Re: Gateway's Linux support

[Alan DeJong <annette@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

When I had a WINDOZE problem with my machine, they wouldnt even service it because i had
linux on it.  It wasnt even a linux problem, linux was working fine, and windoze was the
thing that was broken,  but they insisted that I contact Linux tech support.  I didnt
even knew such a thing existed besides these mailing list things.  So i had to make a
boot disk for linux and erase Lilo and just keep the standard windows boot so they
wouldnt know about it, then bring it in to them.  What a pain!  Btw, i was wondering if
linux would be supporting the new PIII processor?  I am not thinking about getting one
or anything, i was just wondering..

-Alan

Joel wrote:

> bob@acm.org wrote:
>
> > On the last transmission of this message, marks indicating who write what were
> > omitted for the more recent statements. I have inserted marking to attribute
> > each persons remarks properly, and have added some additional commentary.
> >
> > >>>>---Joel Turmo <turmo@mindspring.com> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Hello Joel,
> > >>>>
> > >>>>Thank you for your message.  This type of request is not covered under the
> > >>>>terms and conditions sold with your system. For future reference, I can
> > >>>>offer you the following suggestions:  use your help files or we do have
> > >>>>technicians that offer support regarding "how to" questions for a cost of
> > >>>>$25.  You can either pay by credit card at 1-800-229-1103 or have a $1.95
> > >>>>per minute charged to your monthly phone bill by dialing 1-900-555-4695.
> >
> > >>>>In order to better handle your needs for technical support, it has become
> > >>>>necessary to focus our support on topics covered under the terms and
> > >>>>conditions sold with your system.
> > >>
> > >> Thank you for understanding.
> > >>
> > >>>>Thank you for your message, we look forward to assisting you in the
> > >>>future.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>Online Client Support Team
> > >>>>Gateway
> >
> > >>>Dirk Frazier <dfrazier@yahoo.com> write...
> > >>>Same here.  I purchased a new G6-450 and found that my Voodoo Banshee
> > >>>video hardware isn't yet supported by Xfree86...  I got RH5.2 up and
> > >>>running using a generic VGA Xserver, but only in 16 colors...  I'm a
> > >>>newby at LINUX, and feel that my only recourse is to wait until my
> > >>>hardware is "supported" by the LINUX community, or see if we have any
> > >>>'spare' x486 machines lying around the office :)
> > >>>
> > >>>I'd be interested to know what you're going to do Joel, if your
> > >>>situation is similar...
> >
> > >> Robert G Brown (bob@acm.org) wrote:
> > >>Gentlemen:
> > >>   With all due respect, what do you expect? Gateway is merely living up to
> > >>the letter of its agreement with you. When one purchases computer systems
> > >>from anywhere, one must be aware of the abilities of each component in the
> > >>system, and whether or not it is compatible with the software one intends
> > >>to run on it. We ALL have this situation, it's a condition of the industry,
> > >>and is true of EVERY OS I know of.
> >
> > >That is exactly the support I thought that I would get.  I knew that would
> > >be their response. They will not even support the system if you put
> > >additional updates to items like IE.  Be cause it was no longer the system
> > >they sent you.  I just wanted them to know that I was using Linux and that
> > >there is a need for Linux support.
> > OK, none of your above intentions were expressed in the original posting. You
> > did not state your expectations, only that Gateway was not going to help you.
> > Also, if you knew that this would be their response, is this really news?
> >
> > >>    Now, If I were going to buy a system from Gateway and use it for Linux,
> > >>I'd be very up-front with them. I would go over each component of the system
> > >>and satisfy myself that it can be used from Linux. This means no "Winmodems",
> > >>network cards that aren't on the Hardware Compatibility List, or funny,
> > >>proprietary mice. I'd look over those DVD drives with some suspicion, too.
> > >>And so on.
> >
> > >The computer works great with Linux.  I am very happy with it.  The only
> > >thing I have had to do is get a new modem.
> > As stated above, this was not the impression that was left by your original
> > posting. Now, on getting the new modem... did you get it through Gateway? If
> > not, Will they continue to cover the machine, even though you have "modified"
> > it?
> >
>
> They will support the modem only if it is bought from them.  I don't know if it will
> void thier agreement to support the machine.
>
> > >>     Did you purchase your Gateway assuming they would make good on this
> > >>sort of thing? Sorry, assumptions have little place here. Why should they make
> > >>good? Would you? One thing that Gateway plans to do, sometime this years, is
> > >>offer Linux as another OS; you can be sure they will have tested any configur-
> > >>ation that they ship, and they'll stand behind it for operating in Linux.
> > >That's great.  I'm glad to hear it.
> > At least, that's what's claimed. As always in this business, I don't believe
> > something until I see it happen.
> >
> > >>     But until then, I'm afraid they will not help you. I suspect you can
> > >>simply purchase another video card and install it, which may void your war-
> > >>ranty, which is also part of the contract you've signed. Thus, you can have
> > >>better video support, or a machine under warranty.
> > >>     ALL of the machines on which I run Linux have been assembled from
> > >>scratch, except one (and that's my gateway/ip masq/firewall box). Not only is
> > >>the mark-up Gateway gets some thing on the order of 80%, but you do not have
> > >>the same sort of control over what goes into the box. If you don't want
> > >>to/can't assemble yourself, there are plenty of folks out there who do custom
> > >>assembly, and many of them are less costly than Gateway, given equal perform-
> > >>ance.
> >
> > >I'm going to make my next machine.  But this one is still humming along
> > >great.
> > Once again, the impression your original posting left was one of *not* being too
> > happy. I would sugggest to anyone writing such posting in the future that the
> > context of a manufacturers response be set in the intended context.
> > >Sorry, wish this could help more.
> >
> > >Gateway makes a good machine.
> > There is no doubt that they do. However, there is some difference of opinion
> > about whether they deliver a good machine for the price.
> >                                                                  Regards,
> >                                                                ---> RGB <---