idea: a managed linux distribution, for weak users

[Kelsay, Brian - Kansas City, MO]

They pay me to take control of the machines of stupid people all day
long.  It's called the helpdesk.   What a concept.  Some people can't be
bothered to remember how to do anything on their computer.  

I also have relative strangers that are referred to me by acquaintances,
that ask me to fix their computer.  I frequently take said strangers PC
or HDD to my home for sometimes several weeks until I get time to work
on it.   During this time, those people know I have complete access to
it, but are so happy when I return it fixed that they pay me.


Brian Kelsay


-----Original Message-----
From: Christofer C. Bell
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:20 PM

On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 2:59 PM, Nathan Cerny <ncerny at gmail.com> wrote:
> Actually, there's companies that do similar today.  You're just
calling it
> stupid because you are smart enough to control your own computer.

I'm calling it stupid because it is stupid.

> You would have to price it appropriately, but I think there's a market
for
> remote administration.  We do it for other companies - you're just
talking
> about expanding it into the private sector.  You would have to figure
out
> how to handle hardware problems and SLAs though...as well as internet
access
> requirements.  And making it simple enough for the average lay user to
> understand.

There is no "making it simple enough for the average lay user to
understand."  You are saying, "give me money to take control of your
computer away from you."  RIAA and Microsoft are already feeling
backlash for something *far less sinister* (DRM music) than handing
over your entire computer to someone else -- and *paying* for the
privilege.

This idea is unworkable, this idea is not well thought out, this idea
does not take this cool thing called "real people" into account.  It's
a bad idea.

-- 
Chris