Last night while watching my usual list of recorded television programs, I saw a commercial for KGB, the company that begs you to text them with your questions. For a mere 99 cents, they'll answer any question that you ask of them. I'm sure that they have their share of tricksters with questions such as, "What is life" and "What is the air speed of an unladen swallow." But my mind dances to a different beat. And, with my wife's permission, I posed the following question using her cell phone: "Which Linux distribution is the best for new users?"
As a safeguard against theft or silliness, they have an automated response to any query that reads something similar to, "Thank you for texting KGB, our answers are only 0.99 each, please reply and text YES to confirm."
After a few minutes, you'll receive another text from KGB that reads, "We are researching your question and will have an answer for you soon."
It only took another five minutes or so to receive my much awaited answer.
Here is the answer I received, word for word:
"The best one is the one that works best for you. Try something easy like Ubuntu or Fedora. Try different Distros. After all, Linux is free."
OK, the first sentence is a bit silly and not worth the 99 cents. The third and fourth sentences are equally worthless but the second sentence is pure money.
Ubuntu or Fedora.
What's so money about that answer, you ask?
Partly because someone else said it. When I say it, people become angry and leave nastygrams in the Comments section. But, I paid for this answer and would have published it no matter what they said.
And, it's money partly because they gave two distinctly different Linux examples. Ubuntu and Fedora are on opposite ends of the Linux spectrum. If you know anything about Linux, you'll agree.
If you don't know much about Linux, you'll have to trust me or research my statement for yourself--or better yet--read my posts from these last two years.
What surprises me most about their answer is that they took a stance instead of just leaving it at their first lame sentence. If they hadn't mentioned a specific distribution, I would have perhaps asked for my money back. But, to my surprise, I'm satisfied with my first experience with KGB.
In fact, I'll go so far as to say that you'll now see regular posts titled, "KGB Says" where I pose some thoughtful question to them and post its discussion here. It should prove interesting and entertaining.
What would you have said in response to my question if you were the answering KGB "Agent?"
