Epic fail.

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9667184

Quote :

"MCFARLAND (WKOW) -- Abbie Schubert paid more than $1,100 for a Dell laptop hoping to enroll in online classes at MATC. But something stopped her: Ubuntu. That's an operating system for your computer similar to Windows that runs off the Linux system. Schubert says she ordered her laptop online at Dell.com expecting to buy your classic bread-and-butter computer. She didn't realize until the next morning her laptop defaulted to the Ubuntu operating system. "It's been a mess," she said. "I regret ordering the computer." Schubert says she never heard of Ubuntu before learning that's when she accidentally bought. She called Dell the very next day and says the representative told her there was still time to change back to Windows. But she says Dell discouraged her. "The person I was talking to said Ubuntu was great, college students loved it, it was compatible with everything I needed," said Schubert. So she stuck with it. Later, she discovered Ubuntu might look like Windows, but it doesn't always act like it. Her Verizon High-Speed Internet CD won't load, so she can't access the internet. She also can't install Microsoft Word, which she says is a requirement for MATC's online classes. As a result, with no internet and no Microsoft Word, Schubert dropped out of MATC's fall and spring semesters. She also says Dell claimed it was now too late to get Windows and any changes she made herself would void her warranty. "I'm extremely frustrated," said Schubert. "I wanted to get back to school, but I needed a computer to be able to do that." 27 News contacted Dell, but the company has not responded to us yet. However, we think we've helped her get back to school. Verizon says it will dispatch a technician to try to assist her accessing the internet without using the Windows-only installation disk. MATC also says it promises to accept any of Schubert's papers or class documents using whatever software she has installed."

1/15/2009 7:50:54 AM

ubuntu is like teh AIDS

1/15/2009 7:59:36 AM

This story is from The Onion, right? ... Right?

1/15/2009 8:10:08 AM

this has been a paid presentation by Microsoft corporation.

1/15/2009 8:23:04 AM

Hopefully they have a Google 101 course at MATC.

1/15/2009 8:38:19 AM

This article is full of stupid.

1/15/2009 8:44:44 AM

^ which parts

1/15/2009 9:02:45 AM

wow

1/15/2009 9:27:44 AM

Quote :

"This article is full of stupid."

Not everyone is a computer genius and knows that Office won't run on linux. Plus the salesman told her linux would do everything she needed.

1/15/2009 9:34:46 AM

Who the fuck drops out of school because they need to change (or just learn how to use basic functions of) their operating system?

1/15/2009 9:37:02 AM

Quote :

"Plus the salesman told her linux would do everything she needed."

are you saying that's not correct?

Quote :

"Who the fuck drops out of school because they need to change (or just learn how to use basic functions of) their operating system?"

that's why it's so funny...i'd be an ass to note that she's attending a technical college, but it keeps coming up in my head (not to say you can't learn a lot of valuable information and get a decent job by going to one...but i'm not really surprised she's not at harvard )

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 9:39 AM. Reason : .]

1/15/2009 9:37:14 AM

True, but the moment she realized she couldn't access the internet or load Word and she needed those, she should've gone about getting the right OS on the computer.

1/15/2009 9:41:35 AM

wait



why did she need to install software to connect to high speed?


was this a cellular data card or some shit?

1/15/2009 9:42:36 AM

Quote :

"are you saying that's not correct?"

yes. if she needs to run MS office, then linux is not for her. yeah she could probably go the openoffice route but we all know openoffice is shit compared to ms office.

Quote :

"why did she need to install software to connect to high speed?"

it's probably the software cd for installing the usb drivers for her modem (which is probably dual mode, usb and ethernet) and to rebrand internet explorer.

1/15/2009 9:42:52 AM

^yes, that isn't correct. She's a novice user so expecting her to use linux and it do everything she needs is invalid.

the part I don't get is why didn't she just buy windows and have geeksquad or something install it??

1/15/2009 9:43:01 AM

I'm guessing she never bothered to call Verizon to see if they had a Linux solution.

1/15/2009 9:43:01 AM

Let's go ahead and call it...

