I think the distinction is pretty clear. With a Windows-based PC, she could have Office pre-installed, pop in her Verizon disk, and go. Full functionality.
There area a lot of brilliant people out there who don't spend time learning how to configure alternate computer operating systems.
Who shares blame here? Verizon, Dell, and the user too.
But the Linux community needs to stop belittling people like this, listen to their problems, and address them.
It sounds like someone told her "Yeah, you can do all those things with Ubuntu", so she bought it. Then when she got the laptop, things weren't as easy as she thought - there's no Word, configuration doesn't resemble Windows, she can't use the internet.
Really, without the internet, what good is a computer? I don't blame a novice user for feeling like Dell misrepresented what they were selling her.
There's no way you can expect an average user to figure out how to compile drivers or even use wine to make this work.
It's her fault partially for not asking the right questions beforehand, but it's Dell's fault for not making sure she understood what she was getting and not supporting her after the fact.
If the Dell support rep could have just given her two or three helpful tips, she could have probably been fine. OpenOffice is a perfect replacement for Word. I don't know about her Verizon situation, but I'm sure there is a workaround for that.
The problem is, as I've been flamed for before, Linux is still nowhere near the point where a non-techie will consider adopting it. Although it's much better than it was even a few years ago, it's still not an idiot-friendly OS where things 'just work', compared to what people are used to.
That's fine as long as you have a job to pay for it. If all the manufacturing and knowledge based jobs end up in the cheaper locations then can the Western Economies keep going.
I hope the textile industry never moves out of the united states.
I don't see how the US economy can keep going if all the woolen mills and shirtwaist factories shut down and take their jobs overseas.
You've got to basically give the organization tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, or work as their slave for little or no pay for years, before you get to that level.
Unfortunately the human mind is easily manipulated and by then you'll have been so effectively brainwashed that you will be more than happy to believe it.
Slashdot Mirror
I think the distinction is pretty clear. With a Windows-based PC, she could have Office pre-installed, pop in her Verizon disk, and go. Full functionality.
There area a lot of brilliant people out there who don't spend time learning how to configure alternate computer operating systems.
Who shares blame here? Verizon, Dell, and the user too.
But the Linux community needs to stop belittling people like this, listen to their problems, and address them.
I guess this is not unlike the rooms full of people steaming open envelopes.
Everyone should watch the film "The Lives Of Others"
It appears Germany is returning to the days of East Germany
It sounds like someone told her "Yeah, you can do all those things with Ubuntu", so she bought it. Then when she got the laptop, things weren't as easy as she thought - there's no Word, configuration doesn't resemble Windows, she can't use the internet.
Really, without the internet, what good is a computer? I don't blame a novice user for feeling like Dell misrepresented what they were selling her.
There's no way you can expect an average user to figure out how to compile drivers or even use wine to make this work.
It's her fault partially for not asking the right questions beforehand, but it's Dell's fault for not making sure she understood what she was getting and not supporting her after the fact.
Don't they include OpenOffice with these?
If the Dell support rep could have just given her two or three helpful tips, she could have probably been fine. OpenOffice is a perfect replacement for Word. I don't know about her Verizon situation, but I'm sure there is a workaround for that.
The problem is, as I've been flamed for before, Linux is still nowhere near the point where a non-techie will consider adopting it. Although it's much better than it was even a few years ago, it's still not an idiot-friendly OS where things 'just work', compared to what people are used to.
First, I recommend everyone get a plan with free SMS.
Well, I don't want to pay $10 or $20 extra for that. and I shouldn't have to because spammers are going to send me text messages.
Text messaging is the biggest ripoff on the earth, what they charge you to transmit data per byte is just outrageous.
I don't think I should be forced to pay for it to accommodate advertising.
It doesn't cost you money to answer (and hang up on) a telemarketer. And there's a no-call list in most states that works pretty well.
It costs me money every time someone spams me with a text message.
Can you imagine if every spam email that came into your account cost you 10 cents?
I hope they stop this before it becomes as bad as spam email.
"loods"
Depends on what's being assembled. I would bet that printer assembly is automated to a much greater degree than PC assembly is.
That's fine as long as you have a job to pay for it. If all the manufacturing and knowledge based jobs end up in the cheaper locations then can the Western Economies keep going.
I hope the textile industry never moves out of the united states.
I don't see how the US economy can keep going if all the woolen mills and shirtwaist factories shut down and take their jobs overseas.
Ireland's primary draw is that they have the world's lowest rate of corporate income taxes that I know of - something like 8%.
Unfortunately, this illustrates that while tax breaks are nice, the cost of labor is still king.
almost-rhymes are funnier than actual rhymes! mod parent funny!
"...the specific attributes that prompted hi-tech firms to label their products green."
There is only one attribute needed to label a product 'green'.
The ability to boost sales in so doing.
Everyone should watch "the lives of others", a film about life in socialist East Germany in the 1980s.
I don't know either, but maybe someone didn't find his home system comparable to the load the London Stock Exchange supports.
You've got to basically give the organization tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, or work as their slave for little or no pay for years, before you get to that level.
Unfortunately the human mind is easily manipulated and by then you'll have been so effectively brainwashed that you will be more than happy to believe it.
Who could then countersue for an older wrongful invasion I guess. Heh.
From what I have read, the current organization bears little if any connection to any historical one.
But with the way that the RCC deals out settlements, why not pull the lever?
We'd just need to put Jerry Bruckheimer on it. The asteroid will suck itself into oblivion.
Comcast will be along shortly to check any negative posts against their outgoing traffic logs.
ok, ok, we'll stop being redundant. just don't throw a chair at me.
Many forums have the ability for a moderator to put someone on universal ignore.
This is advantageous to a traditional banning because the troll does not immediately know they need to re-register under a different username.
You'll never be able to get people to ignore a troll any other way.
I think it's entirely unreasonable for them to force a manufacturer to fit the consoles with a lockout device.
If parents don't want their kids playing violent games they should either not buy the games for them or not buy the console for them.
But I guess a "V-chip" for the PS3 is easier than... you know... parenting.
or Windows because 99% of it can be found on Windows PCs.