I have some friends who just adore Kim Komando. Until I knew these guys I had never heard of Kim. These fellows are primarily Microsoft and Apple users which is Kim’s target audience. Plus, it does not hurt any that Kim is a relatively good looking blonde woman. If you are like me and know nothing about her then I invite you to check her site. Be aware that it is a site designed to target advertisements to the users and get one to buy stuff, including Kim’s “premium” content. The more users, the more potential advertisement revenue for Kim. Kim primarily targets the Microsoft user base to “help” with all the problems with Microsoft products which currently gives her a large base of potential readers (advertisement viewers), book buyers and premium content subscribers.
Since I am no longer fond of Microsoft products and have never been fond of Apple much I wondered how Kim handles questions about GNU/Linux a.k.a. Linux. Some searches on her site point to Linux questions that are only covered under her premium content. While I am curious how Kim answers these questions I am not curious enough to pay to find out. I also did some web searching with AltaVista and found that Kim has a regular column in the Gannett owned USA Today. Her last column there that had Linux in the title was in 2003. I read the column and discovered the typical “Linux is a command-line OS”, which it is not, and “GNU/Linux is only for tinkerers”, meaning geeks, information.
So, that was in 2003. Has Kim realized Linux is just a kernel and that GNU/Linux distributions are now good for the average desktop user? As of August 2008, apparently not. In a post on her web site about Inexpensive Laptops I found this little tidbit:
Netbooks generally are available with Windows. Some run Linux. Unless you want a learning experience, specify Windows. Also, software and hardware often won’t play nice with Linux. I only recommend Linux for hard-core geeks.
That sort of “Linux recommendation” is no recommendation at all. Any person reading that who is unsure about switching to a GNU/Linux distribution is more than likely going to be scared off by that “recommendation”.
Kim really gets it wrong with that statement. Hardware preloaded with GNU/Linux, like typical netbooks, is pretty much guaranteed to work with GNU/Linux. Software created on and for GNU/Linux will absolutely “play nice” with GNU/Linux. Unqualified statements by “experts”, such as the one from Kim above, do harm to adoption of Linux by average users. Actually recommending trying a GNU/Linux distribution on a Live CD would be a better recommendation. But one cannot expect those who make their living off the woes of Microsoft slaves to promote a more secure, more robust and more user friendly solution like GNU/Linux.
There are more “experts” like Kim out there on the WWW that make their living off of Microsoft created problems. For the most part they all denigrate adoption of GNU/Linux by average desktop PC users. After all, these “experts” are invested in Microsoft as their cash cow and do not want to kill that beast. I understand their motivation to keep people on Microsoft products even though I find this motivation repugnant. GNU/Linux is definitely ready to be used by average users buying preloaded desktop systems. The typical Microsoft “expert” is just not ready for GNU/Linux it seems.
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Edit Wed May 13 15:18:11 CDT 2009: Fix a poorly created sentence in the next to last paragraph.
Edit Wed May 13 15:57:40 CDT 2009: Fix misspelling of Gannett.
on May 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Interesting article…
And while I am not very happy with the comments that you point out that were said about GNU/Linux from the Komando… I did a Google search of the komando.com site using the method below and what I found surprised me:
linux site:komando.com
OR
http://www.google.com/search?q=linux+site%3Akomando.com
If you look at the links that appear in the search, you will be directed to a “User to User > Linux” section of the forums on the komando.com site. Here’s the link: http://www.komando.com/messageboard/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=46
Surprisingly, there are quite a few entries in the section of the site I mentioned above with information about the different aspects of using/adapting to GNU/Linux. There is actually some good information in there (provide from “users” to “users”).
So really this Komando person should realize that even on her own site people are actively using GNU/Linux, and sharing information about their experiences with it.
I think maybe I’ll try to contact this person and let them know that the negativity about GNU/Linux is being heard, and that it’s not helping her cause for being a technical assistant type person.
As for not wanting to kill of the “beast” of Windhoze… I see your point, and what’s funny is that whether it be Windhoze or GNU/Linux, the less technically adept will always be looking for help from the more technically adept. The only difference is that the “more technically adept” will need to learn more about GNU/Linux.
humans enabled - that’s what technology is for
Shannon VanWagner
on May 13th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I couldn’t agree more with you.
>_<
on May 13th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Kim gets it wrong with Windows too. Her articles ended up in my local newspaper. I couldn’t believe how ignorant her answers usually were. I feel sorry for anyone who has ever listened to her advice.
on May 13th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
My folks are in their 70s and they use PCLinuxOS and Mandriva2009 w/KDE4.2. My dad was on Windows for 9 years before switching while my mom used her 1st computer in her mid70s.
