[HLUG] Ubuntu 5.10 could be friendlier to winX upgraders with dialup

[Matt Rhys-Roberts]

With much regret, I had to re-image a friend's PC with Windoze ME (yes I 
know) last night, because the proposed installation of Ubuntu a) 
couldn't work with the supplied Lucent winmodem without a fight, and b) 
I seemed stuck without a ready-installed PPP modem dialler. Using an 
external 56k serial modem instead, I tried downloading what I could find 
via the repositories, but the ETA over a 56k link was far longer than I 
had available to work on the box. Neither could I easily find a means to 
attach the box to my IPcop firewall for a faster download.

So unless I've missed something in frustration, I fear that the ever 
improving world of distro's may be leaving an important class of user 
behind, i.e. the diehard rural dialup customers who as yet can't get or 
don't want broadband. Correct me if I've missed something!

I've been given until Thursday night to return the box to them, which 
I'd hoped to have Ubuntu on instead of WinME. Looks like Bill's won this 
one at the moment.

-- 
Best Regards,
Matt Rhys-Roberts