[TriLUG] RE: This is what happens when a OS company shoots its self in the foot (MS Vista)

[Cristobal Palmer]

I'd like to echo Neil a bit, but with a bit more detail.

It honestly isn't about lack of common sense. It's about sensemaking
of your options. You can only make sense of what you have attended to,
and you can only attend to things that you've actually perceived. If
you've never cared to find out or you've never been told that you have
other options than what MS has offered you, that obviously skews your
decision.

I've supported windows desktop users, and here are some common reasons
they use windows:

* They don't know anything about computers and don't care to know.
* They don't know there are other options.
* They are forced to use it by $ORGANIZATION.
* They've heard that Macs are better, but they think they're too expensive.
* They think "everybody" else is using it, and they want to be compatible.
* They don't perceive a monetary cost associated with the OS. They've
never had to purchase a copy of the OS because it comes installed when
they buy a computer, and in this country there are no famous brands
that make it easy to buy a computer with something other than MS
Windows preinstalled if you're an individual.

But here's the ugly one (when I hear it), and the kicker:
* They've invested a lot of time in learning to navigate and manage a
Windows system, and are unwilling to re-learn on another system. Even
if the change would mean actual savings long-term, the perceived
short-term cost of an unsupported switch is overwhelming. This is the
same reason the dvorak layout isn't more popular.

You'll note that Linux isn't anywhere in that reasoning. It's simply
because they have not been told about Linux and there is no familiar
channel for them to find out. Here's where we come in. Tell people
what they're missing. If you call $BIG_VENDOR to buy a computer,
demand one without MS Windows (it can be done).

I refuse to support MS Windows users outside of my official work. If
friends or family want help, they must switch to Mac or Linux.

Thanks,

-- 
Cristobal M. Palmer
UNC-CH SILS Student -- ils.unc.edu/~cmpalmer
TriLUG Vice Chair
"There are many roads to enlightenment, and thus many roads back to
the One True Debian" --crimsun