Mac and Linux users blacklisted from hurricane "relief"
From a political list I am on. This can be looked at a few different ways.
1) it shows there are enough linux users here in the states to make this an issue 2) It brings linux to the news in a new way and shows the drawbacks of a microsoft based system. Jim http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26013 Thursday 08 September 2005, 07:51 Mac and Linux users blacklisted from hurricane relief Administration only gives cash to Microsoft users By Nick Farrell THE NOW very much criticised US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stopped Mac and Linux victims of hurricane Katrina from applying for relief. The agency, which is already in hot water for its lack-lustre rescue efforts in New Orleans, has created a web-based service that only works for users of Windows and IE6. So far only Mac users that have Opera, which can make an attempt to show that it is an IE6 machine, are able to access the claims service. According to online magazine Ars Technica, relief workers are frustrated at being tied to Windows by FEMA's online services. They have to spend precious aid money on Windows OS licenses as they set up terminals to help thousands of hurricane victims initiate the claims process. They are complaining that Windows XP workstations take ages to set up, patch and configure, when they could do the whole thing a lot quicker on Linux. Some hardware, which has been donated to the cause, will not run Windows XP.
James Smullins wrote:
From a political list I am on. This can be looked at a few different ways.
1) it shows there are enough linux users here in the states to make this an issue
Or that people setting up these sites are very narrowly educated in such matters and if the one mouse gets broken, the site won't get constructed or published.
2) It brings linux to the news in a new way and shows the drawbacks of a microsoft based system.
They usually turn it around and say that Linux is not compliant. There are very many Windows users out there that are so scared of all the illware that's floating around, they won't trust firefox or anything unfamiliar because they fear it may cause more havoc than IE, so they keep using IE and one day will tell you their computer is slow. Clean it up and they are happy until the next accumulation of the same crap.
Jim
Regards Sid.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26013
Thursday 08 September 2005, 07:51
Mac and Linux users blacklisted from hurricane relief Administration only gives cash to Microsoft users By Nick Farrell
THE NOW very much criticised US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stopped Mac and Linux victims of hurricane Katrina from applying for relief.
The agency, which is already in hot water for its lack-lustre rescue efforts in New Orleans, has created a web-based service that only works for users of Windows and IE6.
So far only Mac users that have Opera, which can make an attempt to show that it is an IE6 machine, are able to access the claims service.
According to online magazine Ars Technica, relief workers are frustrated at being tied to Windows by FEMA's online services.
They have to spend precious aid money on Windows OS licenses as they set up terminals to help thousands of hurricane victims initiate the claims process.
They are complaining that Windows XP workstations take ages to set up, patch and configure, when they could do the whole thing a lot quicker on Linux.
Some hardware, which has been donated to the cause, will not run Windows XP.
-- Sid Boyce ... Hamradio License G3VBV, Keen licensed Private Pilot Retired IBM/Amdahl Mainframes and Sun/Fujitsu Servers Tech Support Specialist Microsoft Windows Free Zone - Linux used for all Computing Tasks
The agency, which is already in hot water for its lack-lustre rescue efforts in New Orleans, has created a web-based service that only works for users of Windows and IE6.
It also doesn't work on IE7 You're blocked if you have anything but IE6. The amusing thing is if you spoof the site using Opera/FF and make it thing you're running XP/IE6 it works fine. The restrictions are put on by some lazy webdevelopers that couldn't be bothered to test on other browsers... or don't even know how to properly build a website.
participants (3)
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Clayton -
James Smullins -
Sid Boyce