Illusion of Digital Ecosystem
I have used computers daily for the last 40 years, starting with 8-bit computers with tape decks connected to spare TV sets. Internet was still far future. Everything we could do is a limited number of things.
Pretend we are “working” something because then-existing software was far from usable for something more complex than subtracting numbers. Wow, the effect lasted for thirty seconds or so. I can do it on any calculator.
The second, most common thing, I presume, was playing games. I was never much of gaming. Even today, my mind hardly understands the verb “gaming” and the noun “gamer.” Waste of time and life.
The third thing was programming. It was fun. At least we had actual results visible on a lousy screen by today’s standards.
Fast forward forty years. I do not want to remember the period when computers were similar to the ones we have today. Still, we spent thirty percent of the time rebooting and administering the operating system.
As I became Microsoft Certified System Engineer in 1999 when only one exam was more complex than the complete curriculum today (if anyone remembers the Networking Essentials exam), I remember the time when Microsoft had six different server services; Exchange, SQL, Proxy, Windows Server and two others I forgot about.
It is the year 2023. Computers became commodities like water, gas, and power grid. No less, no more. As I regularly use four different computers (two MacBooks Pro and two Surfaces), the only differentiation between them is size and operating system interface. There is only one argument for why I like MacOS better than Windows 11. Integration with my iPhone. Nothing more. The conformity of being able to answer the phone without looking for it in my suitcase is a deal breaker for me.
Also, I got two dealbreakers why I use Windows 11 daily. There is no Microsoft PowerBI and Microsoft Project for MacOS. Super simple.
As a consultant, I need such tools daily.
Now we got a problem. We are constantly reminded how lucky we are because of having an “ecosystem.” The problem may be in me. I cannot see their benefits, as they do not exist.
My company uses Google Workspace. I’m not too fond of Microsoft Office. Super simple. My company, my money, my decisions. We can now discuss which is better and why that is so. I do not care. I like Google Workspace as well as other cloud services Alphabet provides.
Every day I read heart-busting bullshit articles when someone decides to stop using Evernote and migrate to Notion. I am okay with your decision. Do I support you? Not really, as I need to learn more about your operational business. I can do that for money. Someone from my company can evaluate your processes and make a shortlist. I will not be personally involved in that as I am not interested.
What I noticed is the overwhelming number of different software for different purposes. I tried some of them. I will never look at them again. ClickUp promised that I could use their software for project management. Fuck I can. Completely unusable. The same was with Zoho, Wrike, Monday, etc. Are they really in a situation where they cannot hire a serious project manager to explain what project management is all about and not about gant charts and, God forbid, sales? What in the hell have sales with project management? Oh, I remember now. Nothing.
I use a tiny number of hand-picked and deeply evaluated pieces of software daily.
And now comes all “ecosystem” dogma. What ecosystem? The majority of applications need to be made aware of each other. With an external tool, I can connect my task manager to Microsoft Project (Hi, Zapier). Superfine. I cannot use Apple Mail as it needs to be better for my needs. Apple Write, Sheets, and so on are excellent software for creating invitations for a child’s birthday party. For such things, I use paper and Uni Posca markers (they are remarkable, unlike ReMarkable). I don’t need a computer for that. I tried creating process-screening documentation using such tools. Zero points. Unusable. I did it with Google Workspace as the product is a small, isolated, robust ecosystem.
Often I find some new product in my mailbox. I got my checklists for evaluating essential things for my work and company. We get a “no go” situation if only one check is missing.
Nintynine percent of today’s software is, well, mediocre crap missing features that are supposed to be an essential part of what they are proclaiming.
However, I like my Apple ecosystems. Both my phones and computers ring when someone is calling. All computers got web browsers on them. I receive emails in my Google ecosystem. I like my Google ecosystem as well.
The beautiful illusion of living inside an ecosystem.
