Verizon tech support for FIOS - how to get around the attitude.

Question

Most are helpful, but some are rather disdainful of macs or linux, or act surprised if you have more than one computer.
A: Well, if I only had one computer, why would I need a router?
Linux does not need any special support, and in fact runs quite beautifully on FiOS and the router without any setup at all. It recognizes the router and self-adjusts with DHCP auto. Actually it's much faster and less flawed than Windows.
Linux doesn't have any recognized or known virus. At all. FUD is generated at various times during calls to FiOS support when I make the mistake of mentioning linux. They act like it's going to break their network.
I'm an Admin from MSFT, and MSFT uses linux. Extensively. They just don't like to talk about it. "Seven" = NT 7.0. NT is MSFT's version of UNIX, which they licensed fom Novell.
So, even microsoft contains unix code. Tada.  Lets' drop the operating system arguments for now though.
I have three Dell servers, six Dell and HP desktops, and two laptops. All but two of them run linux full time, and only one is dual boot. Both laptops run linux exclusively and so do three of the desktops and ALL my servers. I've never in 12 years had a linux virus, and I never will. No, I don't even run a firewall, and there is no linux antivirus software accepted by the linux distributions, because it's useless. Not needed.
All of these machines, XP, Vista, Ubuntu, Slackware, and Red Hat Server run on four brainless hubs, or switches. A switch is not capable of DHCP or DNS routing. They are passive devices which are not capable of blocking a router. They only stop working when they die. You can have switches [hubs] in ANY conceivable chain or configuration, and they still work the same, as they all take commands from whatever routers you have.
The only router in my home is the verizon router. I have no need of others, but I've run dual and even triple routers before without a single problem. You set the extra routers to 192.168.2.1 instead of 1.1. Third router? 192.168.3.1. And so on. Painless.
None of these devices have yet failed or ever blocked internet access, yet half the time when I call verizon FiOS, the tech people tell me to connect directly to the router with my laptop. I've always just TOLD them that I did, but I never ever did that. It's not necessary. If you can't connect to 192.168.1.1, the router is dead. checking hubs is an astoundingly simple task that only takes a second... you just go to any other computer on that hub, or plug in my laptop, and see if you can get through. I've had one hub fail in the last 8 years, and that didn't fool me for more than a minute. I replaced it and was back in biz without tech support help.
ONLY in the instance where only ONE computer is down, does it make sense to isolate the router. Thus, the FiOS people are just trained to eliminate the obvious, but they also talk smack. MOCO? Why would I have a major OC24 type network connection in my home? I've been hit with just such questions. Wouldn't verizon know if I had a backbone connection through them???
Here's the deal: Buy your own equipment, and get warranties. Unless the external box, ONT I believe they call it, has died, you're not likely to get a lot of support anyway - since verizon will not talk about anything other than their router and the ONT.  Save time and just be aware of your own eqiupment. I'm on my sixth day of having no FiOS since Verizon sent me a new also bad router and now I'm awaiting another replacement by the UPS people. Speed is not a hot button issue with verizon service apparently, but they are better than comcast.
Good thing about verizon is that they don't appear to cap bandwidth, and for that I respect them no matter how much garbage I get from a few of the tech support staff. Even most of those people are pretty nice. One of them actually talked linux with me for a half hour, and that was a breath of fresh air.
Verizon needs to realize that there are three to six times more linux operating systems in use now worldwide than all windows products combined. The US Army and US Navy have switched to linux systems and dumped windows. I'm shopping for another new desktop, and I'm only buying penguin computers. I won't buy "7" because I've seen the source code, and don't have a high opinion of it. Linux is more robust, and for whatever reason, MSFT still refuses to implement the System Five and UNIX security levels that are inherent to a safe Operating System, and a kernel component of unix. I don't see why not. NT is capable, but all suggestions to turn it 'on' are ignored.
I want to see verizon get with the program and start to support linux. After all, it's fifteen times cheaper to maintain, and three times less expensive to develop for. Verizon would never have to deal with spyware and viruses from its users ever again. One day I hope verizon will wake up.
In the meantime, it would be nice if the tech support at FiOS wouldn't misinform clients and customers about linux, macs, and having several computers in the home. There's nothing at all wrong with that. I just bought a netbook from you folks and I'm using that now to get online.

Answer 1

All I have to say about that is, "People fear what they do not know." Everyone has a comfort zone. Some people's comfort zone is larger than others, or encompasses different aspects of life. Most Windows users aren't comfortable with Mac or Unix operating systems. Most English speakers aren't comfortable with foreign languages. Most two-year-olds aren't comfortable with spinach.
C'est la vie.
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