If they can use Linux, anyone can.
KDE4 is a much, much better choice for a desktop for ex-Windows users because it looks much more like something they once used. The GTK based look is also something that makes it look alien.
My 7 year old has used KDE based desktops since he was 2 and switches from KDE to Win to Gnome (it came with his Dell Mini 9 which he switched to Kubuntu w KDE4.2 because it originally looked ‘old’ and dull!) and even Mac with his cousins with ease.
I didnt put my dad on Linux until 2-3 years ago when I found PCLinuxOS when it was #1 on Distrowatch and it just worked. I didnt think the desktops were ready just yet. The past 2 years has seen some truly amazing changes.
When we put my mom on the Mandriva 2009 w.KDE4.2 2 months ago, she didnt know how to hold a mouse (one click is great for older people and for netbooks). Now she knows how to reach me or my brother or other family members on Skype and Kopete and at the bottom of her FF3 is the Gmail extension which tells her when she has email. She loves the Kwin eye candy like the magnifier, 4page spread, clock widget which take 30% of her screen and a few eye candy too. Her knowledge is very limited and she interacts mainly through the Speed Dial extension bookmarks still but again, she never used a computer before this one. She can skype her cousins in europe now.
My 7 year old is a power user, knows how to disactivate my sudo shutdown -30 command now too, so I wouldnt use him as a benchmark but my retired folks with very different computer experiences and I think represent the newbie and convert from Windows segments of the population.
If they can use Gnu-Linux distros, ANYONE can.
Btw, I showed my dad how to take the 55 pics he took at a family bday, put them in a slide show, add an MP3 and output it to dvd in simple steps. The program? KDEnlive, the first decent Linux video editor.
I have also read and even seen at conventions these so called “Linux users” spout some inane things
on May 13th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I’ll certainly have to agree with you. Back when I ran Win. I thought she was pretty good, then she went more & more comercialized and less content(got a big head). A couple of yrs ago I ask a linux question and you’d have thought I had just shot the Pope or something, after that I started disrecommending her to anyone needing computer help. If you are going to put yourself up as a “Guru” you should be aware of “all” thats going on
on May 13th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
“Plus, it does not hurt any that Kim is a relatively good looking blonde woman.”
I’d use that relatively part loosely. Ick. If that’s why people go to her site, using Windows is only one part of their overall problem.
on May 14th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Kim has been on the radio for easily a decade or more. I can remember my mom (an avid computer user, not an expert by any means, though) listening to her show on the local AM talk radio station. Even as a teenager, I can remember most of her answers to callers questions being, shall we say, less than completely informed. I always got the impression that most of her knowledge came from reading mainstream computer magazines rather than actual experience with using and troubleshooting computers. Most of her advice seemed to revolve around reinstalling windows or buying software. She tended to give short shrift to shareware and freeware and seemed blissfully ignorant of how the Internet worked and was changing the PC landscape until it had already fully arrived.
on May 14th, 2009 at 4:55 am
I will get flamed for saying this, but in a way she is right. before you linux users scream, hear me out. I run a little PC shop and have tried selling Linux 4 times in the past 4 years and have found it simply isn’t ready for your non tech user. Why? One word: Walmart. pretty much NOTHING sold in Walmart, especially printers and all in ones, will work in Linux. To support a Netbook in Windows is simple. The User asks “Question, how do I get my printer to work? Answer-Google ‘name of printer XP driver’” and you are done. Pretty much all of the below $100 printers and all in ones simply don’t work in Linux. So the customer gets their new PC home, be it a desktop or Netbook, and either goes to Walmart and buys a cheap printer or tries to plug one in. And guess what? It don’t work. For geeks doing research on products before you buy is just something you do, average users just go to Walmart. And until every printer currently being sold by Walmart works guys like me simply can’t sell Linux, and the Netbook manufacturers will keep giving the Lion’s share to Windows. because it is simply easier to deal with from a support standpoint. Sorry.
on May 14th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Although I do like some segments of her show, I have come to regard her as a Microsoft spokesperson. This is not surprising in light of the fact that most of her sponsors are marketing products useful on Windows machines only. She admits to owning a Mac and an iPhone, but spends little airtime discussing these. She often gives away “prizes”, and sometimes the prize is a copy of Vista. I consider this to be a form of Microsoft support and endorsement.
