ubuntu-advertising team mailing list archive

[alan c <aeclist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 07/12/10 05:33, Archibald Platypus wrote:
> If Ubuntu was looking to do some real video advertising, I have a
> wonderful idea for a global market. The theme simply has to be freedom.

The content of adverts - a nice subject.

On a personal level freedom is *exactly* what makes me love GNU/Linux. 
Although the reason I started with (GNU/Linux) was really the lack of 
trust I had in Windows for anything online and financial.

However, 'freedom'  is not something which seems to bother most other 
users (of PCs with Windows) that I actually know or come across at the 
computer fairs I display at!

Freedom is something of a social political thing. Unless you are half 
starving, or being beaten, or chained to a wall, most people are well 
off enough not to care about such things as freedom. (Although it is 
central in my own thinking!) Even though I am (sometimes) a local 
'political' activist - MP, Councillors, elections, whatever, I am 
always horrified at how *little* most people seem to actually CARE 
about such stuff as freedom even though it is hugely important.

So, my suggestion is that if the advert is aimed at a nich market of a 
small percentage of Windows users who are also freedom aware, then, ok.

But if the advert is aimed at a mass of ordinary Windows users who 
have (Windows)  because they are stuck with it, but  don't enjoy it 
nor feel happy or secure with it, etc etc, then the content of the 
advert may need to be adjusted.

I have just installed Ubuntu dual xp boot on a friends laptop, he is a 
highly nervous, elderly, user, highly intelligent, but has never been 
comfortable using a computer.

Recently in conversation  he said 'I *hate* Windows!'
I am not his normal PC contact. His usual contact told him no 
uncertain terms
'If you cant do Windows  then avoid Linux, it is not for you.'

I even heard almost exactly this from another acquaintance I am 
helping with Ubuntu - in that case, a local PC repair one person shop 
said the same thing to him (on the other side of the country). I am 
not making this up!

I know that even my 90 year old relative can happily use Ubuntu for 
online shopping - as long as *I* administer the PC, which I do.

My friend now has a Ubuntu dual boot alternative because he trusted me 
to install it. If an advert was to be aimed at him, it would need to 
motivate him (or like him) to seek out a friend to install and 
administer for him. A different style and content of advert. This 
friend is a real political activist, but 'freedom' in a laptop is not 
something which grabs him (yet).

This friend would be, I think, be attracted by 'simplicity' of use, 
and ease of good security.

I have another friend who actually loves openness and freedom, but 
only started seriously using his Ubuntu dual boot option (not xp) 
after  many thousands of pounds were taken from his bank account!! 
The good news was that he saw it in time to stop the transfer! Some 
luck. So in his case, it would be the ease of good security  to 
attract, but he obviously did not believe it until it really bit him!

Personally I can say that using a computer is now a JOY, whereas with 
Windows it was, for me,  tedious and worrisome, and always beset with 
interruptions and stuff going on I did not understand. What chance do 
most ordinary users have? I am fairly techie compared to most PC users.

--
alan cocks
Ubuntu user