[Computerbank] Our service philosophy and linux

[Julien Goodwin]

My comments noted by --
----- Original Message -----
>"If a clients system has been changed from linux to a non linux system,
then
>any work related to fixing a non HW fault is at the users expence." (a
small
>fee)
-- I'd say "If the recived computer has had its system software changed from
the software supplied by CB then only hardware support is avaliable", and
insert a comment about where to go for software support.

>Why I think this is a good Idea:
>1. Might Raise a little money
-- Always a good thing, but I can see some better ways (not that we can't do
it)

>2. benifit the techos by expanding their knowledge base & skills. We want
to
>help people get work, well as sad as it may be the fact is that MS is what
>people need to know to get a job. (Wrk for the dole)
-- The fact is many of the top CB techos are harsh GPL advocates and some
would even walk right out if MS was ever (officially) supported, while I'm
not like that I still cannot see that it would be in CB's intrests.

>3. Introducing a fee for WIN Supp. may hlp to convince some users Not  to
>change their system from linux
-- Utterly refusing support may be even better

>some bad points:
>1.More users may switch to windows knowing they  have access to cheep
>suport. Techos will get bogged down with WIN PCs
-- As a professional (part-time) admin, I spend 1 day a week managing three
win(98/95/2k) machines as their owner *must* have admin access, and refuses
to allow them to be regularly cleaned. That would throw the productivity of
CB's volunteers right out of the water.

>2.there is a grey area when you say only HW Supp. is free. WIN PCs always
>need some drivers to be loaded & config manually (NON-PNP SEMI PNP devices)
>The question here is how do class drivers as HW or SW? Another factor is
>bugs in the OS & driver sets related to HW
-- Generally if it works with Linux it works fine with win,

>when This service agreement is changed which users will it apply too??? If
>CB does decide to supp WIN,incuding all users past & present that could get
>yukky. But having different service agreements maybe hard to cntrl. IE when
>a user rings up for help how can the voluntere determine the applicable
>service agreement so as to correctly advise the user.
-- AFAIK changes would only apply to new recipiants.


-----Original Message-----
From: Kylie Davies <mailkylie at optushome.com.au>
Subject: [Computerbank] Our service philosophy and linux

>We all know that Computerbank's use linux (and the Conference will firm
>up on what exactly that means to use linux - have your say now)..for
>starters from Romana CAI-SA we had this comment:
-- I prefer the term 'free-software' as defined by the OSI (Is that right?),
this gives us leeway to use BSD or Herd if need be.

>>Along those lines, I would like the purpose of Computerbank clarified in
>>terms of our position on using nothing but Open Source (and its GPL type
>>variations folks!) software - I am aware of Windows debates that flare
>>occasionally in all branches, I would like discussed and fully clarified
once
>>and for all.