From: Richard A. O'Keefe [mailto:ok@atlas.otago.ac.nz] Sometimes a computer is just an executive status symbol.
Too true. One of my favorites was something I watched happen every day for over two years:
At a former employer I worked in the Information System Department (ISD). The VP of that department was proud of how computer-and-business-saavy he was, and how *his* choices for computers were The Best! His choice?
Buy IBM!
As long as it was made by Big Blue, he'd buy it! We had an IBM Token-Ring network, with IBM servers, and loads-n-loads of PS/2's on desktops. It didn't matter that they cost twice what compatible machines from other vendors cost - IBM good! Other BA-A-A-AD!! The problem was that said VP didn't *personally* like IBM machines - he wanted a Mac. So on his desktop he had the only Mac in the company. Of course, it couldn't talk to the IBM servers, but that was OK with him. The kicker to all this is that in order to get his email he had his secretary print out all his emails every day from HER computer. He'd mark up the email, hand-writing replies on the printouts she gave him. Then he'd give this pile of emails back to her, she'd enter the replies to the emails and send them, schedule meetings, etc. And this bozo couldn't figure out why people hated the email system. His attitude was "*I* never seem to have a problem with it - it must be user error!".
I understand that he was eventually walked to the door by a nice man from the security department...
Bob Jarvis Compuware @ Timken