ubuntu-advertising team mailing list archive

[Barry Drake <b.drake@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 2010-12-21 at 00:15 +0000, danteashton@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I was not suggesting we look at Ubuntu's weaknesses, but I AM saying
> we've got our work cut out for us if Ubuntu does not have multimedia
> support out of the box. We screw this up and we've got quite a few
> people who will be acting against us. I've met many Ubuntu/Linux
> haters, I'd hate to make any more.

I'm thinking of writing some text for the website, hoping that my
suggestion for a big button on the front page for folk who haven't a
clue what Ubuntu is, will be taken up.  I'd like to take folk straight
to something that starts a bit like this:

"Is Ubuntu for you?  If your use of a PC is for Internet, e-mails and
general office purposes (word-processing, spreadsheets etc.) then Ubuntu
probably is for you.  As always, when you buy a new computer, you will
be asked, "What do you want to use it for?".  We are asking you the same
question.

If your main interest is with specialist applications that are not
available for Ubuntu, you need to do careful research and consideration
before going any further.  We don't want you to be in any way
disappointed.  As a common example, there is not yet a version of the
well known iTunes application that can run on Ubuntu.  One day there
will be, but until then, you would have available a rich variety of
music applications (including the ability to download tracks), but not
from the iTunes site.  Look on our <link>compatibility</> site.  If the
application you really need to use is not listed there, you might check
out the application's home site, or ask our support team for their
opinion.

<much more text about using Ubuntu>

Last but by no means least, we would like you to <link>download and burn
the CD</> this will allow you to run a complete demonstration of Ubuntu
and try to find out what you can do with your existing documents etc.
Most of them will probably 'just work'.  Again, please get in touch if
you have any questions.  You will find our voluntary support team is
very eager to answer questions.  We are all enthusiastic users of
Ubuntu, but have no financial interest, so we will never try to mislead
someone who is not going to be 100% happy with our product."

It might be worth taking a look at how CodeWeavers handle this.  I know theirs is a different market and I am not suggesting that we associate with them, but I like their approach to compatibility.  See http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/browse/cat 

I really feel if we get this, (the educational part of our task) right,
that will answer all of Danté's worries.  He is right to be concerned -
but there IS a solution.

Regards,		Barry.