3 Classes of Information Technology (IT) Users

I left this note as a comment on a web site just now, but decided that it was good enough to be a post here at HelpMeRick.com.  IT is the fancy word for computer technology.

The more I read about and talk with people about computers, I see there are three distinct “classes” of computer users.

1. Hard core IT - those that need every ounce of PC power for their jobs and/or personal life. They program, game, virtualize, and push the computer and OS to the limit and have no problem spending hours working out problems and tweaking the PC for their needs.
2. Business IT – usually self-taught computer users who just want to get things done…use the computer as a tool. Sometimes tied to proprietary software, but mostly use word processing, spreadsheets (basic), email, Internet, and some digital photography.
3. Home IT – Like the business class, use the essential functions of a computer, social networking and little else.

In my business (computer consultant/trainer), reading and travels, I find that light weight OS offerings from Linux and that proposed from Google (which is also Linux) provide MORE than ample power and flexibility for the latter 2 classes of computer users. And interestingly enough, some computer users can gravitate from one class to another, or be one class in their career and one class in their personal life.

What are your thoughts on my take of IT users?

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3 Responses to “3 Classes of Information Technology (IT) Users”

1. Matthew Kettlewell says:

   July 10, 2009 at 11:05 am

   Rick, that’s an interesting thought –

   You might also further classify things into hardware and software app users –

   Sometimes the power users come from a top hardware performance line of thinking, and other times, it’s from the “latest and greatest” software application (iPhone apps come to mind), or latest format (remember when MP3 was brand new audio?)

   I noticed that the Mac was not mentioned specifically (another Linux/BSD derivative) and that is almost a class of IT in it’s own right. Mac fanatics tend to band together…

   From a scientific programming background, I can tell you that there are some hard-core UNIX (not linux) programmers that hit a whole other level of “Geek IT” that involves huge consummation of coffee and other caffeinated beverages (RedBull plug goes here)

   Reply
   • Rick says:

     July 10, 2009 at 5:18 pm

     Great info Matt. I have met a few of the hard-core Unix types. I think I was just trying to lump the 3 general types of computer users together based on activities performed with computers. And yes, I totally agree about the Mac folks…there doesn’t seem to be a “band of brothers” mentality with Windows users like Macs and Linux. Your comments had me laughing. Thanks.

     Reply
2. Information Technology Forums says:

   September 4, 2010 at 1:05 am

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   Reply