The story definitely doesn't pass the sniff test. I wouldn't be surprised if M$ had a hand in it. In addition, I wouldn't be surprised if dell had a hand in it. I'm sure they get some compensation for installing Windows. Furthermore, the article was written by someone who either just ran with it rather than doing any research, and/or has a beef with linux and/or ubuntu.
If the dell tech support tech is going to recommend that she stay with ubuntu, then they should have helped her connect to verizon. This problem is really more about Dell than ubuntu. When she called back, and they told her it was too late to get M$, then why did they not at least tell her that there is a way to make it work, and direct her to people who know how to implement it? I have seen many people have the exact same difficulty with windows, but in that case, Dell will definitely help them to get connected. The following quote from http://www.linux.com/feature/52729 Dated: March 15, 2006 shows that this problem has been solved long ago: "I found some invaluable information online about how to get EVDO working in Linux online, mostly from kenkinder.com, www.ka9q.net, and LinuxQuestions.org. With the help of these sites and my own perseverance, I figured out an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to connecting to the Internet in Linux with EVDO." In light of the major improvement in ubuntu user freindliness as of late, if it was, "easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide," back in early 06, then you know it is no harder than M$ today. Dell should be taking the hit not ubuntu. The community needs to focus the blame on Dell. There are many things that people don't understand about windows, and when they have a problem, Dell supports them. If they install ubuntu, and they have tech support, then why the hell did the tech recommend sticking with ubuntu if they are not going to at least give her the slightest direction on how to make verizon work. This is a quote from the updated article: "If you're not a computer tinkerer, and you're not willing to do research and digging, it may not be for you." This is still a major misstatement. You don't need to be a computer tinkerer to either use open office, fire fox or connect to the internet on ubuntu. Except for the verizon connection, everything is ready to go out of the box (so to speak). All you have to do is learn how to use synaptic, and how to search for programs. For the most part the ubuntu install comes with everything that a typical desktop user will need, and being a computer tinkerer is only required for someone who wants to do more that what M$ will do out of the box. If you think about it, running synaptic is no harder than downloading an exe, and clicking on run, and/or install: You simply select the program, and click on apply. On the brighter side, whoever may have intended to put a hit on ubuntu has made a mistake. In light of the virulent response by ubuntu groupies, it seems that: This attack on ubuntu has BACKFIRED! > Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:35:10 -0600 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [LinuxUsers] Wow - Linux just ruined this girls life. > > Update > http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9682258&nav=menu1362_2 > > On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 4:58 PM, randall <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> This is stupid. I would > >> not be surprised if our friends at M$ made this up. This is not as > >> bad as the teacher who thought Linux was the devil, but almost as bad. > > > > Yeah, for me the article does not pass sniff test. > > Tempted to suspect either spoofed or staged. > > [offlist] > > > > > > -- > "As we open our newspapers or watch our television screens, we seem to > be continually assaulted by the fruits of Mankind's stupidity." > -Roger Penrose > _______________________________________________ > LinuxUsers mailing list > [email protected] > http://socallinux.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/linuxusers _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009
