Pledge drive 2: asking for Linux help!!! (or am I just crazy?)

[Sunnz]

I don't know about you, but I hate it how I had to research about the best WIFI Chipset and then search for brands that sell WIFI cards that made with the specific chipset, then go to my local computer store to find out it is not there!!! Sometimes a model with a higher number exists, and the salesman persuade you to buy it since it is the same thing but newer, just to find out it uses a completely different chipset!!!

I am getting sick of this.

Linux has gaining desktop share today and simply be treated as 3rd class citizen by some hardware Vendors and most computer stores. (Mac being 2nd, I've seen more Mac-compatible stickers.)

I heard many people asking for Linux compatibility at computer stores and get a weird look and I have been asking too. And then some even go as far as asking for a Windows refund!!!

So here's my crazy idea:
We shall all have a 'linux day' kind of thing, where we all go to any computer-related stores and ask for linux compatible products. Having 5+ customers asking about linux all day would be far better than some random guy asking at random day then whoever salesman has probably forgotten about it at the end of the day!!!

And I have made a pledge thing: http://www.en-gb.pledgebank.com/linuxday

I know it is crazy, asking for 10'000 people. But keep in mind that this doesn't necessarily cost anything, if 1'000 people are willing to donate $10 why can't 10'000 people donate some time and maybe a bit of thinking/arguing/acting?

[Tomosaur]

The people who work in electronics stores don't necessarily know anything about Linux. Sure, it's not an ideal situation, but the most effective way would be to bombard the higher ups at these companies with requests to support Linux. The shop-floor people really aren't responsible for how the company operates, or what it supports, and the most this would achieve would be confusing or irritating them. I don't think they're likely to actually push their managers to think about Linux support.

There is, of course, the situation that these shops don't actually make the hardware, they just sell it. If there's no supply, they can't possibly sell linux-compatible hardware. You need to get the manufacturers to explicitly state Linux support on the packaging and advertisements.

[Sunnz]

The people who work in electronics stores don't necessarily know anything about Linux.They don't necessarily know anything about computers.

They may not have even heard of Linux neither. But it could be only better if more people demand the Vendors to provide information if their device works linux or not. It could also means more exposure of number of Linux customers, sometimes I think people has been overly under-estimating it. And when both retail stores and customer are demanding this kind of information, companies are going to start labelling if their product are linux-compatible, and in the end, those who have done so can gain higher profit simply because the average retail store can recommend linux labelled products when asked.

And at retail stores it is not like requesting for Linux support... it is more like shopping for products that you wanted.

On the other hand you don't have to limit yourself to just ask for linux at retail stores... you should ask everything. Write to the big companies; call them; go to the headquarters and ask them; talk to the big bosses, whatever. I mean, one more question can't be too many.

[Tomosaur]

What I was getting at is that these people don't necessarily even 'care'. It's hard to imagine the request for information going any further than the shop assistants, who are pretty likely to just dismiss your request anyway.

[K.Mandla]

I'm afraid I don't quite understand the pledge.


I will start ask for Linux at my local computer store, AND at August 25th 2007 but only if 10,000 people will do the same.
You're asking everyone to go to a computer store on Aug. 25, and ask if they have any Linux-compatible products?

Sounds good to me.

Why Aug. 25?

[Sunnz]

Tomosaur, that's exactly what happens. That's why I think it is good to have lots of linux people go ask at the same day. People out there are going to actually notice this, and hopefully companies will be more informed about the actual number of Linux home userbase.

K.Mandla, well, I have seen people been encouraged to ask for simple things like "will this printer work on Linux" in linux communities, I've been told by a few to do so, and have done a few of times... however I think it'll be even better if there is a day where we all go and do it and to really get the word out there. Aug 25 is just a random date that and I think it needs time to get this pledge out there anyway so there should be enough time.

