algeriatul team mailing list archive

[Graham <ubuntu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"This is usually one of the first things I tell just to ensure the cause of the
(compatibility) problem can be found faster."

What actually happens is they refuse to continue until you try the Windows platform solution.
If you don't tell them it's Linux, they assume it is Windows and the question never arises.
The likelihood that they have problems with Windows/MAC uses it usually quite high too.
You can then provide something which you magically got to work and they thank you for getting them out of the situation.

"I never accept a job if they don't allow me to use Ubuntu."

You are braver than me.
I'd rather avoid the issue until contracts are signed and I'm onsite.
It's harder to back out of a contract than not to sign in the first place.

"If I tell them first and have it as a precondition to even start
working there, I have more arguments that they need to at least
provide the minimum required environment to use Thunderbird for
example (e.g. activating the IMAP service at the Microsoft Exchange
server)."

This is the utopian view, but I find that clients will simply move to
the next CV.

Most exchange servers now have web access enabled so employees can work from home.
This means support is not an issue for email, LibreOffice will do a pretty good job of interfacing with Microsoft Office stuff and you can CIFS mount the windows shares.

I find it is better basically not to tell anyone you are using Linux
until you either have to (for support/request reasons) or after you have
been working on the clients project awhile (like a month) and then
reveal it.

Once you have established that it is not a hindrance to the project and
working relationship they are more likely to just let you get on with
it.

To tell them beforehand sets all sorts of bells ringing (for the wrong
reasons) and then you become the "problem" with your weirdo software.

I have worked with 10+ clients onsite on their internal networks since I
started to use Linux and I have a 100% hit rate this way.

Trust me, I do ensure they know I'm using Linux and let them find out
why as the working relationship progresses, but I'm careful to ensure it
is introduced the right way and the FUD is seen for what it is.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu 4
dz, which is subscribed to the bug report.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1

Title:
  Microsoft has a majority market share

Status in Club Distro:
  Confirmed
Status in Computer Science Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in LibreOffice Productivity Suite:
  New
Status in dylan.NET.Reflection:
  Invalid
Status in dylan.NET:
  Invalid
Status in EasyPeasy Overview:
  Invalid
Status in Ichthux - Linux for Christians:
  Invalid
Status in JAK LINUX:
  Invalid
Status in LibreOffice:
  In Progress
Status in The Linux Kernel:
  New
Status in The Linux Mint Distribution:
  In Progress
Status in The Linux OS Project:
  In Progress
Status in The Metacity Window Manager:
  In Progress
Status in The OpenOffice.org Suite:
  In Progress
Status in Tabuntu:
  Invalid
Status in A simple player to online TV streaming:
  Invalid
Status in Tv-Player:
  Invalid
Status in Ubuntu Malaysia LoCo Team Meta Project:
  In Progress
Status in Ubuntu:
  In Progress
Status in Arch Linux:
  Confirmed
Status in Baltix GNU/Linux:
  Invalid
Status in “linux” package in Debian:
  In Progress
Status in Fluxbuntu: The Lightweight, Productive, Agile OS:
  Confirmed
Status in openSUSE:
  In Progress
Status in Tilix Linux:
  New

Bug description:
  Microsoft has a majority market share in the new desktop PC
  marketplace. This is a bug which Ubuntu and other projects are meant
  to fix. As the philosophy of the Ubuntu Project states, "Our work is
  driven by a belief that software should be free and accessible to
  all."

  "Ubuntu software is free. Always was, always will be. Free software gives everyone the freedom to use it however they want and share with whoever they like. This freedom has huge benefits. At one end of the spectrum it enables the Ubuntu community to grow and share its collective experience and expertise to continually improve all things Ubuntu. At the other, we are able to give access to essential software for those who couldn’t otherwise afford it – an advantage that’s keenly felt by individuals and organisations all over the world."
       * http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/our-philosophy

  Non-free software leaves users at the mercy of the software owner and
  concentrates control over the technology which powers our society into
  the hands of a few. Additionally, proprietary software stifles
  innovation, maintains artificial scarcities, and enables malicious
  anti-features such as DRM, surveillance, and other monopolistic
  practices.

  This bug is widely evident in the PC industry.

  Steps to repeat:

      1. Visit a local PC store.
      2. Attempt to buy a machine without any proprietary software.

  What happens:

  Almost always, a majority of PCs for sale have Microsoft Windows pre-
  installed. In the rare cases that they come with a GNU/Linux operating
  system or no operating system at all, the drivers and BIOS may be
  proprietary.

  What should happen:

  A majority of the PCs for sale should include only free software.

       * http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
       * http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines
       * http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd

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