Short version:
We are losing users to Windows and Mac because PC buyers can't tell if the machine in the shops is fully compatible with Ubuntu. And if there is a way of checking then it's not publicised enough.
Long version:
Recently, a friend asked for my advice on buying a new laptop. I encouraged him to buy one with ubuntu pre-installed (without Windows) but he didn't like any of those on offer (there's a much smaller choice here in Belgium and Dell hasn't started selling Ubuntu machines yet).
So I found myself in the uncomfortable position that if I recommended a particular laptop and offered to install ubuntu for him, I might run into hardware compatibility problems. This could cost me lots of time to fix (if possible at all) and would make both me and Ubuntu look bad. Not a good outcome.
So what are the other options? I know about using a livecd in the shop, but this is not always possible - often retailers don't like this.
My experience is we are losing potential Ubuntu users because of the pre-purchase compatibility check. If there is another way of checking if a machine in the shops is fully compatible with Ubuntu, then it needs a much higher profile.
Just my 2 cents.
Z.
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