Never underestimate Chipzilla's ability to execute - Gilbert Ann Sullivan
THE CARPHONE WAREHOUSE has struck a blow to Open Source software by no longer supplying its Webbook laptops with the Ubuntu Linux operating system.
Contrary to reports by a number of less reputable tech news sources, CW is not "recalling" the devices at all. A spokesman told the INQ, "If you got a laptop with Ubuntu installed, you knew you were getting a laptop with Ubuntu installed."
Rumours that users who were "confused" by the Open Source OS would be able to wander into the Carphone Warehouse and get a copy of Windows XP installed free of charge were rigorously denied by our contact.
"We listened to our customers", he said "and they, like 95 per cent of the rest of the population, told us that they wanted a more familiar operating system, and that is Windows. Moving forward, we have decided to offer the Webbook with Windows XP only. This is no way a recall."
When asked if it would be possible to get a Webbook with Linux installed, the spokesman remarked, "only if a store happens to have old stock laying around, so it's not likely."
Some sources have reported that as many as 20 per cent of the 60,000 devices thought to be in circulation, which were bundled for free on a range of contracts, have been returned by punters who couldn't get their Windows-indoctrinated heads around the Linux operating system. ยต
Ubuntu really isn't any harder to use than Windows. It's all a question of familiarity. You can do just about everything you need from the menus - just like Windows. If 95% of the world all drove Ford cars, or all lived in bungalows, I suppose that alternatives would be branded 'difficult to use' in the same way. If we could persuade people to use Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office on Windows, then using the same applications on Linux would seem entirely familiar.
Gotta say that this is the reality of Linux on the desktop. Much as I admire the robust and high-performance nature of it, it's still too damn difficult for the average home user to use.
I bought 2 desktops with Ubuntu for my 9 year old daughters. They use Open Office and Firefox. Neither daughter has had a problem using the PC for schoolwork or fun. So I'm guessing the people who returned their pooters to CW were <9.
"it's still too damn difficult for the average home user to use. " 48,000 people haven't returned their free laptops, so I would say that's a pretty good indication that maybe Linux IS ready. 20% return rate would be a sight better than that of the first round Xbox 360s. ;) Cheers, John
I'd be more inclined to say that it's the population that still isn't ready. Ubuntu is now extremely simplified and there's not much to figure out for some who browses the net and reads/ makes documents, your Documents go in Home instead of MyDocs, thats really as much as they'll need to deal with. I'd imagine most of these people sent it back because it was something new and different that they haven't heard about and didn't really give it a go. What Ubuntu really needs imo is better awareness to get the word out and make it less scary.
Hi Iain. From my experience, once someone gets used to Linux, it has hard time going back to Windows.... This is definitely the case for my wife. But it is true that there are still many web sites out there that only work with IE + ActiveX, so sometimes Windows is really the only choice (and no, Wine does not really help). My 2c, Igor
I saw the ads for this offer and it wasn't made clear that it involved linux, I don't know if they pointed that out clearly if you actually signed up for one or not. If they don't make it obvious that it runs linux (or at least of it not being windows) then of course people are going to be more likely to feel confused or even misled. I don't think its bad marketing to point that out, I mean you don't see apple trying to pass OSX off as something a bit like windows XP and hope no-one will notice. They make a point about how their os is different, but also better than windows...
Up to 20% of 60,000 or 12000 laptops returned cos the customers wanted Ubuntu instead of Windows? Sounds more like FUD from Microsoft talking there, so as to ship more copies of (their discontinued OS) Windows XP. I think the failing was on the part of Carphone Warehouse making the customers think they were getting normal laptops (which mostly ship with XP or Vista) instead of Netbooks. CW probably also failed by not showing the customers were the main features are (web browser, email client, word processor etc) and where to find support (Ubuntu forums, Canonical). As a guy who has sold 3 pc's with Ubuntu installed, I have found that the most important part of the sale was the 10 minutes showing the customer around the desktop and answering questions. If a customer doesn't know where to find help, of course they are going to return the laptop as faulty.
Don't you feel pretty dumb stating that Linux is hard when so many kids and new computer users take right to it. The only thing hard about Linux is walking away from it once you get over yourself and see with your eyes instead of your misplaced demands. lol, I really feel sorry for you people that say it's hard. I really do -- maybe you ought to go back and visit your old teachers and smack them upside the head for your lack of education, preparedness for life.
Perhaps the other 80% (or a significant number of them) had enough brain cells to dump Ubuntu and install XP themselves. I would.
I agree with Niki, the downfall lay in the marketing by CPW and in-store knowledge - if you took one back with a problem they seemed to just tell you to pay the extra and get a Windows one. There also could have been more documentation in the package. Ubuntu is *not* difficult to use. Plug a scannner in, and it "just works" - Windows users don't have a problem with installing software and drivers. Why? because they expect to! Windows isn't easier at all, but they know how it (doesn't) work. Ubuntu should be the OS of choice in schools (for various reasons), then it wouldn't be unfamiliar.
This is the age-old push-back against change. Everybody would much rather prefer to let sleeping dogs lie - even if they're rabid and only pretending to sleep! So it's little wonder then, when confronted with a strangely easy to use, but different UI, the herd balks and throws the unfamiliar away.
Linux, ubuntu especially, is only difficult for people moving from Windows XP, after all they've only had 7 years to try and get used to the desktop and applications, you can't honestly expect them to manage to understand a new PC desktop environment overnight. These people are also the same people, who will and do struggle with Vista, MS latest and ......est operating system, as that too is 'unfamiliar' to the populace. The truth, is, well my daughter has been using the ubuntu based edubuntu operated PC since she was 4, she's now 6, and can accomplish the following on her own: Browse the web, especially ceebebies Download pictures from her point and click digital camera Play the many educational, and non-educational games that are included for free. Use open office (writer and draw) Tuxpaint Also, at the other end of the scale, my 65 year old father, uses a Linux PC, for all the usual tasks, browsing, email, writing letters etc, again, he's now been using Linux for at least 5 years now, again with no problems. It was always going to be a risk installing it on my parents PC as they live 100 miles away, but in 5 years, I haven't once been called upon to fix something. So, to claim linux is not ready, is a phalacy, it's simply a case of too many people are afraid to rid themselves of their last 7years of knowledge gain. Strangely enough, of the 'regular' users that use their PC's that I know and help, the split is now around 50-50, the vast majority of the time I'm called upon to fix something, it's invariably an XP machine, I did fix a Vista setup once, but then told everybody, I'll no longer fix Windows problems, not worth the effort on my part, as more often than not, exactly the same happens again a couple of months later. Cheers