[NCLUG] local end-user support

[DJ Eshelman]

I hate to say this, but as an advanced support provider, trying to support
end-users in a Linux environment that you aren't directly responsible for
managing...  the market would be so niche it wouldn't be worth it.  With the
very nature of Linux being "here's a toy, put it together how you want it",
it would be really hard to do end-user support on the OS level.

Besides, most companies that would pay the rates would probably just have
someone on their own.

>From the professional angle, we (TechSmart) have not decided to pursue that
market but who knows... there may be a future for it.  As far as hardware
level support, I've been called to the shop several times for random SCO,
UX, Linux and such projects, and have done data recovery on some Linux
webservers for CSU, but we haven't really pursued the market thus far.

Now, as far as higher-end stuff - this group probably has a veritable
cornucopia of willing consultants :)

But you've got me curious now, too... anyone else think there's a market for
this sort of thing?

-DJ

On 11/7/07, Chad Perrin <perrin at apotheon.com> wrote:
>
> I'm curious about something . . .
>
> MS Windows end-users have access to local, easily aquired support for
> their systems.  Often such support is a rip-off, where some bored
> know-nothing tech spends all day wiping hard drives and reinstalling the
> OS and drivers from whatever CDs are brought in by the customer, but
> sometimes it's worth something -- and regardless of whether the support
> is any good, it's still *visible* support, so that people feel reassured
> that they can get local support when they need it.
>
> Is there any end-user Unix/Linux support in this area?  If so -- how
> easily can it be found?  Is it listed in a telephone book somewhere that
> I haven't seen?  Is it easily located via Google?  Is it generally found
> only via word of mouth?  Where can people get end-user support services
> for non-Microsoft, non-Apple systems where people can get the "you don't
> have to do anything, we'll do it for you" support they can expect to find
> for MS Windows?
>
> I just wonder whether such a thing exists around here.  I'm also
> skeptical whether there's much of a market for it -- but if there's
> someone providing such services, I guess that person or organization
> would who place to ask whether my perception of a lack of market for it
> is accurate.
>
> --
> CCD CopyWrite Chad Perrin [ http://ccd.apotheon.org ]
> Anonymous: "Eat your crow early, while it's young and tender.  Don't wait
> until it's old and tough."
> _______________________________________________
> NCLUG mailing list       NCLUG at nclug.org
>
> To unsubscribe, subscribe, or modify
> your settings, go to:
> http://www.nclug.org/mailman/listinfo/nclug
>