[name brand] support sucks for anything other then windows users... [COLUG]

[Jim]

Was the computer given to you? 

Duane wrote:

> ... [name brand] product ... 

> ... I know a hdd is damaged and going to fail and
> can't use it until I have proof it's failing from their own software...

I am afraid that many manufacturers take such a tack. 
It's all part of the name brand experience. 

It's easier to list the clueful and Linux friendly brands, 
that it is to list the clueless. 

About the brand that you mentioned, the experience you described 
sounded completely consistent with the proprietary affinity 
we've known them to have for some time.