I was quite surprised when I recently heard her advise a budget conscious listener to try OpenOffice. This was an “about face” from her earlier comments about this product.
I often wish was a competing talk radio show emphasizing GNU/Linux topics.
on May 14th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Shannon (comment #1), thanks for reading and for the comment. I look forward to seeing what the response is from the handlers at komando.com to your e-mail. Come back and let us know.
Edit: BTW, I did see the “user to user” Linux section in the forums on komando.com but that is not Kim helping people with GNU/Linux, so I chose to not mention it. I wanted to concentrate on what Kim Komando says, not what people already using GNU/Linux do to help one another.
on May 14th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Caleb (comment #3), thank you for the comment. Like I said I only have known of Kim for a relatively short period of time. My perspective is mainly what does she say about GNU/Linux, but I appreciate your sharing your assessment of her skills.
on May 14th, 2009 at 7:58 am
guy (comment #4), thank you for that excellent comment. I really enjoy reading about success stories like yours. Keep up the good work, my friend.
on May 14th, 2009 at 8:00 am
randiroo76073 (comment #5), I appreciate your comment. Since I have not followed Kim I am glad to see information from those who have. Thanks.
on May 14th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Mrs. Ugly (comment #6), thank you for reading. However, let’s keep our comments about the message and avoid ad hominem attacks on the messengers please. I only allowed your comment just so I could make this point.
on May 14th, 2009 at 8:06 am
anon (comment #7), I appreciate you reading here. Thanks for your perspective on Kim Komando’s advice as well. I believe that is the sort of information that people would want to see.
on May 14th, 2009 at 8:19 am
kb (comment #8), glad you read the article and commented. I do not allow flames here except when I want to make a point about not making ad hominem attacks. See my comment to “Mrs. Ugly” above.
That said, I will say “you did it wrong”. As a small system builder and seller of a GNU/Linux solution you need to offer more than the average Microsoft “build ‘em, sell ‘em ‘n forget ‘em” box builder. Make sure you give your GNU/Linux customers information about what they need to do to make sure they have a good experience. Offer printers yourself that are not too expensive but that you know work with CUPS, the GNU/Linux printing system. Or just do the research and give out a list of current models that work with CUPS to your customers willing to try GNU/Linux. Do the same for other commodity hardware that your customers may want to get. Be willing to be a mentor and start or join a Linux User Group (LUG) in your area to help users that buy a GNU/Linux system from you.
With GNU/Linux we have a good community, not just customer, developer and retailer. Members of good communities work to help one another, and not always for monetary compensation.
on May 14th, 2009 at 8:23 am
birdydon (comment #10), thank you for reading. I appreciate you taking the time to let us know how you view Kim’s advice. If you want a competing GNU/Linux talk show, start one.
Actually, I think there may be one or two of those on internet streams, anyone know?
on May 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
There is, in fact, an AM radio show based out of Phoenix, AZ called the “Gutsy Geeks”. You can check out their website to listen to their podcasts:
http://www.gutsygeeks.com/
on May 14th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
stoobie (comment #18), thanks for the comment and for the URL to Gutsy Geeks. I’ve listened to one of the archived shows and think I will be listening more. I recommend that others go check it out too.
on May 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
My sister-in-law and her daughter are about the most un-tech-savvy people on the planet. I bought a cheap $200 refurbished e-machine for them. It came with XP-Home and nothing else. No productivity software, no games (other than the usual solitaire and minesweeper) and wouldn’t play DVDs. About all it was good for was watching it boot and shutting it down.
So, I installed openSuse 11.1 and remarkably, everything worked out of the box. I installed all the educational and games software, and support for DVD playing. They’ve had it for over three months now, and the only thing I hear is them gushing about how wonderful the computer works. They haven’t even made it through all the games yet.
If they can manage to use a Linux system then anyone who can work a mouse is also eligible to join the Linux club.
on May 14th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@KB
Can you name some sub-$100 printers that don’t work with Linux? I’ve been using Linux for 10 years. I only buy cheapo printers because that’s all I need; in fact, the last two printers I got were bundled free with computers. Every one of them worked perfectly with Linux, out of the box.
I want to stress that out-of-the-box part, because I didn’t have to Google a driver, like I might with Windows. I just plugged it in.
