prudential.co.uk

No win
David East has obviously had better experiences with Windows than I have. Last year, as a 40-something computer novice, I decided to get a PC and learn how to use it. It wasn't long before I was feeling an increasingly strong urge to throw my computer through the nearest window every time it froze up.

At this point I bought a book on Linux which came with a free copy of Red Hat 6.0. Installation involved some mental effort (I had to read part of the book) but wasn't beyond my limited abilities.

I haven't used Windows since. In six months my system hasn't frozen or crashed once, and I've been able to configure it in exactly the way I wanted (not possible with Windows 95). Linux is cheap, reliable, versatile and leaves my glazing intact.
John Rigg
:john@soundman.demon.co.uk

David East should play the National Lottery. With luck like his, he should win the jackpot every week!

Meanwhile, the rest of us suffer regular software crashes caused by the myriads of bugs and subtle incompatibilities within Windows. Eventually, we see the infamous "blue screen of death" of Windows NT one time too many, and our patience snaps.

Then we replace Windows with Linux, and enjoy a stable, reliable and stress-free computing environment, just like the fortunate Mr East.
Dr David Harper
adh@sanger.ac.uk

What's this obsession with Linux? Well, Mr East, having read your letter you are obviously the luckiest man on the planet - please buy my next lottery ticket for me.

My computer crashes constantly, usually in MS Word or Explorer - the wonderful blue screen saying: "Your system is busy, please wait. If you hit Ctrl, Alt, Delete again to restart - because I certainly will be 'busy' for the rest of the day - then you will lose all unsaved information".

Then there is the amount of disk space consumed by Mr Gates' products - 410 Mb, after a fresh reinstall (which took an entire day to do - internet connections, applications, network etc to sort out) due to my machine slowing down to the speed of a snail on dope. Computers are a tool, but they certainly should not be a chore.

The reason Mr Gates is so wealthy is that up until now he has stifled the "innovation" he goes on about by buying up every competitor he can. I was told the other day that only creative people use Macintoshes. I think I shall get a Mac next time, as then I will obviously become one of a rare breed.
Charles Henderson
ce.henderson@virgin.net

Why Linux? My estimated average reboot statistics:
Windows 3.1 - 4 per day
Windows 95 - 3 per day
Windows 98 - 6 per day
Windows NT4 - 2 per week
Linux 2.2.12 - 1 per 3 months (due to power failure).
Lionel Barnett
lionelb@cogs.susx.ac.uk

Take the blame
Tony Fogarty's contribution (Online, May25) to what appears to be the growing issue of the misapplied miracle of IT adds to one's sense of despair.

All this obvious intelligence both human and machine yet so often, so little common-sense. What on earth is wrong with we humans that we regularly promote to power those who are quite unable to implement potentially beneficial systems? The example he quotes is one of a number of high profile messes that were "sold" in every sense of the word. What are rarely seen are the numberless occasions this example is replicated in smaller, more private situations.

The UK needs a structure whereby those who stand to benefit directly from IT change, be they personal or corporate, must be prepared to bear some significant financial responsibility for a bad outcome. God knows they certainly bear the profits.

The last two words of Dr Fogarty's letter were "critical analysis" and they should be carved on the arses of all who sit on the decision committees for such schemes.
David Price
dp003@watford.net

Not wanted
I find myself in a similar position to John Thorpe and his struggle to find work during this supposed IT skills crisis. Having graduated three years ago with a computer science degree I now find my skills dismissed by the industry that demanded them not so long ago, and without an IT job in six months. I have cancelled my subscriptions to industry publications after continually reading about the difficulties of finding enough skilled workers in today's IT marketplace, the effect of IR35 legislation on the skills shortage and how the government plans to relax work permit regulations. Perhaps employers should be looking for longer-term solutions to their staffing needs rather than the "six months here then I'm off" candidates encouraged by recruitment consultants.
Steve May
steve_d_may@hotmail.com

Sit properly
Your article on IT for oldies (May 25) shows a venerable user sitting at a computer looking slightly upwards at the screen in an attitude which can quickly induce pains in the neck and back.

I am typing this while sitting in an easy chair with the keyboard on my lap, and the mouse mat on the arm of the chair. This is no more fatiguing than watching the telly.

The secret is to get a keyboard extension cable and then,with suitably placed equipment, you can even compute with your feet up!
Peter Barker
peterbarker@bcs.org.uk