[ubuntu-uk] Sad but true? From the Register

[Liam Proven]

2009/1/15 Chris Coulson <chrisccoulson at googlemail.com>:
> 2009/1/15 Ken Robson <ken at robsonfamily.co.uk>
>>
>> US woman says Ubuntu can't access internet
>>
>> Check out (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/15/ubuntu_cant_access_net
>> If the above link doesn't work)
>>
>> Interesting quote 'WKOW TV called Ubuntu "an operating system for your
>> computer similar to Windows that runs off the Linux system."'
>
> I don't know whether to laugh or cry....

Why would you do either? Perfectly fair, accurate and reasonable
description by and for someone who is not a techie. No, it's not
elegantly worded, but they have got the gist.

When I read the article, I wondered *why* she couldn't access the web
site. Two possible reasons spring to mind:

[1] She's using some kind of USB Internet connection that doesn't work
out of the box. (USB because either Ethernet or wireless should work
fine.) Could be a USB cable modem or ADSL modem, either of which would
be Hard Work to set up, or it could be something like a 3G "dongle"
(though those are rare in the USA) or a WiMax adaptor.

Either way, this is a problem in Ubuntu, if the woman can't get a
connection easily.

[2] It's a completely Flash-driven site, when Ubuntu doesn't include
Flash. This is a political decision - I've been debating it recently
on Ubuntu-sounder, in fact. The sad reality is that because of the
Ubuntu project's determination to ship only Free software, excluding
drivers, when Ubuntu comes out of the box, it's crippled. No Java is a
minor problem, no RealPlayer or QuickTime or WindowsMedia is a bigger
one, no MP3 support is a big issue, but no Flash is absolutely huge. A
great many websites are completely inaccessible because they are
entirely Flash-driven.

This is again a problem with Ubuntu, but it's a deliberately-chosen
one, and I'm not sure if anything can be done about it.

-----

But whatever the issue was, by just making unhelpful mocking comments,
you're not contributing. As the saying goes, if you're not part of the
solution, you're part of the problem...

-- 
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