In fact, Linux now has far better out-of-the-box hardware support than Windows. My favorite example was when I was setting up an XP machine for somebody and I found XP didn’t support the network card. I booted a Linux CD in the same machine, downloaded the XP driver (Linux supported the card perfectly), saved it, rebooted XP, and installed the driver. This was way back in 2003. Linux has only improved its hardware support since then.
on May 14th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Ken (comment #20), thank you for reading. I appreciate your comment pointing out how non-technical people can easily use a preloaded GNU/Linux system.
on May 14th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
JB (comment #21), thank you for reading and for that comment. I too have had mostly plug-n-play success with cheap printers on modern distributions. Not only that but all the Epson multifunction printers I know of people using with GNU/Linux are working properly. Scanning, photo grabbing off SD card and printing just works with those. AFAIK, Wal-Mart carries some of the Epson models.
Regarding your other comment that I did not allow, I have said what I am going to say on that matter. I am not going to debate it.
on May 14th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Well, once upon a time, Kim used to work at Unisys but that was a long time ago before my dad retired…
on May 14th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
kb, I assume Walmart is some supermarket in the USA ?
Last week I read that Lexmark is doing a bad job in supporting Linux, or rather that Linux developers are having a difficult time supporting Lexmark printers. But see here :
http://www.openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi?make=Lexmark
It’s not that bad.
And, as an example, yesterday I installed Ubuntu on a machine which had an Epson usb printer connected.
After the Ubuntu installation the printer was already configured!
I didn’t have to do anything special for that, not even open the Printer Administration menu entry!
on May 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Oh please. This “Kim Komando” has been giving incorrect advice for years. She should’ve been taken off the air way long ago.
GNU/Linux is just fine for the average user. My Dad has been using CentOS 5 since January 2008. It was easy. All I did was install OpenOffice.org and Firefox on his Windows machine a few years back. He discovered that he liked Quicken, so I put him on KMyMoney, and he likes it (”well, Son, it looks a *little* different, but it’s close enough!”). He watches all his videos, DVD’s, etc. on CentOS 5.
So don’t tell me GNU/Linux is “just for geeks.” My Dad tells me something otherwise. And I prefer brunettes (e. g. Iman) over blondes anyway.
–SYG
on May 15th, 2009 at 7:48 am
SYG: Your post is a positive one and I’m glad your dad is getting along just fine with Linux.
But I’m curious… why CentOS? CentOS is an enterprise-level distro, not necessarily known for its use at the desktop level. Please don’t get me wrong… if it works, it works and that’s the bottom line… just curious as to why not a desktop distro.
KB: Perhaps a reason you haven’t had success selling Linux is because consumers can get it for free? If I were you, what I would do is sell technical support for Linux… just how technical support is sold for Windows.
Gene: Great article… glad I found your blog… I’m adding it to my RSS.
CT
on May 15th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
sm00f1 (comment #24), thanks for reading. Yes, I read about Kim’s career as a sales person (Not a technical expert!) at IBM, AT&T and Unisys. One can read about Kim Komando’s career at About Kim on her web site.
on May 15th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
albinootje (comment #25), thank you for reading and for your comment.
Yes, Wal-Mart is a USA “super store”. You can find out about it at Wal-Mart’s web site.
on May 15th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Sum Yung Gai (comment #26), I appreciate you reading my article and your comment. I too find that when people are given a little instruction and a relatively familiar GUI on top of X on top of GNU/Linux they have no problem using it.
on May 15th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Captain_Tux (comment #27), thank you for the kudos and for reading.
I think one can easily sell preloaded GNU/Linux computers. After all, my company does offer those on our shopping site.
But one must be willing to help people convert if one does sell such systems. Giving away some free support to help a customer get converted to GNU/Linux is a way to “pay” for being able to offer it for “free” as a preload. If one does not want to give away support for “free” for eternity, that is understandable. Just give 30, 60, 90 days of “free” support to help with the changeover with the understanding that after 30, 60, 90 days support will not be “free”.
I believe “kb” just needs to rethink how he does this.
on May 16th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Testing reCAPTCHA for unregistered users following update to latest version.
(It works. Gene)
on May 23rd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
If someone is looking for an alternative to Kim Komando that fears no penguin, I suggest Leo Laporte. He’s on KFI 640KHz AM in the Los Angeles market, and online everywhere else. He’s also involved in a long-running podcast called This Week In Tech, which is basically a running family reunion of the late lamented TechTV and their much-beloved The ScreenSavers show.
Here’s the URL to check Leo and his friends out: http://www.twit.tv/
on May 23rd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Ms. Geek (comment #33), thank you for reading and for the pointer to Leo Laporte. I know I have heard/read Mr. Laporte’s name in regard to GNU/Linux somewhere before but cannot recall where.