I Get Ranty at HP

My Linux Journal video this week is a far cry from my normal silliness. There’s a part of me that hopes my change of pace further exemplifies how serious I feel about computer vendors and their lack of openness. I’ll admit, this video was awkward for me to release, because it’s not my normal shtick. Feel free to disagree with my opinions, but rest assured, it’s not an act. Srsly.

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Posted in General Thoughts |

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm and is filed under General Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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13 comments

Monochrome Rainbows:
 1 

I was on the fence about attending the MAEDS conference this year. Now I’m thinking it might be fun to hang around the HP booth when you show up.

July 2nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Shawn Powers:
 2 

LOL!

July 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Kate Baker:
 3 

Like I said to you earlier, even when you’re going off on a rant, you’re still endearing. It’s very hard not to like your small journeys into seriousness. ;)

Does that make sense? In my head, it makes perfect sense.

July 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Nathan:
 4 

Actually,

I thought that was funnier than some of the stuff where you mean to be funny.

The whole thing about Vista running almost as fast on the cardboard version was a hoot!

July 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Michelle K:
 5 

Nathan,

It’s not funny if it’s actually true.

July 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
tia and billy:
 6 

its not your normal silliness, but its very true. I think they recommend using Vista because Microsoft is evil and they’ll kill HP if they dont shove Vista down the consumers throats.

July 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Vince:
 7 

Getting paid to pimp a product is fine, as long as you point out up front that it’s a paid political announcement. And I remember when Microsoft told manufacturers that they could sell computers with DR-DOS, but had to pay for MS-DOS as well even if it wasn’t installed on the machine if they wanted to be able to install and sell Windows.

July 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Shawn Powers:
 8 

Agreed, getting paid for pimping is fine — I do it myself in Linux Journal videos from time to time. That said, I wouldn’t recommend a product I thought was crap. I’d hesitate to even accept them as a sponsor, but I would definitely draw the line at “recommending” them.

I realize Microsoft is a big bully, but it’s not like HP is a tiny vendor either. C’mon guys, grow a pair. :D

July 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 am
Boot:
 9 

If this was at a symposium of some sort I would be standing up and applauding. Dell ticked me off selling their Linux hardware for as much or more than the Windows hardware, OLPC going the way of evil and installing Windows, and now HP as well? I’ve always liked HP for their printer support, but this is ridiculous. What next, the gPC with Vista, Eee PC Windows only? Something screams kickback to me, why recommend something that makes your hardware look slower and cost more? Stevie B has his hands in this methinks.

Keep telling it like it is!

July 3rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Andrew:
 10 

I agree with you Shawn. I think HP needs to understand that “geeks” tend to have much power especially in recommending things to corporations and individuals. For instance, I have “converted” our church into installing Ubuntu on their systems for security. I also installed Ubuntu on 5 different desktops and laptops in the past 3 months alone! What’s more is I ask those people how they like it and they say it runs fast, is free of viruses and spyware, and does everything they want it to for FREE!!!

Okay, I will stop sweating and shouting now… Calm down. ;)

July 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Joel:
 11 

Well done! As you said I hope they listen to you, but I doubt it. And as a sidenote my HP dv6040us notebook has been a constant battle to get up and keep running as a linux only box, and my wife’s NEW HP desktop is so bogged down by Vista that she comes and uses my laptop sometimes.

Let them know what we think.

July 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Tania:
 12 

Amen Brother!

July 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
MWT:
 13 

OLPC going the way of evil and installing Windows

O.O

…

*weeps*

July 4th, 2008 at 12:52 am

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