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O2 web designers think it's 2006 (blocking payments from Linux)? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,173
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O2 web designers think it's 2006 (blocking payments from Linux)?
I switched several relatives from Windows XP to Linux last year and so far it's all been going great (in fact, far fewer requests for support since getting them off Windows).
But my step-mother has just informed me that this month and last she has been unable to pay her O2 bill online due to O2 bone-headedly implementing some sort of user-agent sniffing. I've been trying to think of a reason for any company, in 2016, to do something so ridiculously stupid but have been unable to come up with one. Chrome is Chrome, and Firefox is Firefox no matter what OS they're running on, so i just don't get it. Anyone else have any ideas on why O2 would pull a stunt like this? |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: East Midlands
Posts: 3,842
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you could try windows 10 that should work, or get a mac
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 14,577
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Linux isn't user friendly as far as ordinary users go. It's fine for IT people and for servers, but most Linux desktops are awful, even now. A classic example here http://youtu.be/NfjeZJUvQI0
I think TBH you'd have been better off putting your relatives on Windows 10. According to the figures for April 2016 for the desktop and laptop market Linux has a 1.55% install base, with the Linux kernel responsible for 1.40% of web requests according to the user agent, so you say it's not 2006, but it kind of really is isn't it. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 636
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Quote:
... Anyone else have any ideas on why O2 would pull a stunt like this?
Out of interest, which flavour of Linux have you switched them over to? (Guessing Ubuntu but might be wrong.) Are there any particular difficulties that you've encountered? |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 224
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So if it really is only the user agent. Get them a user Agent Switcher so O2 thinks there using Windows or MacOS.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: St Albans
Posts: 638
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Does Chrome support extensions on Linux? There are some that can fake the user agent.
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,173
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Quote:
I think TBH you'd have been better off putting your relatives on Windows 10.
Switched her over to Linux and this is the first problem since. It's been a far superior platform, especially for those that mainly use their computers for web browsing, email, etc. Quote:
Originally Posted by binary
Out of interest, which flavour of Linux have you switched them over to? (Guessing Ubuntu but might be wrong.) Are there any particular difficulties that you've encountered?
This is the first real difficulty any of the people i have moved over has had, and it's a ridiculous problem to have in 2016, where companies shouldn't be using weird platform-specific hacks, which is why i'm a bit miffed about it. Quote:
Originally Posted by mici01
So if it really is only the user agent. Get them a user Agent Switcher so O2 thinks there using Windows or MacOS.
Quote:
Originally Posted by huwdw
Does Chrome support extensions on Linux? There are some that can fake the user agent.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 14,577
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Quote:
No free upgrade from XP to Windows 10. .
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 787
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Quote:
Linux isn't user friendly as far as ordinary users go. It's fine for IT people and for servers, but most Linux desktops are awful, even now. A classic example here http://youtu.be/NfjeZJUvQI0
I think TBH you'd have been better off putting your relatives on Windows 10. According to the figures for April 2016 for the desktop and laptop market Linux has a 1.55% install base, with the Linux kernel responsible for 1.40% of web requests according to the user agent, so you say it's not 2006, but it kind of really is isn't it. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,383
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Quote:
It's just an annoying problem that really makes me question the competence of whoever does O2's site. And it must have recently been added since the problem only started last month.
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