On Thu, 17 Oct 2002 10:18, you wrote:
> ** High Priority **
>
> Dear Mr Foskey,
> Thank you for your email.
> We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused you. Unfortunately we do
> not support the Linux operating system. This is possibly why you found it
> hard to obtain help from the Helpdesk as our staff are not trained to
> support this platform. In the near future we are implementing a first time
> system test to check a customers computer for compatibility. We hope this
> will avoid the difficulties you have experienced. For a list of our
> supported operating systems and browsers please visit this URL:
> http://www.stgeorge.com.au/int_bank/about/supported_browsers.asp?orc=person
>al. Alternatively you may wish to browse our Starter Guide information
> http://www.stgeorge.com.au/int_bank/get_start/default.asp?orc=personal We
> are more than happy to help you configure your computer settings to ensure
> that you have optimal access to Internet Banking. If you wish to discuss,
> please call 1300 555 203 (8am-9pm, EST, 7 days a week) Kind Regards,
> Mayleen
>
> Internet Banking
> St George Bank Ltd
> Ph 1300 555 203
> inquiry: Linux: (no dont go away) I have got Mozilla 1.1 (Netscape 5)
> running on your site. The problem I had was that Java was not loaded on
> my
> browser. (even tho Java was enabled. Would it not have been simple to
> ask
> me to check if the required plug-ins were loaded instead of leaving me
> scratching my head? (I don consider this very good assistance even if I
> am
> using Linux (Mandrake 9). The info I required was very basic & I think
> your help desk should have given more help.
>
I think you are going completely the wrong direction with what you have said
above. At present Linux users are more computer Savvy than M$ Windoze users.
For this reason I think that helping with basics like checking what plug-ins
are loaded should be available to all, as remember that most browsers have
similar user interfaces, so it is not too much to expect that the
configuration be checked.
If you alienate alternative system users, eventually you will be alienating
customers, which should not be what you want. Most browsers use similar
operating procedures, and are reasonably compatible. Perhaps we do not expect
the same level of support as M$ Windows users, but I feel we should not be
neglected completely. I am sure that the Linux fraternity would be more than
happy to test your system on various flavours of Linux, and suggest
improvements that would help all users, but there are also third party
commercial entities that will test the user interfaces of Web pages etc, and
suggest improvements. (I have a friend that works for a company that authors
& supports Travel web sites, & the company she works for can test the page
with even text based browsers, as it is surprising the number of customers
that this particular company has found that still only have access at 14.4K
baud., for example remote users in the country on 'shared pair' phone lines.)
The bank should be looking to support all potential users, not just the
majority. In the long term, support for other systems could be increased as
your support personnel become more experienced.
The reason I have chosen to use Linux is that the system is far more secure,
has no danger of virus (at present) and runs efficiently on older hardware.
I have sent a copy of this communication to the 'SLUG' Sydney Linux Group,
and my local Linux group. (I dont mind if this message is passed on)
regards Doug Foskey
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group - http://slug.org.au/
More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug
