ubuntu-advertising team mailing list archive

[alan c <aeclist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 09/12/10 11:19, Barry Drake wrote:
> I thought I'd ask one or two colleagues how they would react to Ubuntu
> advertising - and what features might tempt them to give it a try.  One
> said that support was his biggest need - someone to reassure him and
> hold his hand.  This is something we're really strong on.

Only if you are computer literate, and confident, enough to use online 
forums, which are excellent of course. I have done dual boot 
installations setups for many friends. Not one of these would ever 
want to use online support, and certainly would never dream of 
visiting a LUG. This includes a 90 year old relative. Most Windows 
users are set into help from either friends and family or if pressed, 
a local shop. At the present time neither of these is at all Ubuntu 
friendly.

I display monthly in a local computer fair, for three years so far, 
and it is true to say that almost nobody who has got information or 
CDs from me has used the forums, which has surprised me greatly. I 
also distribute a leaflet with my email address, and have used the 
same leaflet at UK national exhibitions. Large numbers of leaflets. I 
am still really surprised at having only about a dozen email contacts 
from this over the years. Really. And, even when they have my *phone* 
number I do not get calls. The attenders at such events are people who 
are happy to do PC stuff independently. Of course they are also likely 
to be people who may act as support for friends and family later on. I 
conclude that there is a layer of Windows users who are hell bent on 
finding out for themselves. As they probably have done with Windows. 
Interestingly, even though they know they are fluent with Windows, 
they are sometimes very put off by how 'alien' non Windows stuff is. 
Local face to face seems to work well. The computer fair display table 
is used as an informal help point, which I am very happy about.

>  Another said
> that now he had his computers working well on Windows 7 he would be very
> reluctant even to try anything.  This confirms my suspicion that anyone
> using anything really up-to-date isn't part of our useful target.

My observation with many computer (Windows) ordinary users is that 
they see PCs as a significant risk. A worry, a source of anxiety, 
which like a temperamental animal which can hurt them is best left 
alone if possible. When I used Windows for years, I used to feel like 
this too. After many years using Ubuntu, using a PC is now a joy, 
basically trustworthy and worry free.

I suggest the idea: that using Windows makes users feel dependent, 
nervous, and anxious. And I suspect that some of that is intended by 
the vendors. Unfortunately the side effect of this is that they are 
less likely to want a 'bigger risk' of using a strange system. When 
your friends begin again to be anxious about their computing, let us 
be sure that the ambient advertising has let them know Ubuntu is a joy?
--
alan cocks
Ubuntu user