Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
Hi Dougie, On Sun, 2007-10-21 at 20:24 +0100, Dougie Richardson wrote: I agree with this, although I'm not aware of the distribution of members of the group, if this was to prove popular then there are two problems: 1. How would the cost of travel be covered? I'm all for volunteering but not if it starts to cost my significantly in expenses. There is nothing that says we have to do site visits at all. Free support could be via the traditional methods such as forums, irc and mailing list. If you built a relationship with a customer and said you would like to make a site visit and charge them for that then that's entirely up to you. 2. How would Canonical feel about this? Essentially we would be reducing their oppertunity for any kind of commercial support option that might be considered in conjunction with Tesco. But we already _do_ provide such support. https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/~alanpope There for example you can see some support questions I have either commented on or answered. This is free. This is support. This is already by far the most active mailing list that I subscribe to and would not care to see a significant increase in traffic. Why not a forum as there is for Dell? We have one:- http://uk.ubuntuforums.org/ Cheers, Al. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
On 10/21/07, Mark Harrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: IMPORTANT NOTE I am acting like a typical PR Flack in this. As far as I'm aware, NONE of the quotes I've made up for Alan have actually been said... Normal practice with PR stuff is for the PR flack to make them up, then ask the person being quoted if that's OK :-) ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE This is deliberately aimed at people who DON'T know much about computers. You may wince at some of the things I say... but now imagine that you didn't care about IT, and see whether it sounds compelling :-) NOTE 3: I'm also deliberately making it a future event, so it feels like new to be reported on, rather than same old, same old. London, 21st October 2007 The UK Ubuntu community is pleased to announce that, effective from 1st November, it will be offering free technical support to users of selected Tescos PC, at centres up and down the country. The PCs in question run Ubuntu, a free alternative to Microsoft Windows, including both office software (word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program) as well as tools for Internet surfing and home users. Alan Pope, the recently elected Point of Contact for the UK community explains the benefits: This is dramatically reducing the price that people are paying for PCs. Ubuntu is a great alternative to Microsoft Windows for web users. We understand that Tescos chose it, not just on price, but because they found it to be less prone to virus attacks. Until now, the software has only been available from web-based retailers such as Dell, or for download, but most people with Windows pre-installed on a PC haven't seen the need to change. Mark Harrison, an IT Director based in Sussex, explains. With a copy of Vista coming in at about £180 from PC World, you can see why people want to stick with what they've already paid for rather than change. However, with Tesco now selling a PC base unit at under £140, it's an ideal solution for people who've already got a monitor, but need a faster PC to cope with broadband. Support has been the problem though, since most people are familiar with the Microsoft software. This is where the Ubuntu community comes in. Pope adds: What we're doing is offering free support to everyone with Ubuntu... whether they downloaded it for themselves, or bought it with a Dell or Tesco PC. We've teamed up with the local Linux User Groups to provide face-to-face support on Ubuntu up and down the UK, ideal for people who don't like the idea of trying to get support over the Internet. Press Contact: Presumably Alan, presumably a special page on the Wiki about where people can get help (just a link to the LUGs) -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ I like the marketing frame on this, great idea! I have three suggestions to make it even better: 1) Ensure ASDA is in the press release too [http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/esys/linux.html] 2) Suggest we also point users to the forum and IRC, if they're not interested in face-to-face. 3) Describe at the end of the article how users can go about getting support. Kris -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
Hi Alan, On Sun, 2007-10-21 at 20:35 +0100, Alan Pope wrote: There is nothing that says we have to do site visits at all. Free support could be via the traditional methods such as forums, irc and mailing list. If you built a relationship with a customer and said you would like to make a site visit and charge them for that then that's entirely up to you. Fair enough. I must admit that thanks to my ISP's new anti spam measures I may well have missed parts of this discussion. But we already _do_ provide such support. https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/~alanpope There for example you can see some support questions I have either commented on or answered. This is free. This is support. That's of course true, however if we are saying we support Tesco customers with their new PC then we need realise that may new users may expect this support in the same manner as they would from Tesco. Such users would not necessarily be of the type that has made a conscious decision to go open source. While I think it's a great initiative I think we need to actually get a hold of one of these machines and check it out. We have one:- http://uk.ubuntuforums.org/ I know, but it is as prominant on the front page of the forums as Dell's support forum? Cheers, Dougie -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