If she's dumb enough to decide to drop out of school because of the OS on her laptop there's a good chance she wouldn't have been able to graduate anyway.

1/15/2009 9:45:01 AM

1/15/2009 9:45:39 AM

Quote :

"yes. if she needs to run MS office, then linux is not for her. yeah she could probably go the openoffice route but we all know openoffice is shit compared to ms office."

while i agree that openoffice really is pretty crappy compared to ms office, i can't think of anything she'd "need" from ms office that she couldn't do just as easily in openoffice (i'm assuming it was just basic word processing, but that might be a false assumption)...it's not that difficult

as for teh intarweb issue, i'm also assuming:

Quote :

"I'm guessing she never bothered to call Verizon to see if they had a Linux solution."

my assumptions could be wrong...but she doesn't seem like the brightest bulb on the chandelier

1/15/2009 9:46:52 AM

Quote :

"She's a novice user so expecting her to use linux and it do everything she needs is invalid."

1/15/2009 9:48:39 AM

Quote :

"Let's go ahead and call it... If she's dumb enough to decide to drop out of school because of the OS on her laptop there's a good chance she wouldn't have been able to graduate anyway."

it IS a tech college, though...initiative and effort isn't NECESSARILY required (though i have no idea what she was there for, or how good of a school MATC is)

1/15/2009 9:55:36 AM

hahahahaha, editorial follow-up

http://addins.wkowtv.com/blogs/behindthenews/?p=80

Quote :

"Ubuntu on the Brain Our Consumer Reporter Dan Cassuto wrote a story Tuesday that caused a bit of a stir among computer-lovers…extreme computer lovers. The story was about a woman who bought a Dell computer and realized she ordered it with the Ubuntu Operating System rather than Windows. Here’s the story: http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9671121&nav=menu1362_8_6 Some of you are scratching your heads out there. You’re thinking…if it’s not Windows then it’s Mac. What’s this “ubuntu” … a made up word? I admit, I had heard of the Linux based system before. I had also heard that it was a better system than Windows and Mac…and, here’s the kicker…IT’S FREE. That’s kinda scary for Windows and Mac…a FREE operating system rather than paying hundreds for theirs to run your computer. But, I’ve been with Windows since the early 90’s and have trouble with change. More on this in a bit. We started getting e-mails and phone calls from the very passionate group of Ubuntu users. While some were very mean and tried to tell us we were “Windows Robots”, I did start a dialouge with someone who got me very interested in Ubunto. He sent me to http://www.ubuntumini.com/ and http://www.ubuntuforums.org to read more. I also found this article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/business/11ubuntu.html. There’s alot out there, obviously, about this product. The viewer who contacted me also said this: “It really is a revolution, and it is a community effort…Linux is all about what people want to do, and that is find your own way to do things. People always complain about getting stepped on by big companies (MS, Internet Providers, Cellular Providers etc) but most don’t want to change how they do things for their own good.” He’s right, you know. People hate change. Now, I don’t think the story we did was wrong. It really wasn’t about Ubunto; how it works, etc. It was about a woman who ordered something, realized she made a mistake, asked Dell to fix it and they told her Ubuntu would be fine but when she got it, she realized it wasn’t for her. While Ubuntu probably would’ve been OK for her, she didn’t really want to learn how to use a new operating system. She wanted a computer to take college classes. It’s a pure consumer driven story. It was not an attack on Ubuntuat all. But it does show that change can be difficult…especially when people are unaware of products, services, new technological advances, etc. I will say this: because of my e-mails with this viewer, I’m looking more and more at Ubuntu and might join this little revolution. Free is always good!"

1/15/2009 9:57:27 AM

Ubunto lol

1/15/2009 9:59:12 AM

Quote :

"while i agree that openoffice really is pretty crappy compared to ms office, i can't think of anything she'd "need" from ms office that she couldn't do just as easily in openoffice (i'm assuming it was just basic word processing, but that might be a false assumption)...it's not that difficult"

well if she a novice and didn't understand the differences between linux and windows, she probably also didn't know that open office is comparable to ms office for basic word processing, or even that it existed. aside from the tech community i would venture that very few people know about open office.

dell needs to step up and take the computer back and give her one with windows.

