Posted by: bjjohnson04
on January 21, 2005 04:04 AM
Hmmm....
Well you are correct in that we general don't support Linux users. I don't think it is fair to knock the Geek Squad techs as not geeky enough though. They are very good at what they are hired to do. Most of them, atleast at my store, are dabling in linux and starting get aware of it's capabilities, but it isn't a business focus for us, atleast as far as I am aware. I think the follow applies to just about any retailer...
A company, no matter what industry, needs to stay focused on what keeps them in business, making money. Right now, and I would say that this is hard to argue against, Linux is not totaly ready for prime time retail. Yes, Linspire is making HUGE strides towards that goal, and I AM a Linux Supporter (especially in the enterprise), but, the level of interest hasnt hit yet. The thing to remember is that, in BB, CC, CUSA... case, most of the people that come in to buy a computer don't care if it is windows or linux or (insert random OS) so long as it get's the job done. Most of them like Windows because it is what they are trained on in the workplace. What does this have to do with support? If you don't already see where this is going, stop reading, go back to your TUI, and keep typing away, you will not be able to see the forest for the trees and probobly have an elitest mindset that cannot tollerate a rational discussion. It means that if there isn't a high enough demand to train support staff for linux supprt, they aren't going to do it. But, if Geek Squad was recieving a trackable amount of service calls on Linux, I am SURE that there would be action towards pproviding that kind of support. Your results should not have supprised any one. I would almost say it is a good thing at this point for the average consumer because you konw that the investments in training and so on are being spent on what is currently mainstream. I would love to see BB start selling Linux based computers. Based on a unified distrobution. (like linspire) I think that we would sell a fair amount of them. but right now, it is on the compunity to deliver a product that will convince stratigic planners that there will be a good ROI on that kind of movement. Also, until HP, Gateway, Sony... start wanting to sell that kind of PC in the retail channel, you won't see it in a store. So if you REALLY want to make a change in that direction, let them know. The consumer has more control than they think. You ask, we deliver. It is how the system works.
Also, I would say that the Techs in my store are top noch. Most of them have good people skills and are able to comunicate with the customre so that they understand what went wrong, and how to prevent it from happening again. Please don't knock them for not knowing linux by saying they aren't "geeky enough". They are skilled int he areas they need to be to do a great job. It is hard for everyone to know everything. I personaly want the guy or gal working on an issue to be foccused on the area of that issue, and not a "jack of all trades".
If anyone would like to respond directly to me, feel free to do so:
bjjohnson_at_mailblocks.com
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Posted by: bjjohnson04 on January 21, 2005 04:04 AMWell you are correct in that we general don't support Linux users. I don't think it is fair to knock the Geek Squad techs as not geeky enough though. They are very good at what they are hired to do. Most of them, atleast at my store, are dabling in linux and starting get aware of it's capabilities, but it isn't a business focus for us, atleast as far as I am aware. I think the follow applies to just about any retailer...
A company, no matter what industry, needs to stay focused on what keeps them in business, making money. Right now, and I would say that this is hard to argue against, Linux is not totaly ready for prime time retail. Yes, Linspire is making HUGE strides towards that goal, and I AM a Linux Supporter (especially in the enterprise), but, the level of interest hasnt hit yet. The thing to remember is that, in BB, CC, CUSA... case, most of the people that come in to buy a computer don't care if it is windows or linux or (insert random OS) so long as it get's the job done. Most of them like Windows because it is what they are trained on in the workplace. What does this have to do with support? If you don't already see where this is going, stop reading, go back to your TUI, and keep typing away, you will not be able to see the forest for the trees and probobly have an elitest mindset that cannot tollerate a rational discussion. It means that if there isn't a high enough demand to train support staff for linux supprt, they aren't going to do it. But, if Geek Squad was recieving a trackable amount of service calls on Linux, I am SURE that there would be action towards pproviding that kind of support. Your results should not have supprised any one. I would almost say it is a good thing at this point for the average consumer because you konw that the investments in training and so on are being spent on what is currently mainstream. I would love to see BB start selling Linux based computers. Based on a unified distrobution. (like linspire) I think that we would sell a fair amount of them. but right now, it is on the compunity to deliver a product that will convince stratigic planners that there will be a good ROI on that kind of movement. Also, until HP, Gateway, Sony... start wanting to sell that kind of PC in the retail channel, you won't see it in a store. So if you REALLY want to make a change in that direction, let them know. The consumer has more control than they think. You ask, we deliver. It is how the system works.
Also, I would say that the Techs in my store are top noch. Most of them have good people skills and are able to comunicate with the customre so that they understand what went wrong, and how to prevent it from happening again. Please don't knock them for not knowing linux by saying they aren't "geeky enough". They are skilled int he areas they need to be to do a great job. It is hard for everyone to know everything. I personaly want the guy or gal working on an issue to be foccused on the area of that issue, and not a "jack of all trades".
If anyone would like to respond directly to me, feel free to do so:
bjjohnson_at_mailblocks.com
Thanks for your time!
Brad J
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