Sorry to have missed the meeting last night however, due to my just being home from back surgery, I'm just now getting to where I can sit for any period of time.
I'd like to get Ubuntu out in the open more myself. I do like it and seeing as I was a Windows user with medium skills computer-wise, this means a lot to me. I mean by this that if someone with similar skills can make do with an install of Ubuntu then so can others.
It being free should be a plus for most. It's just this Windows familiarization thing that we as users have to get around. By that I mean that we don't need to try to make Vi$ta or Mac OS look inferior. We need to focus on the many pluses that Ubuntu affords it's users.
The general attitudes of people that are predominantly Windows/Mac users are that that if we come at them like their OS is crap...we stand to lose them right off. I think that instead of trying to insult their intelligence, we should instead, appeal to their interests in computers, operating systems, applications and so forth.
Face it. One major hurdle we face is the gaming clans. A lot of them aren't going to toss Windows for any flavor of Linux because of incompatibilities. We need to focus then in their direction on the capabilities of dual-booting so that they can enjoy their gaming and still be able to run what we feel is the best OS available to them for other purposes.
I've not been around here much but I have been doing a little research on this and the sad truth is that most peeps are approached as if their OS's are crap and they aren't taking it too kindly because their systems ARE working for them atm. The focus needs to be in how better Ubuntu might do something for them or a difference that Ubuntu has over Mac that would be appealing to them.
These are but examples and I'm taking my approach from time-proven, experienced salesmen that work in the environment of getting someone to buy a product from them.
I feel like if we take much the same approach, we can make a difference too.
The idea of a table or whatever at a mall would work. We set up a display, have several flavors of Ubuntu up and running (will need dependable internet connections for displays) on some laptops and a desktop to show that it works on most everything. And then when people stop to check it out, that's when we set the hook!
They're gonna ask: "OK, so how much for the system?" We then tell them it's free. With all that we can show them, plus free CDs or DVDs for them to take home and a URL to these forums for example...we've just made ourselves a customer!
Add to that a business card for them to take also for those who might need to ask a question during their installation or maybe to ask if they could have one of us over to aid in their install...you see where I'm going with this, right?
We make ourselves available by email or phone or by these forums and we also make them feel less insecure to try an installation. Face it, we all felt that insecurity when we did it for the first time too. This would help to alleviate that.
Anyway, those are my ideas for what it's worth.
As for GG...I might just try upgrading my install seeing as I'm off work for a few weeks anyway. It's not like I have anywhere to go atm. I'll catch up with you guys later. Or if you stumble by ICQ, or any of the others...I'm usually online. ;)