1/15/2009 9:59:39 AM

Some of you are scratching your heads out there. You’re thinking…if it’s not Windows then it’s Mac. What’s this “ubuntu” … a made up word?

1/15/2009 9:59:45 AM

Quote :

"dell needs to step up and take the computer back and give her one with windows."

No they don't, they need to SELL her a copy of Windows like she wants.

1/15/2009 10:01:16 AM

^^ the guy can't spell, and the spell check should have least notified him of running words together

let's be honest people...it looks like milwaukee didn't have a lot going for it in the first place (look at their beer!)

1/15/2009 10:01:44 AM

Quote :

"Some of you are scratching your heads out there. You’re thinking…if it’s not Windows then it’s Mac. What’s this “ubuntu” … a made up word?"

ahahahahaha

1/15/2009 10:04:18 AM

Quote :

"the part I don't get is why didn't she just buy windows and have geeksquad or something install it??"

she obviously thought she was buying Windows, then realized somethign was amiss when she got it. Read the article - she called Dell, and they convinced her to stay with Ubuntu.
Technically, yes - it probably could have done everything she needed. But she was obviously not knowingly or willingly jumping on the Linux bandwagon. The Dell tech support geek just threw her in the river without a paddle.

1/15/2009 10:04:51 AM

lulz

i just remembered im using ubuntu 8.10 right now at work

of course, i have my laptop out when i need to do something with windows because outlook is better than anything i have found to do mapi

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM. Reason : 

1/15/2009 10:04:59 AM

They're giving away a FREE OS for my computer?

Well if it's free, it MUST be good!


And how does this happen at Dell.com anyways? Do they sell PC's and laptops without Windows already installed? (haven't bought a comp in 3 years).

1/15/2009 10:05:09 AM

yes

1/15/2009 10:06:37 AM

Quote :

"It really is a revolution, and it is a community effort…Linux is all about what people want to do, and that is find your own way to do things."

a revolution amongst computer geeks. she clearly isn't one and has no need to learn a second operating system, when she needs to spend time learning how to use windows.

Quote :

"No they don't, they need to SELL her a copy of Windows like she wants."

she knew she needed windows within the return period and dell discouraged her from doing so. the salesman was incorrect imo and dell should step up and correct this.

1/15/2009 10:07:46 AM

Quote :

"she knew she needed windows within the return period and dell discouraged her from doing so. the salesman was incorrect imo and dell should step up and correct this."

All we know is what she claims the salesperson said, and even from her own words it doesn't sound like they pushed it that hard on her. If she had really wanted Windows when she called back, she should have been more persistent as a customer and not let the salesperson suggest her into something she didn't understand. I don't think the salesperson was incorrect at all, he may have just been over her head.

Also, I can't seem to find a way to "accidentally" order a laptop on dell.com. I tried to customize a bunch of different laptops to change the operating system to Ubuntu but it isn't an option, you have to go to their Open-Source specific page to find anything.

1/15/2009 10:15:00 AM

^I could only guess that she dialed 1-800-BUY-DELL, got Ryan on the phone, and he helped walk her through the process of ordering online.

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM. Reason : -]

1/15/2009 10:20:41 AM

Quote :

"If she had really wanted Windows when she called back, she should have been more persistent as a customer and not let the salesperson suggest her into something she didn't understand. I don't think the salesperson was incorrect at all, he may have just been over her head."

if this was a credit card company or bank, that would be considered predatory action. Since it was a computer company trying to give away a free OS, i guess it's not considered predatory, but the point is the same.

A lot of you don't realize how petrified many people are talking about computers. 90% of the people who don't hang out on Tech Talk could barely tell you what version of Windows they have, and if Ubuntu was dropped in their laps, they would have no fucking clue what to do (and no, they don't want to join the "revolution"). When talking to the so-called computer experts at dell.com, a tech-illiterate user will not push back or argue to much because 1) they feel stupid, and 2) they really don't know what to ask for.

1/15/2009 10:29:55 AM

Quote :

"if this was a credit card company or bank, that would be considered predatory action."

