I have previously blogged about my gentle refusal to help windows users with problems on their computer.
However recently I have been getting extremely frustrated with Windows to the point where there is just no fun in diagnosing and fixing problems. I get almost no satisfaction out of reoslving Windows issues. I can forsee more requests coming in as people buy new machines, or upgrade existing hardware to Microsoft Vista.
So I have decided that rather than helping some friends & family, and not others, I will do the decent thing, and not help any of them if they choose to install Vista. I think this gives me a nice cut-off point, beyond which I have no responsibility for providing assistance.
Of course, if they install Ubuntu (or any other Linux variant for that matter) I will go out of my way to help them, and will of course continue to encourage them to do that.
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My girlfriend forgot her password for ‘shudders’ vista on her laptop, so i advised her to run a live CD of Linux on it to try and ‘enlighten’ her to a better way.
She has ran this for some time and i hoped i taught her the way to go, next her main computer that’s running orrible Vista keeled over, it froze after about 10 mins for some reason, live CD to the rescue.
Her ‘freind’ said they would come to the rescue with a Vista or 7 fresh install, i advised Linux Mint 8, as would be an ideal time to do so, but i failed, i have told her though i only support Linux and are not interested in entertaining Windows at all.
I’m basically in the same position, although I find that as time goes on I know how to solve fewer problems on Windows anyway, and many of the problems are not even possible to properly diagnose. Vista won’t be hitting my only Windows machine, namely my work laptop, for a good few years yet, so I won’t have any exposure to Vista, and just won’t be able to effectively help.
Yeah, I guess my dwindling Windows skills may well be a part of the problem. I’m no Windows idiot, there are no occasions I can think of in the last few years were I have not been able to resolve an issue, if not immediately, after a short while.
For the specific problem that occured with my father in laws computer, perhaps I should have known that the Acer Wireless “”"”"helper”"”"” application refuses to accept spaces in a WPA-PSK!
I can handle problems where standards are adhered to, where applications play ball. But when its a closed source app with a non-standard UI that doesn’t even respond to standard buttons like TAB and Enter, I don’t think I should have to. It’s not like that app is a world class wireless management tool that all desktops will migrate to using, its just another example of some idiot trying make his mark with his application, breaking UI conventions, not sticking to standards blah blah yadda yadda
Yep, this sounds like an excellent idea.
“The only way I will fix your Vista computer is by installing a different, non-Vista operating system.”
I decided a while back that I would be using Vista as my ‘Cut-off’.
I realise you may have already tried with your Father-in-Law, but my acer laptop runs Dapper/Edgy without a hitch, and feisty mostly without major hitches!
Steve
It’s quite funny you mention this, because i am going to do the same. I have had too many people already bother me with their windows xp problems. I will only offer support to my close friends/family. I really would hate to see the same happen for vista esp b/c i would have to learn the stuff they changed. too much work.
I completely agree with you there dude.
I run a mostly linux based (well [K|Edu|U]buntu based really) computer business in Australia and i have decided i am never selling a computer with Vista.
And if anyone asks me for a vista computer they had better be prepared for a rant.
(and we so need the title for your post of a T-Shirt)
I decided some time ago as well that I wouldn’t supply any support for anyone using Vista. Particularly family & friends that have been around for my Linux talks.
Of course there is no satisfaction in troubleshooting Windows. It’s proprietary software: the idiots who developed it and didn’t document it should be responsible for troubleshooting it. Linux work is different: you know tha the developers made an honest effort to create a viable OS.
I’m going to make a killin’ fixing all of those PCs that run Vista!
Nobody else is going to fix them.
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