On 25 Nov 2005, at 16:50, Jim Foster wrote:
Not to be argumentative, but you didn't provide a specific URL so I
just did a Google search, got myself to an area of the Quebec
government web site that at least had a link to the Clic Revenue
area, and was able to proceed to a few more pages beyond that. I
have to admit, though, that I was not able to find any information
on what the System Requirements are to utilize this service that
these web pages are describing.
Sorry! Here is a URL: http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/fr/aide/
configuration.asp
The same information also shows up on a popup window accessible from
the Clic revenu login page.
What I was trying to determine is whether you mean that there is
documentation that says that Mac users are not supported or whether
you mean that there is an actual web page somewhere which refuses
to load or work because it detects that you are using a Mac. I
guess I thought that, once I got to that stage, I could see if I
could find a workaround.
I was unable to login, using an access code and password which had
worked in the past. The page refusing me access showed an access code
which was slightly modified from what I had entered, eg when I
entered 111543, the next page would show 111554. This was repeatable
over several attempts, using Safari. I then tried Firefox, and this
time I got a popup window saying I was denied access to the virtual
directory! It appears the server then crashed. It's still down, so
I'm not able to replicate my earlier problems.
For example, I have run into lots of situations where a notice may
be posted to the effect that Mac browsers are not supported, but
all it really means is, "We have no one here who can answer your
Mac related issues, if you have any.", and in actual fact the site
works just fine from a Mac.
Your point is well taken. And in fact if a company website or a
company (like an ISP) can't or won't support Macs, I'll take my
business elsewhere. But I don't have much choice when it comes to
government - they have a monopoly.
There are also some Mac browsers which can be configured to
announce themselves as being some other browser, including ones
that are only available on a PC. Sometimes that works.
Safari on my machine is set to automatically choose the user agent
that it announces to the server. I assume that they mean if it gets a
response from a windows server, it will set itself up to look like a
windows IE 6.0 browser (one of the choices). When the Clic revenu
server is back up, I can try specifying a particular browser.
Anyway, I tried but really didn't get too far. If you like, let us
know exactly where the problem arises. Of course, if it's simply
more fun to sue than to figure out a workaround, I can understand
that, too!
It's not that sueing is more fun. Finding a workaround is a puzzle,
and I enjoy puzzles. But I am irked by government stupidity that
downloads onto users the time and effort requirements to fix problems
which should be fixed centrally. Suppose it takes 100 hours of work
for a programmer to make the Clic revenu site mac-friendly. That
starts to become cost-effective, in a global sense, if it saves 200
users a 30 minutes of frustration, or 1200 users 5 minutes each. My
time costs money; if the government takes up my time needlessly, it's
a form of taxation.
Henry
On 25-Nov-05, at 4:12 PM, Henry Olders wrote:
I have just found out that one of the web-based services provided
by Revenu Quebec, namely their Clic revenu service, is no longer
accessible to mac users, or to anyone who doesn't use windows!
This doesn't speak very well for the abilities of their software
people, if they are unable to provide for all the unix, linux, mac
or other OS users out there.
I wonder whether a class action lawsuit has a chance here.
Thoughts, anyone?
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