Anton Graham wrote:
> Try getting tech support. If the answer is not on their web site, forget
> it. The reps don't know anything other than what was originally shipped
> with the system and refuse to answer questions with a generic "we don't
> support Linux" statement. I hadn't purchased a Compaq since my 1984
> purchase of a Compaq portable, and support was excellent. When I bought the
> Deskpro two years ago, I expected the same. And it still is great, *if* you
> don't want to so anything with your system. If you change OS's (even
> putting W98 on a box that shipped with W95), they basically tell you that
> it's your problem.
Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more common - and NOT just with
Linux. I made the sorry mistake of buying a Gateway Solo 9100 last
year.
Nice machine, but NO support other than in the configuration it came in.
Not even Win98 unless the Win98 was PURCHASED from Gateway. Nope, so
sorry.
Worked the way we shipped it to you, and if it works that way, it's not
our
problem. DVD drivers are 4 years out of date in a brand new machine?
too bad.
DVD software only works with ASPI 1.0, and all modern stuff uses ASPI
4.0 or
later? nope, we won't go back to our vendor to get you the software
upate.
Yes, we know the update is available - but you can't have it.
This attitude is mostly with the big companies, who don't see the loss
of
a small customer as a potential big problem - as long as their revenues
continue to grow.
While I agree that a boycott might be an interesting approach, it would
be
very easy for them to ignore, as Linux is such a small segment of their
market.
Once it becomes a bigger segment, there will be so many new people
flocking
to buy that it won't MATTER if a handful of us boycott - again they
won't
notice.
A better approach might be to figure out which companies - mostly
smaller
manufacturers is my guess - support us, and SUPPORT THEM. Buy their
boxes
even if they cost a few bucks more because they don't have the same
economy
of scale that the guy making a million boxes a year has. That way when
Linux
becomes a dominant platform, Linux-friendly manufacturers will be there.
Sorry about the length of this rant.
Linux rules!
Vincent Meyer, MD
Meyer & Company, Consultants
.. who ported Flexware to Windows 4 years before Flexware did, and
now porting Flexware to Linux
