[Leaplist] More Anti-Linux Propaganda from MicroSuck and Worst Buy

[Kevin Korb]

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reply inline...

On Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:45:55 -0400
Hank Lambert <hank at hanklambert.com> wrote:
> Hmmm, a very interesting article. A few thoughts:
> 
> 1) Camera, iPod, and MP3 compatibility - Linux Mint mounts them all
> without the need for external buggy drivers.

Ditto.  My camera is even one of the lame ones that doesn't show up as a
mountable USB Mass storage device but it still works with Linux
(gtkam/libgphoto2).  I can't say that I am very happy with the Linux
applications for talking to an iPod but they are still better than iTunes.

> 2) Printers and scanner compatibility - My HP 932C installed under cups
> without the need for 500 MB HP drivers loaded with unwanted software and
> services.

My old UMAX SCSI scanner is not supported in any version of Windows beyond
Windows95.  But it works just fine in Linux with xsane.  If I was a
Windows user I would have had to replace it years ago.

My printer has a network port and speaks ipp directly so talking to it
with CUPS is a no-brainer.  In fact the CD it came with has a Windows port
of CUPS on it.

> 3) Software Compatibility - Wow, what a shock; Windows software is more
> compatible on Windows computers. But then again...Wine?

I hate to disagree here but I have never been able to do anything useful
with wine.  Solitaire works, a few games of similar complexity work but
that is about it.  Luckily I don't care.

> 4) Windows Live Essentials, Messenger, Mail, Photo Gallery - Who cares,
> who cares, Thunderbird, Google Picassa.

Agreed completely.  I don't want those anyway.

> 5) Games your customers want - OK, 1 out of 7, Linux is a little weak on
> Games, but are hardcore gamers really going to BB? Haven't seen too many
> hardcore systems.

Yeah, it is worth keeping Windows around just for gaming.  I hate to say
it but it is true.  In fact it is worth keeping two around so you can also
handle the old win9x based games that don't like more modern versions of
Windows (System Shock 2 and Red Alert 2 are what I keep win98 around for).

> 6) Authorized Support - So what, most of the time Microsoft support
> sucks, and you normally have to pay for it. I get better support from
> the Leaplist and linuxquestions.org.

I have never even heard of MS support fixing a problem.  Their response
will almost always be either clean out viruses and malware or reinstall
Windows.  If you find an actual bug in one of their products they couldn't
give a crap unless you are a company with 10,000+ PCs.

I hear the same thing about responsibility sometimes.  "If open source
stuff breaks who are you going to sue?"  As if you are going to sue
Microsoft because MS Access didn't work right.  Have you seen their army
of lawyers?

> 7) Video chat on all major IM networks - Again, my camera works without
> special drivers, and I have used most major IM networks and some
> proprietary ones on Linux.

My camera works too.  Completely flash based even.  I never bother though
as I prefer plain old IRC but I tested it and it works.

> 
> Like Bryan, I use BB if they will save me money. Last weekend I bought
> an over-the-counter microwave and saved $80.00 over the same model
> anywhere else locally, including HHGregg. I also bought my Gateway
> laptop there about 5 years ago, and saved quite a bit of money compared
> to other places I looked. It came with the Microsoft CD's which were
> used once to put XP back on it to send it in for repair. The second time
> I left Linux on it, and they had no problem with it. Most places
> wouldn't take the computer for repair if you have replaced windows with
> Linux.
> 
> But unlike Bryan, I enjoy getting into "discussions" with the geek squad
> regarding Linux. Their ego swells instantly, but I haven't lost a debate
> yet. As soon as you start hitting them with fact, they usually end the
> debate. I know...I know, cheap entertainment.
> 

I used to enjoy it too but then I realized that any positive response I
got was just them pretending to be interested to keep me happy.

OTOH, sometimes you find the rare geek.  When I got my Eee it had a DOA
wifi NIC.  When I called tech support for a warranty replacement I got
into a discussion with the service guy about how awful their included
Xandros Linux is.  He agreed with me completely about how useless it was
but he chose EasyPeasy as a replacement instead of Gentoo like I did.

> 


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	Kevin Korb			Phone:    (407) 252-6853
	Systems Administrator		Internet:
	FutureQuest, Inc.		Kevin at FutureQuest.net  (work)
	Orlando, Florida		kmk at sanitarium.net (personal)
	Web page:			http://www.sanitarium.net/
	PGP public key available on web site.
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