Reliability vs Customizability

[anoni]

I think what is very important in many computer issues is the idea of Reliability vs Customizability. Reliability being the idea that the software can work well without the user worrying about and customizability being the idea that the user can edit and tinker around with the software. Usually there is a trade-off, the more reliable a program is the less customizable it is and vice versa. This idea is present in many different companies, such as Windows (A bit reliable, a bit customizable) vs Mac (totally reliable) vs Linux (totally customizable), or Apple OS (reliable) vs iOS (customizable), PC (customizable) vs Consoles (reliable) and so forth, some of the main roots is the idea that some are reliable and others are customizable.

So which do you prefer in your software? Do you want software to just work the way it says on the package, without any fuss. Or do you prefer to be able to mold the software into what you want it to do, even if it might not necessarily work the first time.

[aperson1]

I generally focus on customizability; having a computer that you know does something is one thing, but it's nicer to know why and how it does that thing. Getting a pre-made computer will result in it having a set group of things it can do, a package of sorts, which while being reliable, is never 100% what you want. However having something you made yourself, or that you have the ability to change, results in having more of what you want, and understanding how everything works so that if you encounter a problem, you know how to fix it.

[saph the sergal]

i need to be able to customize my computer just have to so i know that when something dies i can just order a new part and have a working pc agan

[MrRazot]

Customisation or else I'll get very bored with it or upset with it for not being just how I like it.
My rooted S3 mini which thinks it's an S5 is testament to this

[aperson1]

A problem with this poll of yours is that customizability is more politically correct- everyone is taught in school to 'be yourself' and not just be the same as everyone else. Anyone who had believed otherwise before societal pressure has been conditioned to believe in customizability.

[saph the sergal]

no i know some people that want a reliable pc i have always wanted to customize my stuff i need that ability because i dont like being loced to set parts

[Nrein]

A problem with this poll of yours is that customizability is more politically correct- everyone is taught in school to 'be yourself' and not just be the same as everyone else. Anyone who had believed otherwise before societal pressure has been conditioned to believe in customizability.

I wouldn't say it's "politically correct." Especially when it comes to basic users, or people who are the complete opposite of enthusiasts, I know plenty that would prefer to just have something that works, does everything it says it will, and won't change a thing about it.

Even then I don't think "society" can make you want to have full customizability in things, it comes down to what the individual wants.

[anoni]

I'm kind of inbetween, why I like the ability to tinker around with things, I feel that for a lot of software like a game or a website, I shouldn't have to know the inner workings of the website in order to use it. It should be noted that what I mean by "customizability" is high customizability by sacrificing reliability, something like Linux for example which, although extremely customizable, if a problem occurs the computer doesn't help you out at all, you're expected to fix it yourself. This is oppose to things like Windows which will attempt (and 90% of the time be successful) at fixing or diagnosing the problem itself. When I purchase a software I expect it to work right out of the package, I don't necessarily want to fiddle around with it to have it working well, I want it to work as soon as I install it. Things like GTA for example, are relatively modifiable in terms of mods and so forth, but the problem with it is that you have to tinker around with it in order to get even the base game working.

  Basically, why customizability is fun and all, sometimes I simply don't have time to worry about that stuff, and sometimes I just want software to work as it's supposed to, without me happening to open up the hood to fix it.