Got a Linux Problem? Help Is On The Way - Computers - Operating Systems

Most people pick up the phone an call for help the moment their Windows system crashes or doesn't perform as expected. Typically that mean an expensive and time-consuming call to Microsoft support or to a local tech support person. In the Linux world, help is readily available, and often free.

Now, there are paid support options as well. Some large companies have Linux experts on call in case there are problems. But another option, especially for desktop users, is to access the Linux community of experts via online forums. If you are using Ubuntu and have an issue, nine times out of ten someone else has had the exact same problem, have already solved it, and posted a solution online. The forums for Ubuntu users are an excellent resource for those new to Ubuntu who have a problem.

For a time Linux users got a bad rap for being rude to new users who didn't know anything about computers. On the Ubuntu forums this isn't the case at all. The discourse is usually quite courteous. Make sure to do a search for your particular issue before posting. Again, you probably aren't the first to have had this particular problem (which should be a comforting thought) and there may already be a conversation, or thread, going discussing what to do and how to recover. If you cannot find a current conversation about your issue, then you may start a new thread, but try to be as specific as possible. If the title of your message is "Help me!!!!", you may not get a response, but if the title is "no sound in Skype, 10.4, Fujitsu NF40T laptop, you may be surprised how helpful the Linux community can be.

Paid support options for desktop and server installs for Ubuntu can be found at shop.canonical.com. The desktop support option starts at just over $100 for one year of professional support.

If you want to go the free support route, then you can't go wrong with the ubuntu forums here:





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