ubuntu-users Digest, Vol 18, Issue 68

[Bryann Melvin]

> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2006 11:00:17 +0700
> From: Chanchao <custom at freenet.de>
> Subject: RE: What modems work with Ubuntu?
> To: Ubuntu Help and User Discussions <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Message-ID: <1139284817.28205.76.camel at ubuntu>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> On Mon, 2006-02-06 at 14:29 +0200, Billy Verreynne (JW) wrote:
> 
> > > Again , see above. "Oh, thanks for giving me a computer, but please
> > > take it back, and give me one that has all hardware supported by 
> > > Linux".
> > 
> > Yes. Either that or else select another o/s as Linux/Ubuntu is -not-
> > the correct choice for an operating system for that platform.
> > 
> Okay, let me spell it out one more time: I spent an hour walking past
> about 20 computer shops that all sell hardware, but when it comes to
> modems all I found were Chinese/Taiwanese softmodems/winmodems that cost
> about $10, if that.   (Don't really mind what they cost, but from the
> shop's point of view, not a whole lot of people are going to buy a
> $50-$100 serial port modem when nearly everyone uses (a pirated copy of)
> Windows and a $10 modem (or one included on the mainboard) will connect
> them to the Internet. 
> 
> > If you, the consumer, do not like it, then -you- have the 
> > power to not buy that product. Last time I looked we were 
> > still living in the free and capatalistic world.
> 
> "Proper hardware" is getting hard to find! It's not just ignorant
> people, I'm actually looking to buy proper hardware and so far haven't
> found it where I live.  I'm actually going to be checking second hand
> hardware dump markets now, I'd say that's serious commitment.  Soon,
> even those places won't have 'proper hardware' for sale anymore.
> 
> > Or do you insist that Linux should run on a Walmart toaster too?
> 
> You're in SO much trouble with the analogy police now. :)  I thought the
> petrol vs diesel thing was out there, but you just keep taunting them. 
> 
> [On a frivolous side note, you remind me of this Dilbert cartoon: 
> 
> http://dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20060122.html ]
> 
> > Chancao implied that this is on the part of Linux. Implying in anyway
> > that this a Linux problem? 
> 
> It's a problem faced by the users yes.  You're telling them to go away
> and go use windows/apple etc. While that is indeed a solution, I don't
> think that's in line with Ubuntu's mission statement. 
> 
> Again, I don't BLAME Linux/Ubuntu for it, I'm RECOGNIZING this as a
> serious issue that's only going to become a bigger and bigger obstacle
> to successfully using Ubuntu. 
> 
> Let ME tempt the analogy police: Suppose you're an electric razor
> manufacturer and your razors are charged on 110V.  You find that people
> in Europe aren't buying your product because they can't charge on 220V.
> "Well, that's not my problem!!", said the razor CEO, "It clearly states
> on the box that it requires 110V, so by all means people can go find
> their own charger, or they can go use a different brand of razor!"  No
> problem, right? :) 
> 
> That's only not a problem when you don't care if people (can) use your
> product or not.   Indeed I can't find a fault in that logic. :)
> 
> > Or is this yet another case where 2 + 2 equals 5 for very large
> > quantities of 2?
> > 
> [Analogy-policeman getting his tazer gun out of his pocket and moving in
> your direction... ]
> 
> Cheers,
> Chanchao
> 
OK I'm going to stand on a soap box for a few minutes:

1. I'm one of the people living in remote areas needing dialup..(or very
expensive satellite)
2. Despite this I have not found difficulty getting a real modem. The
nearest computer stores want about 100 (compusa about 150km round trip)
3. Older salavage modems actually work just as well, 56k is indeed
useless in many remote areas as the necessary single A to D conversion
necessary for V90 does not exist. We just got PHONES for < 3000USD a
piece a couple of years ago...digital lines are a ways off. So 33.6 is
max ANYWAY.
4. If you work on computers and someone is interested in linux ALWAYS
consider replacing the modem in the estimate. Surplus Computer places
online places sell them for less than 20USD most of the time. (HINT if
you google part of the previous sentence...guess what)
5. Give Credit where credit is due...Although I am not fond of the
Waltons' politics WalMart is the nearest store (100km round trip).
Walmart.com has linux BOXES for sale, and they were the FIRST if not
still the only major US Store Chain to offer them for sale over the net
with Pickup by freight or at the local store. They have had two
different flavors of Linux available.
6. The MODEM is unlikely to be the hardest part for extremely remote
people to use Ubuntu or any other operating system. The hardest parts
are trying to keep the computer current with all the "updates" so it is
not vulnerable over a 28.8 to 33.6 connection. WE'RE getting satellite
on our ranch to be able to do so, and already distribute Ubuntu,
OpenOffice etc cds through our tiny library branch to help others out,
but being away from the computer a couple of days I have about 90mb
download to do to update. The nice thing about UBUNTU is not getting
behind more than six months before new CDs come in the mail.

Bryann