Wisconsin local news TV station surprised by Linux nuts

[greggh]

This really does not show Ubuntu and GNU/Linux fans in a very glowing light

This was the first story they ran

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp? ... menu1362_2

27 News Troubleshooter: Woman blames Dell for missing online classes

MCFARLAND (WKOW) -- Abbie Schubert paid more than $1,100 for a Dell laptop hoping to enroll in online classes at Madison Area Technical College, or MATC.

But something stopped her: she bought an operating system for her computer she never heard of, Ubuntu.

That's an operating system for your computer similar to Windows that contains Linux. It's highly regarded among some people and extremely popular with certain circles of computer users because it's free.

Schubert says she ordered her laptop online at Dell.com expecting to buy your classic bread-and-butter computer.

She didn't realize until the next morning her laptop defaulted to the Ubuntu operating system.

"It's been a mess," she said. "I regret ordering the computer."

Here is the follow-up concentrating on how nuts Ubuntu fans are with their hateful comments and harassing the girl

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp? ... menu1362_2

Make sure to watch the video

[eddie]

I wrote a letter to the author of the article apologizing for the acts of the linux zealots. There is no excuse for that. They are giving linux a bad name. If I were not a pacifist, I would personally kick their posterior. I am a longtime newbie at linux, but I still would bend over backwards to help someone if I could no matter what os they were using. I know I spent a bit of time this week killing viruses for close friends on their MSWindows machines. I think all linux users and podcasters should vocalize their disdain for the linux zealots. If we all knew it all we would not be here....

[dann]

On the flip side, the general tone of the article and report was very sour towards Ubuntu. The buildup to The Troubleshooter swinging in to the rescue presented Ubuntu in a very negative light. There was mere lip service regarding the resolution and a brief, hushed mention that she could do everything she wanted to do including all her school work with Ubuntu. That was immediately followed by a comment: "What a mess!"

The entire report placed the woes of this user at the feet of Ubuntu. It seemed like she got everything at once here. Computer, internet service, etc. She took the initiative to call Dell about her purchase and agreed to stick with it. What did she do then? Just throw up her arms and fall on the floor? Did she call Verizon and explain her situation? Did she call her school and explain her situation? If she did, then this report should be about how they failed, not Ubuntu, if she did not, well, the failing is on her.

I would have been nice if the report finished by making it clear that the problem was not with Ubuntu and that she was able to do everything she needed to get done with Ubuntu. But, alas, it did not make that apparent and while we have gained an Ubuntu user, the message to the masses is: "Ubuntu, what a mess!"

[MattKingUSA]

And she gets paid by MS too. Just kidding.

[eddie]

In agree that the station was editorially incompetent in this particular matter, but first let's clean our own house first. As long as people feel up against the wall, they will not listen. Once the hoopla has died down, arguments can be made for the good support of ubuntu.