Comments on: Windows Woes

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:33:58 +0000

That is a good reason to use SuSE. I have a friend that is 68 years old, and she downloads and installs software. She also had a hard time running Windows. She feels more comfortable with Linux (after her third crash). She learned how to use it after about 4 lessons.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:29:44 +0000

I’ve worked in a call center myself, and what the previous poster has said is absolutely true. I also want to point out that trying to use the call center’s tech support reference tools (required) becomes an excercise in slowness and frustration. I worked for Sykes Enterprises which provided “tech support” for SBC. That is before they closed our call center and sent our jobs to the Phillipeans. We tried to provide excellent customer service IN SPITE of the handicaps placed on us by SBC and Sykes management.

5 minutes to talk an old lady through setting up her Internet connection is insufficient time (You have to explain each click to them and wait for them to find what your asking them to click on). I can understand the customer’s frustration. This is another example of customer abuse by the cartels. They ought to have computers preinstalled with Linux so that these poor old ladies can do what they want on the computers while at the same time remain free from all the malware.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 12:09:17 +0000

Try reading the material in question, before you attempt (badly) to debunk it.

The grandma had to reformat becasue her version went the way of all Winblows XP installs…to malware hell. New installs of LazyXP, even if previously activated, have to be ACTIVATED. And in that comes the problem…

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:05:37 +0000

After Dell informed us that ALL of their computers are supplied with preinstalled and ACTIVATED Microsoft XP or XP Pro software, the said ficticious “Granny” in the original story admitted the whole story was a sham to try and justify other ongoing rampant, blatant, theft on P2P networks. Speak to DELL and check your sources like any decent journo does. P2P myths will continue to crumble in the light of the true facts.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 10:17:44 +0000

Q: Where does a pirate keep his buccaneers? Ans: Under his bucking hat.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 10:14:15 +0000

The Trolls win a resounding victory without lowering themselves to petty bitch slapping unlike the pirates.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 10:10:16 +0000

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 08:18:22 +0000

hey buddy or girly bad spellin and granma aint no crime

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 08:14:36 +0000

Troll Police unit established. Said trolls only reflect ethical view points, most disconcerting for digital thieving, pilfering and plundering.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 06:29:28 +0000

I’m doing the same.

I’ve gradually started using more and more open source software. So far I’ve switched from MS to using OpenOffice.org, Firefox and Thunderbird. All great alternatives that don’t cost a thing, have fewer security issues and are updated regularly.

I installed Ubuntu on another computer 3 days ago to see what that was like. Apart from Shareaza and the fact I can’t use my modem in Linux (at least last time I tried), I don’t think there’s anything I’ll miss a great deal and would be quite ready to make the change completely.

While I’m at home my second computer will be on loan to my sister. I shall see what she makes of it, being someone with limited computer knowledge…

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 01:13:39 +0000

You are hitting on the same things that got me fed up with Windoze. One day, I said enough! I am on the Ubuntu Linux with this post. I have spent the last few months trying different flavors of Linux. I figure I spent years learning Windoze. Well I know a good bit about a program riddled with security holes. In the end, it is still a program that has holes, no matter how well you learn it.

Do try the Linux. Download Knoppix Live CD. Burn it to disc and try it out. It doesn’t need installing so nothing will change on your computer. It runs of the cd. That will give you a test of whether your machine will run linux or not without any sort of changes to your machine. Almost everything runs linux so don’t expect issues but it is easier to go this route “just to see”.

Like you I run Open Office (and I don’t have to worry about macro viruses). I run Mozilla Firefox, but have no need of the Thunderbird or I would run it also. As I become accustom to the Linux I like it better and better.

To Tony,
I’m still looking for that sign…

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:58:11 +0000

I’ve got to say, the pirated software thing is not really worth it. The pirated XP version is a pain in the ass – no updates (maybe there’s a way to get around it, but who cares?). Plus the whole virus issue. Never mind the piracy thing … It really tears me up when I hear M$ fat cats bemoan piracy … *cough* …. ;P

I’ve switched to Open Office ( http://www.openoffice.org ), better than M$ office, and its …. FREE! Besides, why pay $1000+ for a full office suite when you’ll never use (if you’re a typical user) more than 90% of its features anyway? Fully compatible with M$ also.

I’ve also switched to firefox, and I’m thinking of trying out thunderbird. And I’m cautiously working my way towards the freedom of Linux ….

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:17:24 +0000

My story is almost the same, except it was when i tried to activate it. When I went and tried doing that i got the message that it was invalid. I call up microsoft (i take the paid one) the idiot then tells me that it was a stolen copy and that they will not activate it.

this computer too was from dell so i doubted that the windows xp copy was stolen. i ask to put me on the line with the manager who also told me he wont activate it. now at this time i was pissed, it was the matter of principle that they wont activate the windows i told them even that it was bought from dell and scanned the sticker.

i call up my lawyer and tell him the situation, he quickly writes microsoft a letter and threatens them with a lawsuit. i will make this short, they finally activated and he also made them apologies to me. the best part of it all was the apology because they know knew one more person wasnt going to be pushed around.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 21:07:56 +0000

It’s the new RWCD (Reader’s Write Condensed Post) !!!

And it’s highly popular with trolls

Cheers!

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:49:21 +0000

…………..run on a limited user account………..

erm, thats not ideal for some people, including me. I install / uninstall programs often and wouldn’t want to be switching between limited and admin accounts just to install programs.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:47:06 +0000

blah, I can’t even get that far, tells me to contact the manufacture of my PC for support – and they weren’t able to tell me why explorer.exe just crashed on all limited accounts. Windows update went wrong…….

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:44:17 +0000

The latter I think

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:10:39 +0000

Looks like she’s payed for two copies of Windows XP so far.
I think Bill owes her a refund for one of them.
He should get some of his 50 billion and send poor Grandma a check today.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 18:12:40 +0000

It’s possible he just doesn’t realise you can type in the big box as well as the small one? Or just a really really short attention span?

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 18:11:25 +0000

Ok you’ve managed to confuse me, well done. I’m assuming you think i’m bagging customer service staff, specifically indian call centre employees.

I’m just pointing out the following.

She’s upset, and most likely confused as all hell. She’s not going to be able to figure out what most ppl with any kind of unfamiliar accent is saying. Not to bag older ppl, but they do require more time to work out what’s going on when faced with something unfamiliar. It’s just something that happens as you age. Considering the call time restrictions placed on call centre staff, they’d have been hurrying her up the whole time she’s trying to get them to slow down so she can work out what the hell they’re saying.

When you add the fact that these call centres all have crappy phone lines making the call centre staff even harder to understand, it would make it even harder on her.

Also call centre staff are burdened with scripts… Wonderful, restrictive, utterly useless scripts which they are required to stick to or they get penalised. Being a call centre employee, i know exactly what this is like. It becomes a game of “how do i say something that anybody listening in on this call thinks is close enough to the scripts so i don’t get in trouble, but is also going to be actually useful to this customer?”

So basically what i’m saying is this. Grandson should have called customer service to get the problem fixed. Grandma would have found herself struggling to get any help. For the reasons listed above.