Commercial Tech Support

[sekinto]

I hear a lot of people who bash Ubuntu using the argument that Ubuntu doesn't have as rich of tech support because it is free (gratis).

But one of my relatives was calling HP to help them troubleshoot a Windows issue and the guy told them to open up Windows Explorer, and when she asked how to do that the guy really didn't have an answer so she had to hang up (this was American tech support to, but I'm guessing it was still scripted). When people give advice in these forums they tend to give precise instructions. I, for example, will give instructions in this format regarding opening programs:
Open <application> (<menu> > <menu> > <launcher>).
Open Firefox (Applications > Internet > Firefox Web Browser).

Seriously, I think it is sad that the guy couldn't explain to her how to do what he was telling her to do. :\

[lisati]

This reminds me of a time I received an unsolicited CD for an online casino. I dropped them an email telling them that it wouldn't work on my Ubuntu system, but without letting on that I knew about Wine, Virtualbox, etc, and still had Windows installed in a couple of places. What followed was an exchange of emails where they made various suggestions that required Windows, followed by a reply of the "No, that won't work, I use Ubuntu" kind. D'oh!

[SunnyRabbiera]

Aye, I will take community support anyday over commercial support...

[antikristian]

Hehe:)

The sad thing is that they pay for that tech support by purchasing the computer.

Nice way of commenting by the way, I think I'll try to do that myself, a bit neater than my way:
"first you open appX then you press ding, then dong etc."

[Firestem4]

Commercial support is pretty much a joke.

One the rarest occasions in my life, I needed direct support from Microsoft. Well..I gave up on that when i found out to contact them and have support through either phone, email, or live Chat would cost me $60....

My favorite part about the community are the people giving the advice actually know what they're talking about.

I don't have to press 1 for English

I don't have to wait on hold listening to crappy music. (I can play my own music! mwuaha)

I don't have to deal with some idiot reading from a Customer Service Manaual (....if solution A is wrong, skip to question C2. Answer yes or no. Yes: go to D; No: Go to C3)

[SunnyRabbiera]

Granted though some tech support is better then others, I find cisco very responsive even to linux questions.

[Firestem4]

Granted though some tech support is better then others, I find cisco very responsive even to linux questions.

That is true...Tech support is usually better when 90% of the company isn't based in Asia. (I am not stating this about Cisco..I actually don't know if they are or not...Granted the Manufacturing division certainly must be).

[Mokoma]

to be honest commercial linux technical support would inherently be better than a windows one. most of the times i rang micro$ofts tech support, i got the feeling i knew more than they did >.<

[Firestem4]

to be honest commercial linux technical support would inherently be better than a windows one. most of the times i rang micro$ofts tech support, i got the feeling i knew more than they did >.<

if you know what Binary is. You certainly know more than they do.

There are 10 types of people in this world. Those who know what binary is. And those who don't.

[SunnyRabbiera]

That is true...Tech support is usually better when 90% of the company isn't based in Asia. (I am not stating this about Cisco..I actually don't know if they are or not...Granted the Manufacturing division certainly must be).

Last time I talked to them I got someone who was American, this was a week ago or so...

[Mokoma]

if you know what Binary is. You certainly know more than they do.

There are 10 types of people in this world. Those who know what binary is. And those who don't.


LMAO xD