I’m often confronted by other technology professionals about product X being better than product Y. The fact of the matter is that there is no magic bullet for IT. There is no single product available that solves all of the issues around a particular problem. There are always trade offs.
So, it is my pleasure to bring you some of the most common enemy IT is better than your IT arguments and my take on it.
1) Firefox is better than Internet Explorer: I think there is a lot of truth to this one, but because some programming will only run on websites which are accessed by Internet Explorer, you can’t count it out. There is nothing wrong with using two web browsers if you want to. I would also add that Microsoft Internet Explorer has come a long way towards being more secure in recent years.
2) The iPhone is the best cell phone: the iPhone is a very cool cell phone. But what if you don’t like AT&T (like me)? Our customers frequently ask us what cell phone they should consider purchasing, and my answer always starts with: use the one that you enjoy using the most. For some, that is a phone with a keyboard, for others it is the one with a great camera.
3) Microsoft sucks you should be running Linux: Without a doubt, Linux operating systems have matured a lot in the last 10 years. But frankly, businesses cannot rely on a operating system developed by a bunch of disconnected programmers. And good luck finding an accounting system for Linux which is better than its Microsoft based counterparts.
4) My Anti-Virus is better than your Anti-Virus: I see this argument a lot. The only truth buried here is that any Anti-Virus is better than no anti-virus.
5) Peachtree is better than Quickbooks: Personally, I use Quickbooks. I love how easy it makes accounting for someone who does not have a finance background. My accountant on the other hand, uses Peachtree because it is built around the needs of an accountant. I would also add that in the last 15 years I’ve been providing support for Peachtree – no other single program gives us or our clients more problems.
The fact is that every technology solution has trade offs. I think it is great that so many people are passionate about the choices they have made – that means that they are learning. But don’t let the choice you made yesterday, blind you from making a great choice to switch to something else tomorrow.