Oh come on, unless you have another source with more of the conversation between her and the sales rep, there is no way you can backup that statement.

Quote :

""The person I was talking to said Ubuntu was great, college students loved it, it was compatible with everything I needed," said Schubert."

The call center people who try to push security services and other random shit when you activate a credit card are more pushy than this.

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 10:38 AM. Reason : ]

1/15/2009 10:36:50 AM

Of course tech talk would turn a story that should be about a fucking retard who dropped out of a full year of school over the wrong OS into a discussion of the merits of said OS and the software available for it.

1/15/2009 11:02:00 AM

^ well, yeah...otherwise this would be in chit chat

also, i take issue with the term "forced"...she was not forced to do anything...she CHOSE to drop out, regardless of her stupid reasons

i know a guy who got through school at NCSU using computer labs, DH Hill library, and the public libraries and a flash drive...inconvenient? yes...a choice to stay in school despite the inconvenience? yes.

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 11:05 AM. Reason : .]

1/15/2009 11:03:52 AM

Quote :

"et's be honest people...it looks like milwaukee didn't have a lot going for it in the first place (look at their beer!)"

hey now!


[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 11:09 AM. Reason : oh god]

1/15/2009 11:08:35 AM

Quote :

"it IS a tech college, though...initiative and effort isn't NECESSARILY required (though i have no idea what she was there for, or how good of a school MATC is) "

MATC is your standard technical/community college. nothing better or worse, but this doesnt surprise me.

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 11:11 AM. Reason : this is Madison's MATC not Milwaukees eh. McFarland is a shitty town]

1/15/2009 11:10:31 AM

^^ aha...i was actually referring to "milwaukee's best", which is anything but

to be fair, i don't think pbr hasn't been made in milwaukee in years (could be wrong, though)

^ oh, oops...quick google search FTL

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 11:13 AM. Reason : .]

1/15/2009 11:13:09 AM

Quote :

" if this was a credit card company or bank, that would be considered predatory action. Since it was a computer company trying to give away a free OS, i guess it's not considered predatory, but the point is the same. A lot of you don't realize how petrified many people are talking about computers. 90% of the people who don't hang out on Tech Talk could barely tell you what version of Windows they have, and if Ubuntu was dropped in their laps, they would have no fucking clue what to do (and no, they don't want to join the "revolution"). When talking to the so-called computer experts at dell.com, a tech-illiterate user will not push back or argue to much because 1) they feel stupid, and 2) they really don't know what to ask for."

Very true statements, but this girl is still a complete idiot for dropping her classes, when her problems were very solvable.

She literally, at the least, could have walked in to a Best Buy and walked out with a solution. She could have walked in to Wal-Mart I bet and SOMEONE there would have been able to help her.

I would even think the school itself has IT staff that could help her.

1/15/2009 11:24:58 AM

Quote :

"Very true statements, but this girl is still a complete idiot for dropping her classes, when her problems were very solvable."

1/15/2009 11:57:07 AM

I'm not so sure - you have to try pretty hard to get into the Open Source section on Dell.
They make it very clear that you're not buying a system with Windows installed.

You pretty much have to start at this page:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml
and its not something you can easily do on accident.

1/15/2009 11:59:02 AM

which is why I asked

Quote :

"And how does this happen at Dell.com anyways? Do they sell PC's and laptops without Windows already installed? (haven't bought a comp in 3 years)."

But they may have had a special offer or coupon or a deal on their site for a Ubuntu machine and she didn't catch it, who knows...

1/15/2009 12:08:48 PM

all this could have been avoiding AND she'd be a lot happier if she just bought a macbook. Seriously people...

1/15/2009 12:37:32 PM

^ fanboy

jk at least with a mac she could have installed ms office!

1/15/2009 12:41:37 PM

anyone else pick up on the fact that she spent $1100 on a laptop running ubuntu?

1/15/2009 12:42:48 PM

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dydwhu1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=segtopic~linux_3x

[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 12:57 PM. Reason : nice machine]

1/15/2009 12:57:31 PM