[Hex_Mandos]

I'm in, but I've already been doing this for a while. I've also been pestering my ISP's tech support to get them to support Linux officially (however, when you find someone that unofficially supports Linux, their service will be 100 times better than it'd been on Windows... I found three technicians working for two ISPs who had Linux experience, and they were all cool guys)

[seijuro]

I'm in, but I've already been doing this for a while. I've also been pestering my ISP's tech support to get them to support Linux officially (however, when you find someone that unofficially supports Linux, their service will be 100 times better than it'd been on Windows... I found three technicians working for two ISPs who had Linux experience, and they were all cool guys)

I'm with you on this one I've also had to chew out several of the techs at my ISP because not only did they pull the "we don't support linux" card on me they got down right nasty with my wife so I snatched the phone and chewed out the tech's supervisor then when he brushed it under the rug I found his boss and chewed his butt! Finally someone much closer to the top sincerely apologized and transfered us to one of the techs that actually knew something about linux and to my greater suprise the tech said he just switched to Ubuntu at home. :guitar:

[Hex_Mandos]

I actually gave an Ubuntu CD to a tech once. He knew Linux, but most of his experience was with Redhat based distros. Another one was used to Slackware. I'm really surprised that Ubuntu is an uncommon choice in my country, when compared to other regions (Lifehacker is a great place to see the popularity of Ubuntu if you don't believe Distrowatch).

[Sunnz]

I guess Red Hat has came out for years and is all professional and had all the certification, so it is not surprising to have Red Hat techs.

On the other hand, I maybe a bit luckier there with ISP. They actually say that they support anything that uses standard PPPoE/PPPoA and no discrimination along platform!!!

They 'support' people who want to run servers and stuff, well they won't go into details as in installing Apache for you but they don't filter ports or anything. The only thing is that they are more expensive than the other already expensive ISP in Australia, but I am not complaining, as I have not experience any internet downtime with them or anything, so I guess my money goes to companies who deserves it.

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Sure, I am up for it, but like someone else said, sales people really don't care. They pretend they're listening to your complaint, ask their manager for a break, have lunch, and never remember the complaint. Hey, I am not making this up...besides, I am one of these people! You really think I care about my customer's complaints or suggestions? NOPE.

It's better to bother higher ups. It really is. They're at least responsible towards the stock holders.


I'm in, but I've already been doing this for a while. I've also been pestering my ISP's tech support to get them to support Linux officially (however, when you find someone that unofficially supports Linux, their service will be 100 times better than it'd been on Windows... I found three technicians working for two ISPs who had Linux experience, and they were all cool guys)

I bet they thought of you as a nut-job, even though you're probably normal.

[seijuro]

I bet they thought of you as a nut-job, even though you're probably normal.

You're probably right on that but the problem comes more from the ones that go beyond just thinking it to actually treat you like a "nut-job" and behave rudely or even vulgarly toward you. Even if your client really is a nut-job it does not condone rude behavior these people are giving your business their hard earned cash the money your business needs to survive.

[Sunnz]

It's better to bother higher ups. It really is. They're at least responsible towards the stock holders.


That's true, I have heard and thought about it.

Here's the thing, who have 'access' to those higher up people? Shall we sent mass e-mails to him that eventually ends up in the SPAM filter?

Even if someone can talk to one of the vendors higher ups (I am sure this has done before to some degree.); what are they going to think and respond? They could just say "we can't afford it, Linux is only 0.001% of the market they all know how to write their own driver anyway."; since there are no real data of how many Linux user there are, you can't really deny that usual response.

The point of asking for Linux compatible products isn't really to so that a retailer actually fetch one for you, although that'll be the ultimate goal. But the point now shall be getting the word out there that the MASS are using Linux as a desktop.

The masses doesn't usually talks to higher ups in companies, but rather interact with retail stores at most of the times, getting every retail stores to start realise the number of current Linux user will be a really great start to get the word out.

Think outside the box, you are not limited to go to retail stores. You can well call Dell and ask for a Linux Desktop; go to Walmart ask for Linux games, ask your ISP which plan is best for Linux, etc...

So don't worry about higher ups yet, get the word out there, so when someone go talk to the bosses, they'll have real data to back it up.