OSDev.org

I went to Fry's once to buy a new graphics card and I asked the service representative there if it was Unix/Linux compatible, and this was our conversation:

SR: "Um...... well, it's Microsoft compatible..."
ME: "Yes, I know that, but is it *nix compatible?"
SR: "Well, because Linux is owned and written and controlled by Microsoft, I guess it is..."
ME: "Are you thinking of Windows?"
SR: "No, Linux is Microsoft. In fact, Unix is the Windows system *(notice he didn't say 'Kernel')* with a different name."
ME: "No, the Unix kernel is different from Windows"
SR: "What's a kernel?"

I bought it and left (it was compatible with Linux, as I thought).

Now, why was he working in the computers section of Frys?

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a salesman. I find it better just to not even bother asking. Most people (Especially those who have gotten some Microsoft certification and think they now own the world.) have no idea there is more to a computer than the control panel.

I usually do a bit of research before I go to buy any hardware. Moreover, I make sure they have a nice return policy.

PS: I've never heard of Fry's before this post. Interesting...

I usually do a bit of research before I go to buy any hardware

I do too usually, but this was a spur of the moment thing (I just bought a motherboard, CPU, memory, the whole works, and realized I needed a graphics card)

I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to at least know that Linux isn't Windows, or if you don't know (which I think was the case) then answer "I don't know"

P.S. This was the only person like that at Fry's, everyone else I have seen there is very knowledgeable.

Did you ask what his name was? Maybe he's jerryleecooper.

I noticed that Fry's is a PC store in your thread. I almost thought from the topic title, "Linux fries idiots" ...
"Well, because Linux is owned and written and controlled by Microsoft" - this makes me laugh, even I do not use *nix... Well yeah, Microsoft may make ultimately coffee for the Linux programmers, nothing else

Regards
inflater

I guess it's not far fetched that some will assume it's a new Microsoft product..

Perhaps they've seen it on Dell's site and said, "Cool, A new one already??"

It's quite alright though, Those people will pass away eventually.. then you can be happy as a clam

Just remember:
There is someone getting paid more than you, whom knows less than you.

Its all part of microsoft's strategy to decrease cost of ownership by replacing competent technicians with cheap dispensable high school drop outs.
Have you checked out the microsoft curriculum?- its so easy they do certification programs in high schools now.

Really its nothing more than telling you how to use the control panel and basically anything you could find in some wizard.
(I may be biased, my instructor would use my test as the answer key- I took the classes during the day and they allow high school students to take the class- concurrent credits)

If your reading this in this forum, you probably don't need tech help from some low wage technician in a department store. Besides, if it was linux compatible it would say it on the box, there is no use having to wait on some customer service dude to read the box for you (if he can even read).

Usually if it doesn't say its linux compatible on the box there is usually a third party open source driver for it coded by the linux community. Most of the server targeted hardware works with linux out of the box (since linux servers are quite popular).

Sometimes when I buy a piece of hardware and I need to know something about compatibility, I go armed with a question I know the answer to first. If they get that question wrong, I don't trust the answer that I needed to know .

It used to apply just to the big chains, but unfortunately this tactic seems to be needed even for the independent specialist suppliers now too.

Cheers,
Adam

Yeah, It's funny how many of these "Specialists" assume you're a complete idiot and lie through their teeth.

I wouldn't trust their advice, researching it yourself is much more efficient..

SR: "No, Linux is Microsoft. In fact, Unix is the Windows system *(notice he didn't say 'Kernel')* with a different name."
ME: "No, the Unix kernel is different from Windows"
SR: "What's a kernel?"

sure it wasn't this guy?
http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12355-0. ... eID=579806
(from the post named "some people should just be shot")

Are you saying that this linux can run on a computer without windows underneath it, at all ? As in, without a boot disk, without any drivers, and without any services ?

That sounds preposterous to me.

If it were true (and I doubt it), then companies would be selling computers without a windows. This clearly is not happening, so there must be some error in your calculations. I hope you realise that windows is more than just Office ? Its a whole system that runs the computer from start to finish, and that is a very difficult thing to acheive. A lot of people dont realise this.

Its things like that that make me question society.
If you read on the guy says he knows vista is twice as fast as xp because he saw it on a tv commercial.

Gizmo wrote:sure it wasn't this guy?
http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12355-0. ... eID=579806
(from the post named "some people should just be shot")

Are you saying that this linux can run on a computer without windows underneath it, at all ? As in, without a boot disk, without any drivers, and without any services ?

That sounds preposterous to me.

If it were true (and I doubt it), then companies would be selling computers without a windows. This clearly is not happening, so there must be some error in your calculations. I hope you realise that windows is more than just Office ? Its a whole system that runs the computer from start to finish, and that is a very difficult thing to acheive. A lot of people dont realise this.

Please stop referencing this post! It makes me violent every single time I read it!

On topic again...

I enjoy going into a store and having people there who know what they're talking about. My local IT warehouse is great, the people there know what they're doing.

At another place... It's the sort of place that makes me want to release my OS commercially and then walk into the store and ask about its features and all sorts of other curve-ball questions. That would be fun