[LINK] Do Telstra require MS Windows for broadband?

[Stilgherrian]

>>> Until I signed up to broadband Internet I did not even have Microsoft
>>> installed on my PC, but Telstra would not install Bigpond without it.
>> 
>>   Has any Linker had this experience?  Surely such behaviour would warrant
>> attention from the ACCC?

While I'm not especially a fan of Telstra's Internet services, I'm having
trouble seeing this as a restrictive trade practice.

Telstra isn't saying that you can't put a Linux box on their broadband
network. They're saying that they provide technical assistance if you run
Windows or Mac OS, but if you're running anything else then you're on your
own.

It's not *Telstra's* job to build and maintain *your* internal data network.

I don't see this as being any different to a mechanic putting up a sign
advertising his services, you bringing in an obscure car, and him saying
"Oh, sorry, I don't know how to fix that. You'll have to go somewhere else."

Am I missing something?

If you want an ISP which supports Linux, then I can thoroughly recommend
Pacific Internet's business DSL. It costs more, but you get 24/7 telephone
support staffed by actual network support people, not call centre
read-the-script droids.

I ran into an obscure connectivity problem under Linux. Not only did their
tech support guy understand how to speak the language, but he even suggested
I email him the configuration files. A couple of days later they'd
researched the problem and emailed me back a modified configuration which
worked perfectly.

Note that I'm talking about their business product, not their residential /
consumer product. It is NOT the cheapest DSL connection on the market. You
get what you pay for, and you pay for what you get...

Stil


-- 
Stilgherrian <stil at stilgherrian.com>
Internet, IT and Media Consulting, Sydney, Australia. ABN 25 231 641 421
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