mad at Apple - Page 3

PGTips · #17 June 8th, 2007, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supanatral

I went in the apple store because my computer wasn't working right. So I just quickly asked them how I would do it or which version of ubuntu would work with it and they wouldn't even drop any hints or tell me a word about it. It felt like i just swore in the Apple store.

It's an Apple store. The staff are trained to support Apples. The live, breathe, eat all things Apples.

Now, how are they supposed to know what version of Ubuntu runs on what? Who knows what version of kernel, Gnome, HAL, drivers run on which version of Ubuntu? You gotta ask yourself, how likely is it that someone working in an Apple store is going to know about Linux, much less Ubuntu?

If you want Ubuntu specific information, you will be much better off asking on the Debian mailing lists or the Ubuntu forums.

supanatral · #18 June 8th, 2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGTips

It's an Apple store. The staff are trained to support Apples. The live, breathe, eat all things Apples.

Now, how are they supposed to know what version of Ubuntu runs on what? Who knows what version of kernel, Gnome, HAL, drivers run on which version of Ubuntu? You gotta ask yourself, how likely is it that someone working in an Apple store is going to know about Linux, much less Ubuntu?

If you want Ubuntu specific information, you will be much better off asking on the Debian mailing lists or the Ubuntu forums.

That is true. However they should know that they're hardware would except a x86 or 64 bit verion. Plus Linux and Mac OSX is extremly similar. If you talk to any PC technician it is pretty much granted that they know linux, so why are macs any different considering that linux runs on macs as well?

doemel · #19 June 8th, 2007, 08:53 AM

In my experience a lot of PC techs don't care about Linux because their too narrow minded and focused on Windows. So I don't see why the same shouldn't be true for Mac techs. OTOH Linux has always been more DIY than Windows or Mac OS and even though we have easily installable distros now they still involve more hacking than your average consumer OS.

A nice side effect of this: there's usually plenty of info and help on the interweb regarding Linux. So, Google is your friend. You don't go asking MS support about Linux either.

nixgeek · #20 June 8th, 2007, 08:55 AM

Because it's not in their best interest as Apple employees to promote another product. They already have an OS. That would be like Microsoft support helping out Linux users. Unless they come out with a product on something like Linux, they won't help you....it's not in their interest to do so. Same with the Apple Geniuses at the Apple Store. Yes, Macs can run Linux...but that doesn't mean they are there to support another operating system that has nothing to do with Apple directly. They probably do know how to use Linux on PowerPC or Intel Macs, but they are there to promote Mac OS X and Apple's other products only.

And regarding PC techs, like doemel said many of them are too focused on Windows to care. The ones that do go about giving Linux a try are few and far between. I know because I deal with a lot of techs in the school district I work for, and a lot of them only care about Windows...it's what gives them job security. It's taken me a long time to finally get some of them to come around and give Linux a try. It's been a lot easier now with Ubuntu Feisty being released, but many of them just don't care since our district is Microsoft-based.

CJ MAC OSX IPOD · #21 June 8th, 2007, 04:55 PM

Thats like going to Microsoft and saying... Why isnt my Mac running right on my PC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebykm

I don't know where to post this........

I've been using MacOS since the System 7 days and was planning to purchase a portable system capable of running OS X, Solaris, Ubuntu and windows natively.

So, i posted the question in Apple Discussions regarding the same, all i asked was if *nix es can be run on Mac natively or anyone have done it successfully and guess what after getting 5 or so replies, my post mysteriously vanished deleted by the hosts

and my next post regarding the deletion of the post also vanished after 5 replies.

Thought if all these OSes could quad boot on a Mac, i could save $$$$ by avoiding generic x86 hardware. If Apple doesn't like putting other Operating Systems on their hardware, why the hell they created Boot Camp

, or are they affraid of Solaris & Ubuntu ?.

What do you think ?.

ebykm · #22 June 14th, 2007, 08:07 AM

Nope CJ, especially when Apple promote i am Mac / Pc adverts. They're infact saying, Our hardware will run anything you throw, be it windows, linux or what ever system supports EFI.

I guess Apple don't mind people using inferior OS on their hardware only to say, hey OS X is beautiful, faster and stable than XP. But comparison between OS X and heavy weights like linux or solaris would make Apple sick, because OS X looses in most tasks. The famous G5 test conducted by AnandTech reveals OS X Server is the culprit behind poor performances on an architecture designed to perform, linux PPC beats Xeons & Opeterons of those days.

supanatral · #23 June 16th, 2007, 05:39 PM

One thing is for the employee not knowing too much about Linux and that's ok. However, to tell me that they can't give me any information on it, I find to be ridiculous.

Since Apple "prides" themselves on the fact that you can now run windows and linux on mac I feel like they are there for the credit of making that possible but walking away when any quesions are thown there way. It's like the person that goes for the party but refuses to help clean up.

DeltaMac · #24 June 16th, 2007, 08:04 PM

Even if Apple makes it possible to load and use a variety of non-Apple operating systems, that doesn't mean they have to provide direct support, or even answer any questions. Why should they?
Apple offers the Boot Camp software, but they don't provide Windows software with that. And, Apple has said from the start of Boot Camp that they will not provide support. They do support in a limited way, by providing install troubleshooting hints, and updating the Windows drivers as needed for the Mac.

Wouldn't it be more productive to go to a Linux support site for assistance with your Mac/Linux install questions? And, there's plenty of Linux users, even on this site, that can supply you with opinions/experiences that can directly relate to your needs.
That would be better than hoping that you will find a Linux/Unix expert at an Apple store. There are some of those, to be sure. And an Apple Genius will have more than a passing knowledge of Unix needed for support of OS X. Read that last sentence carefully - that may mean that someone at an Apple store might have other knowledge, but not used for their job. Apple already has an OS, and they want to continue to sell that.