Just looked at the elonex site, and the ubuntu version is no longer listed in the shop?

Cheers

Regarding the idea of setting up an affordable Ubuntu Linux helpline for home users, perhaps that is an idea you could pass on to CANONICAL if it is not something you would wish to get involved with yourself.

As far as I know, Canonical currently only provides support to business users. However, as Ubuntu becomes mainstream there will be a HUGE demand for dedicated technical support in the near future.

By the way, I am sorry to have overlooked your previous post on Memory Upgrades: http://webbookblog.com/thanks-for-the-memory/ Having struggled even to connect a printer, I think I’d better steer clear of anything like that for the time being.

I’ve had a look at the website of the Home I.T. Helpdesk (used by Elonex) and much is made of the support provided “for all Microsoft products”, but there is no mention of Linux, let alone Ubuntu. (No mention of Ubuntu on the Elonex website either, come to that!!)

Would it not be a great idea to set up an Ubuntu Linux Tech Squad under your own direction?

By the way, do you have any thoughts on my printing problems?:
http://webbookblog.com/free-as-in-really-really-free/#comments

I bought HP Deskjet D1470 not only because it was cheap and compact, but also because it was supposed to work well with Ubuntu: http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=HP-D1470

Could the problem really be a bug?

P.s. Perhaps you could include a section on memory (RAM) upgrades in the webbook user manual….

Having reread the article I linked to, I think I wrongly identified Callstream with “Elonex’s 24 hour support centre in Cape Town, South Africa”. However, the man on the help desk in Cape Town whom I spoke to in September told me the support centre was not actually run by Elonex, but by a separate company affiliated with it. And as I said, he was extremely negative and unhelpful regarding Ubuntu. If Elonex are still diverting support calls to Cape Town, it surely does not bode well….

One concern I have is that Elonex has farmed out Support to a company called Callstream in South Africa. See: http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=15852

Before I bought my webbook I rang the Elonex phone number provided in a CPW booklet and was astounded to find myself speaking to a guy in Cape Town who told me quite frankly that he and his colleagues were fed up with Ubuntu Linux and that it was well worth paying a bit more to get Windows!!!!

Also, selling memory (RAM) upgrades for under £20 is all well and good, but I am probably not the only person who would not have the confidence to tackle something like that.

These are just some first thoughts and impressions….

By the way, I was interested in your update on the webbook user manual, Alan. Sections such as FAQs, Compatible devices and Useful Resources would perhaps lend themselves well to community contributions….