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

[alan c]

Yishay Mor wrote:
> http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9667184
> "MCFARLAND (WKOW) -- Abbie Schubert paid more than $1,100 for a Dell laptop
> hoping to enroll in online classes at MATC.
> But something stopped her: Ubuntu."
> 
> No WKOW, something else stopped her. But that's no excuse, computers should
> work for dumb people too, and everyone deserves to know what they're buying.
> It doesn't matter that we all know that FF is better than IE, for some
> people internet=IE, and office=M$. Dell need to explain the concept of
> compatible slowly, probably using shorter words.

When I look at dell site for Ubuntu it is very clear that it is not 
windows and that 'normal' programs will not work.
It is even really really difficult to find dell ubuntu from the normal 
dell site, and even once you see ubuntu on the screen, you keep 
finding vista in your basket! Try it a few times in differing routes 
yourself?

Dell say:
===============================
What Is Open Source?
Open source software is designed in a way that lets multiple people 
change, improve and redistribute the source code, meaning the software 
is generally community developed and available for free.
An advantage of open source is that it can deliver more reliability 
and flexibility, as well as faster updates and fixes, all at a lower 
cost. Plus, if you’re an expert, you can tweak and alter the code to 
completely customise the software to do exactly what you want.

A downside is that some open source software requires intermediate or 
advanced knowledge to use, and in the case of operating systems, may 
not be compatible with the same software applications and hardware as 
Windows operating systems.
===============================

Are these words short enough?

I do *not* believe this is a genuine case. Someone who is clever 
enough to play the system to the ISP and to the college, in this way, 
and not to mention play the FUD onto the internet, is simply not going 
to be buying such a non standard machine by accident.
-- 
alan cocks
Ubuntu user #10391
Linux user #360648