New Apple Stuff and the Regular People
I'm looking forward to the annual release of new operating systems for my Apple gear in a couple of days. I don't have extra computers and phones lying around like some folks do, so I avoid installing beta editions of the software on my devices, content to following along in the news as new features are trotted out and perfected in the period between the June announcement and the fall release of the final product. The majority of iPhone users and Mac owners have no idea what's coming though. They are going to wake up on Monday to an unwelcome notification that there is an update available. Many of them will ask their techie friends (like you) if there is a way to make the update notification go away. They will want to know if they have to install it.
The first project I was assigned when I came out of retirement to take on an IT support job at the small liberal arts university where I work was deploying all new laptops to the faculty and staff. The school had gotten a COVID grant to buy machines that would allow everyone to work from home if needed. The laptops were good computers, Lenovos with i7 processors, 16GB of RAM and 500GB hard drives. We also provided an external monitor to each user along with a keyboard, mouse and usb docking station. I was flabbergasted at the number of people who absolutely did not want it. It ran Windows 10, the same OS they were already using and had the same software but so many people were terrified that something, anything would be different and they'd have to learn something new. These were people with doctorate degrees.
"Will it be different?" is the key question the regular people ask. They don't want there to be extra steps or new procedures. They sure as hell don't want the icons to look different or, God forbid, be moved to a new place. I get it. I would not be happy if I had to relearn the interface to my car or my television every 12 months. They both do what I want them to do already and I don't want or need any so-called improvements that someone decided were good for me.
I recently attended a meeting on the first day of grad school for the students enrolled in our physical therapy doctorate program. I was there to solve any problems that were keeping them from connecting to the network or downloading and installing the testing software they are required to use. I was embarrassed because every person in line was holding a Mac. The PC users didn't need me. The primary reason most of them were having problems was because their OS was out of date, like three versions out of date and the testing software wanted a modern OS in order to install. These bright and capable people who will one day help you through knee replacement surgery all bought a Mac when they were college frehmen and then they never updated it. Almost all of them had the default programs still in the dock. They are regular users. You with all your fancy calendars, note taking apps and your customized terminal are an outlier. Never forget.
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