On 10/21/07, Kris Marsh [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 10/21/07, Mark Harrison [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: IMPORTANT NOTE I am acting like a typical PR Flack in this. As far as I'm aware, NONE of the quotes I've made up for Alan have actually been said... Normal practice with PR stuff is for the PR flack to make them up, then ask the person being quoted if that's OK :-) ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE This is deliberately aimed at people who DON'T know much about computers. You may wince at some of the things I say... but now imagine that you didn't care about IT, and see whether it sounds compelling :-) NOTE 3: I'm also deliberately making it a future event, so it feels like new to be reported on, rather than same old, same old. London, 21st October 2007 The UK Ubuntu community is pleased to announce that, effective from 1st November, it will be offering free technical support to users of selected Tescos PC, at centres up and down the country. The PCs in question run Ubuntu, a free alternative to Microsoft Windows, including both office software (word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program) as well as tools for Internet surfing and home users. Alan Pope, the recently elected Point of Contact for the UK community explains the benefits: This is dramatically reducing the price that people are paying for PCs. Ubuntu is a great alternative to Microsoft Windows for web users. We understand that Tescos chose it, not just on price, but because they found it to be less prone to virus attacks. Until now, the software has only been available from web-based retailers such as Dell, or for download, but most people with Windows pre-installed on a PC haven't seen the need to change. Mark Harrison, an IT Director based in Sussex, explains. With a copy of Vista coming in at about £180 from PC World, you can see why people want to stick with what they've already paid for rather than change. However, with Tesco now selling a PC base unit at under £140, it's an ideal solution for people who've already got a monitor, but need a faster PC to cope with broadband. Support has been the problem though, since most people are familiar with the Microsoft software. This is where the Ubuntu community comes in. Pope adds: What we're doing is offering free support to everyone with Ubuntu... whether they downloaded it for themselves, or bought it with a Dell or Tesco PC. We've teamed up with the local Linux User Groups to provide face-to-face support on Ubuntu up and down the UK, ideal for people who don't like the idea of trying to get support over the Internet. Press Contact: Presumably Alan, presumably a special page on the Wiki about where people can get help (just a link to the LUGs) -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ I like the marketing frame on this, great idea! I have three suggestions to make it even better: 1) Ensure ASDA is in the press release too [http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/esys/linux.html] 2) Suggest we also point users to the forum and IRC, if they're not interested in face-to-face. 3) Describe at the end of the article how users can go about getting support. Kris Ignore point 1), just re-read the ASDA link, and although it's an eSys, it doesn't come supplied with Ubuntu (it comes with Linux 9.3 - probably SuSE?) Kris -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
Hi Kris, On Sun, 2007-10-21 at 20:49 +0100, Kris Marsh wrote: 1) Ensure ASDA is in the press release too [http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/esys/linux.html] Good plan. 2) Suggest we also point users to the forum and IRC, if they're not interested in face-to-face. Well, we already have this:- http://ubuntu-uk.org/ -- click Tech support. It takes you to:- https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/Support Which has a list of people willing to support, and their locations. We could of course embellish this page somewhat in anticipation of new people. How could it be improved? Fancy having a go at it? 3) Describe at the end of the article how users can go about getting support. I wouldn't do that in the press release. I'd just give them enough detail to find and contact us. We can then ascertain the best support method for them. Cheers, Al. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
Alan Pope wrote: Hi Mark, On Sun, 2007-10-21 at 19:53 +0100, Mark Harrison wrote: London, 21st October 2007 The UK Ubuntu community is pleased to announce that, effective from 1st November, it will be offering free technical support to users of selected Tescos PC, at centres up and down the country. LOVE this idea. The PCs in question run Ubuntu, a free alternative to Microsoft Windows, including both office software (word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program) as well as tools for Internet surfing and home users. Alan Pope, the recently elected Point of Contact for the UK community explains the benefits: This is dramatically reducing the price that people are paying for PCs. Ubuntu is a great alternative to Microsoft Windows for web users. We understand that Tescos chose it, not just on price, but because they found it to be less prone to virus attacks. There, now I've said it. What we're doing is offering free support to everyone with Ubuntu... whether they downloaded it for themselves, or bought it with a Dell or Tesco PC. We've teamed up with the local Linux User Groups to provide face-to-face support on Ubuntu up and down the UK, ideal for people who don't like the idea of trying to get support over the Internet. There, now I've said it. Press Contact: Presumably Alan, presumably a special page on the Wiki about where people can get help (just a link to the LUGs) I don't mind being a contact (that _is_ kinda my role :) ). Passing requests onto other parties. Cheers, Al. Hi alan and all I would like to support this idea, for face to face - certainly local to bracknell. ** Can another thread name be used when specific arrangements are discussed please: managing different projects embedded in a huge long thread is a nightmare. -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK
Dougie Richardson wrote: 1. How would the cost of travel be covered? I'm all for volunteering but not if it starts to cost my significantly in expenses. Well, I have to say, I'd considered that this wasn't really us doing anything new beyond what we're already doing... More us realising that the demographic of the Ubuntu-using community is at a tipping point, and trying to make sure that people realise that Ubuntu-UK exists as a community (and help to promote Ubuntu in the process.) 2. How would Canonical feel about this? Essentially we would be reducing their oppertunity for any kind of commercial support option that might be considered in conjunction with Tesco. I'll stick in some boiler-plate about This initiative is a community project staffed by volunteers keen to help bridge the digital divide, and not endorsed by Tesco or Canonical (the makers of Ubuntu). M. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
