[Computerbank] Our service philosophy and linux

[Penni Diffey]

On Tue, 19 Mar 2002 19:06, romana wrote:
Hi all

Of course there is also the obvious point apart from the immorality of using 
windows (my zealots opinion only)

No really what I wanted to say was don't forget how can someone on a low 
income afford to buy licensed software. The dole is about 380 per fortnight 
and a sole parent with 2 children to support recives about 600 per fortnight.

That's still less income than pfn than the cost of XP

Pen


> On Mon, 18 Mar 2002 12:09, Katarina hath spake thusly:
> > Hi again have to comment again:
>
> Katarina, you have obvously thought long and hard, and preseneted a
> balanced argument - thank you!:)))
>
> > What ever service agreement you come up with just add  some thing like
> > this:
> >
> > "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 don't do windows. I don't know anyone currently in SA who would agree to
> do windows.
>
> we can, we just dont.
> it goes against all our beliefs about reliable software, free software, and
> providing to the community in a way that doesnt benefit yet another huge
> corporate greed merchant (one of the greediest..)
>
> also, windows 98 and lower will no longer have microsoft support from the
> end of this year (or next year, unclear on exact date...). therefore, we
> would have clients/recipients/ppl wot have puters with NO technical support
> other than us.
>
> > Why I think this is a good Idea:
> > 1. Might Raise a little money
>
> selling our souls? seriously, I feel that supporting microsoft for cash is
> selling our souls, and the ideals that led me to work on computerbank.
> there are other avenues to fundraising.
>
> and have you thought about the potential for 'honest, i bought this totally
> legitimate version of windows off a friend with a burner' issues, and where
> that could put us legally?
>
> > 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)
>
> what, get them all to be mcse??? no thanks. the majority of server systems
> for major companies is still un*x based.
> we are providing wftd skills in linux, customer support, and hardware
> expertise.
>
> > 3. Introducing a fee for WIN Supp. may hlp to convince some users Not  to
> > change their system from linux
>
> see soul, the selling of.
>
> > 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
>
> goddess help us then - and yes, thats the inevitable corollary.
>
> > 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
>
> simple - we dont do windows.
>
> > 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.
>
> see simple...:)
>
> romana:)
> ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
> romana at timelady.com icq no:393293
>
> Computerbank Australia -  SA branch coordinator
> http://www.linunix.com/cbsa/
>
> "Between the idea and the reality,
> Between the motion and the act,
> Falls the Shadow..."
> (TS Eliot)
> ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
>
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