Linux - Stop Holding Our Kids Back

Scali2 said:
Well, at least virtually all hardware you buy comes with Windows drivers bundled, and the manufacturer will support them. If they don't offer and/or support linux drivers, then you basically have nowhere to go when you have problems, and you don't have the right to a working product.

Was fun when my ADSL connection was not working... I called my ISP saying the modem couldn't detect a carrier signal on the line...
ISP: What version of Windows are you running?
Me: I'm running FreeBSD.
ISP: Errr, what was that?
Me: FreeBSD, it's an Operating System, much like linux or other unix-like OSes.
ISP: Oh... well, we don't support that.
Me: Well, I can plug my modem into a Windows PC if you really want, but that isn't the problem... I've been using the same FreeBSD system with this modem for years, it's just that there doesn't appear to be a good signal on the line now.

In the end they sent a guy to check out the line. Turned out that the modem on their side of the copper line was busted. Good thing too, else I'd have to end up paying for it all.
But running an unsupported OS does make that sort of thing harder. You aren't entitled to support.
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uh, yes you are entitled to support when you pay for a service. doesn't matter what OS your PC runs, they are required to support the connection. It's more a matter of how WELL they can support it when they have to change their troubleshooting methods.
 
Try reading your subscriber agreement sometimes for a residential line, they'll often outline only a few OS they actually support (XP, Vista, Mac) mostly likely.

Stupid comcast still wants you to plug a computer directly into the modem for any troubleshooting (no matter what kind of security risk that is) or they'll just refuse to provide any support.
 
GuiltyDragon said:
Interesting article, but the guy spouted too much Linux Rhetoric for my taste. Linux, in all it's forms, will never be as user friendly as traditional operating systems. Whether that's down to Microsoft's business strategy or not is a moot point.
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+1 lots of fanboyism in his response. Seems fake to me as well.
 
berky said:
uh, yes you are entitled to support when you pay for a service. doesn't matter what OS your PC runs, they are required to support the connection. It's more a matter of how WELL they can support it when they have to change their troubleshooting methods.
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Well that's the thing. They will NOT troubleshoot FreeBSD. If I had a Windows system, they would assist me... But since I don't, they'll only take care of the line, and if the line is not the problem, I get the bill for it all. After all, then it's my fault, with an unsupported OS.
 
nilepez said:
Wasn't that limited to certain laptops? And if that's the case, grandma would call HP or Dell and ask them to walk her through fixing it.

With Linux, she'd have to call me or get on the linux boards and hope she can find an answer.
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That argument doesn't work since most grandmas are just going to call their son/daughter or grandson/daughter regardless. I've never once had my grandma take the initiative and call HP to troubleshoot her printer - its always call my dad or I and we go over to fix it. Which is probably a good thing, since she probably wouldn't be able to follow the tech support guy very well anyway.

Regardless, Microsoft doesn't really provide support for Windows, either. You have to pay for their phone support.
 
eeyrjmr said:
er no IF she is a person that needs such a support she gets her linux from RedHat,SuSe,Canonical,Mandriva in such a way they have phoned support

Likewise what if grandma got her grandson to build a custom PC for her and he got a OEM from say egg...
why provides the support then?


you can get phoned suppose for linux, to say otherwise is ignorance to the facts
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In that case, it's not an issue, because the SP1 issue was a few companies laptops (and possibly only specific models).
 
kac77 said:
I just download jedit and it ran beautifully. Look there's somethings that Ubuntu and the linux community could do alot better. But the package manager especially apt-get which is darn near bullet proof, that argument just doesn't hold water.

The problem used to exist back in the day but as of now I can't tell you how many programs I've installed out of the package manager. I've gotten locked packages maybe four times and each of those times was a result of me compiling my own deb package.

As for Virtual PC I've experienced the problem before. However, I restarted the program and was able to get the software to install. Also that's a particular software that is made from another company. What you are going to try and tell me Word has never massacred a document you've done. Where do you think "save often" came from?
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Glad to hear it. If it works now, great. 2-3 months ago, it didn't. And we tried it on 2 different machines with the same results.....and I was running in Virtual Box. I've run XP and Vista in both virtual box and Virtual PC....never had a problem (that I can recall) with them in either either the MS or Sun product.
 
eeyrjmr said:
er no IF she is a person that needs such a support she gets her linux from RedHat,SuSe,Canonical,Mandriva in such a way they have phoned support

Likewise what if grandma got her grandson to build a custom PC for her and he got a OEM from say egg...
why provides the support then?


you can get phoned suppose for linux, to say otherwise is ignorance to the facts
Click to expand...

eeyrjmr said:
er no IF she is a person that needs such a support she gets her linux from RedHat,SuSe,Canonical,Mandriva in such a way they have phoned support

Likewise what if grandma got her grandson to build a custom PC for her and he got a OEM from say egg...
why provides the support then?


you can get phoned suppose for linux, to say otherwise is ignorance to the facts
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You're the one that brought up problems with SP1. Those problems only affected some OEM's laptops (possibly only specific models).

You can't point out a problem that affects a product that comes with phone support and then make up some artificial restriction that says they can't use that support if they have a problem.
 
darkpaw said:
Try reading your subscriber agreement sometimes for a residential line, they'll often outline only a few OS they actually support (XP, Vista, Mac) mostly likely.

Stupid comcast still wants you to plug a computer directly into the modem for any troubleshooting (no matter what kind of security risk that is) or they'll just refuse to provide any support.
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Just lie to them and tell them it's plugged into the PC. most of the time, the people you're dealing with are reading from a script. If the script doesn't have a solution, they have to pass you to tier 2 support. That was my experience with Cox, Southwestern Bell (now called the new AT&T) and Comcast.

You occasionally get someone who knows what they're talking about, but IME, that's an exception to the rule.
 
nilepez said:
You're the one that brought up problems with SP1. Those problems only affected some OEM's laptops (possibly only specific models).

You can't point out a problem that affects a product that comes with phone support and then make up some artificial restriction that says they can't use that support if they have a problem.
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*sigh* is it tooo much to ask that people be taught to read and follow a conversation these days...

1) the comment about the SP1, IE, Vista FUBAR was in reply to somene saying Canonical hoses your Ubuntu setup when you update your system (a lie) and the MS never push out an update that screws with your system (again a lie)

2) The statement about paid support was in reply that you didn't have anyone to phone if you used linux (again a lie)

Follow a thread and context next time nub
 
nilepez said:
You're the one that brought up problems with SP1. Those problems only affected some OEM's laptops (possibly only specific models).

You can't point out a problem that affects a product that comes with phone support and then make up some artificial restriction that says they can't use that support if they have a problem.
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There are plenty of other problems with Windows update. I did an update once on my Asus laptup running Vista Home Premium and after the update suddenly everything network related was either broken or missing (my wireless card and ethernet card vanished from the system according to windows). I had to do a system restore to pre-update to fix the problem.
 
brons2 said:
So you have a problem with the Ubuntu install and assume everyone has a problem with the Ubuntu install. Like nobody's ever had problems with a Windows install :rolleyes:
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Can't find my hard drive. Can't find my second hard drive. Can't find my nic card. Would you like me to continue?
 
The funny part is that the necroposter is a guy named TheCadaver. LOL
 
wtc.gif
 
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