"Artist" hates linux

[Xylo]

So today I go over to the local computer recycler, Free Geek, to pick up some replacement parts. Free Geek isn't so much a "recycler" as they are a refurbisher. They strip, test, and reassemble the systems brought in. Most of these go to non-profits, and a lot go to third-world countries, but they do sell a lot of systems and components in their thrift store.

These systems are somewhere in the 800Mhz-2Ghz range for $30-$120, and are loaded with Ubuntu.

I didn't catch the beginning of the rant, but someone is going off about the purchase they made.

Asshat: "This machine is crap!" .. unintelligible .. "... put Windows on it and a guy I know put some more stuff on it and now it won't run for more than two hours!"
Clerk: "Sir, we don't support these machines if they have Windows installed."
Asshat: "But it had that linux on it! Linux doesn't run anything! I can't even run MySpace on it."

OK, a break here. Yes, "run MySpace." Also at this point I should add that this guy is in his early 40's -- creepy! But, I think his problem was that the version of Ubuntu being deployed lacked the Flash player. Most of the customers in the store today look to be volunteers at Free Geek and have all turned their heads at these statements, mainly because at 24 hours of volunteerism you get to build your own custom system for free out of the spare parts. This 24 hours would include several trainings on linux and Ubuntu, plus the system they take home would have it installed.

Also, all machines certified to go back into use go through several stages of real human testing. All RAM is tested, all hard drives are scrubbed, surface-scanned and imaged with linux, and then all individual components are tested.

Anyway...
Clerk: "I am embarassed to say that I personally know that it does run MySpace."
Asshat: "It does?!"
Clerk: "Yes, it does."
Asshat: "... But... But... But now it has Windows on it and I can't get it to run for more than two hours."

It looked like the guy had bought the $70 store special, a somewhat beefed-up 1.4Ghz machine. The clerk finally concedes a bit and tells the customer that he'll pull an equivalent machine off the shelf and swap the hard drives as long as he never comes back. Customer agrees, and goes home with basically the same machine with the same virus-ridden copy of Windows.

Ugh! I get an earful of this and a huge wait in line because there's only one clerk. Meanwhile, this line is filled with people with an pile of parts in one arm and their 50% volunteer discount card in the other.

[Ddrak]

Both sides are right.

Linux probably doesn't run anything (that he wants to run), and if he tosses Windows on it then it's his own problem.

Dd

[Klast Brell]

I thought this was going to be about Prince.

[Mukik]

hello? come up to say, this millenium? Not to mention hes from your state. sheesh.

[Minute]

Linux probably doesn't run anything (that he wants to run)

WTF??? If MS isn't sending you a monthly check for "services rendered" they should be.

[Desolus]

I thought this was going to be about Prince.

lmao XD

[Ddrak]

Linux probably doesn't run anything (that he wants to run)

WTF??? If MS isn't sending you a monthly check for "services rendered" they should be.

I was being quite serious. He probably had a set of applications (most likely games) that he wanted to run and Linux isn't going to do that for him. If he was honest about running Linux then he'd go looking for new open source apps that filled his needs but that takes some technical skill, which he was obviously lacking given the MySpace comment.

Linux is a great system. Ask Arathena.

Dd

[Finglefinn]

I thought this was going to be about Prince.

Me too! Tease Xylo!

[Arathena]

Linux probably doesn't run anything (that he wants to run)

WTF??? If MS isn't sending you a monthly check for "services rendered" they should be.

I was being quite serious. He probably had a set of applications (most likely games) that he wanted to run and Linux isn't going to do that for him. If he was honest about running Linux then he'd go looking for new open source apps that filled his needs but that takes some technical skill, which he was obviously lacking given the MySpace comment.

Linux is a great system. Ask Arathena.

Dd

I don't miss Windows. I do miss some of the games - The combination of my technical understanding and give a damn are beneath the required par to make Wine work for gaming. For the rest of what I do, the Ubuntu Linux distribution is superior. Maybe when I have technical skill built up with that OS, I'll be able to customize a different distribution to my personal needs. But recognizing that most non-Windows OS's are functionally unsupported by a large portion of professional software vendors (some of whom do make unique products, read, games) is not exactly supporting windows, nor is recognizing a desire to not retrain the self to a new software toolset.

[Xylo]

I thought this was going to be about Prince.

Haha! Sorry, the "artist" reference was because of his bizarre white linen suit that had been .. decorated .. himself, using a Sharpie to draw various unintelligible things, except for PUNK ROCKER written on one leg of his pants from his ankle to his hip.

Really maybe the root of my fussing was that buying one of those machines comes with a schedule of free introductory classes, one year of phone and email support, and the most current schedule of times where you can bring in your own machine to get personal help getting things going. GIMP and other advanced classes cost $10/ea or so.

Ddrak is right, the default distro probably didn't "run" what he wanted, but that was just a matter of a phone call or email really. MySpace probably would have threw a fit and YouTube wouldn't do much of anything.

------

Also Google doesn't come up with much if The Artist has an opinion on linux, but he seems to really hate BitTorrent.

[JamiesanTGrauerwolf]

Transgaming does a good job running most windows games, if you don't mind paying them a monthly fee. :-/ I ran EQ that way back in the day because I wanted to get away from windows.

Almost all my machines dual boot winxp and some flavor of ubuntu.

[Alarik Zekaiden]

I switched to Ubuntu a few months ago, and I haven't really had any problems with it, as far as home use goes. I've been having a good time running World of Warcraft on openGL using WINE (for some reason the FPS in WoW while using Transgaming seems to suck), and most of my other games without much of a hitch. Getting Vent to work properly was a pain, but I won out in the end.

I was really surprised at how much support there was for Ubuntu on the web, and for most linux distros in general. It's a whole different ballpark now than it was a few years ago, when I was monkeying around with Mandrake. Open-source software seems to be catching on with the general populace.

I think there's a Free Geek not far from where I live now. I'll have to check it out sometime.