S'cuse me?!
Ham said:
"The bottom line you cannot go to
an organization which has work to do and for whom a computer is only a tool
to accomplish that work and say you have a wonderful low cost solution that
is better than what you have or want to have via Windows or whatever and you
will install it and get it "working", but the catch is after that they are
on their own. "
And what did they get from compusa when they bought that silly windows box
that they currently have?
and Ham said:
"Would you buy a car you need to use to get to work on that
basis?"
And what did you get last time you bought a car from AutoFair - or for that
matter a new car dealer?
In both of the above examples my experience is that when I buy something I
get to take it home. Neither the windows box from compusa nor the car come
with any promise of ongoing support. I am neither a mechanic nor a sysadmin
(though I know enough to be dangerous in both fields) I accept the
responsibility and liability to hire the necessary professionals (yes with
real money) whenever, if-ever, I need them for maintenance and support. My
approach has been: I can do my own oil changes and figure out what is wrong
with my tires but when the engine fails I (say it ain't so) spend money! I
can fumble through the learning curve of whatever app or os configuration I
need on my own using the web but when I am trying to solve a business
problem I (say it ain't so) spend money!
If I offer to setup someone with a linux install and configuration for free
because it is a cheaper short-term and long-term solution to thier business
needs then I have done for them no-more and no-less than the OEM install of
win2K that came with that machine from Dell or CompUSA. If I then turn
around and offer to provide professional services that support their
business in using that machine that is separate. If they needed those
professional services from an MCSE to support their business on a Win2K
platform they would have to pay for that. The argument that the linux
solution is cheaper in the long-run is in part due to the fact that they
would probably spend less in software lisencing costs over the lifetime of
the systems with a linux solution. Not because we linux knowledgeable
professionals work for free or even necessarily cheaper than our
counterparts who support MicroSoft products.
I am perfectly willing, as a linux enthusiast / hobbyiest to help someone
else catch the enthusiasm. I will help them learn enough to become
dangerous, I will show them what I know of the sources on the web that they
can join to become more knowledgeable about Linux.
I am not willing to work in a professional capacity supporting a business
application for free. For that I charge a much larger fee. To imply that,
since I refuse to provide business level support for free, I am somehow not
supporting other linux enthusiasts is a stretch.
Brad
-----Original Message-----
From: Ham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 5:36 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Backing talk with action? (was: Re: News from the Mouth
front)
----- Original Message -----
From: Ray Cote <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Jeffry Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: Backing talk with action? (was: Re: News from the Mouth front)
> This really is an excellent issue.
> Are you ready to just evangelize or back it up with a support contract for
local organizations?
I seem to be getting only parts of this thread. I assume from this that
some do not appreciate the necessity to provide some level of support to
those for whom a linux box is installed. Only if you are a hobbyist?
Expecting them to learn some basic
skills is one thing. Expecting them to be able to set the Linux box up to
effectively provide the tools they want and to modify it as conditions
change is another. If they have the money to pay for a support contract,
then someone should get paid. If someone wants to provide meaningful
support as a charitable act, fine. Nevertheless, in the final analysis
someone needs to be available to hold their hand at times and solve the hard
issues or Linux is not a viable tool for them. Whether it is technically
better, whether it requires less support, whether is more reliable, whether
it is more cost effective will not matter if they do not have the comfort of
knowing someone will make it work when it all goes south. They have work to
do and it does not include playing sysadmin.
Ed Lawson
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