ubuntu-advertising team mailing list archive
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ubuntu-advertising team
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Mailing list archive
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Message #00423
Leaflets Ubuntu and FLOSS
I have uploaded a few items to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/IdeaWall
Only one has -direct- Ubuntu content - the Ubuntu information leaflet.
The editable files of all are available no problem but I uploaded pdf
for reference.
The Ubuntu information leaflet is in active and current use at local
(UK) events on an information table I run under a FLOSS banner
(http://infopointproject.org/wordpress/materials/infopoint-guide/). It
is relevant when people have already heard about Ubuntu and want to
know more. The Some details are relevant to my own personal area
locally and include my email address, which I always specially draw
attention to when handing it out, and I also verbally invite contact.
Over about three years I have handed out a LOT of these and am always
surprised when I find that in that time only a few people have ever
actually used the email. It is intended to be printed A4 double sided
and folded twice. It is almost exclusively used for attenders at
events like computer fairs.
An article I wrote for an older persons organisation: Ethical and
Community based Computer Programs. This was published in the
organisation's UK national magazine and apart from one mealy mouthed
response from a person who said he liked to pay for his stuff, I
received a few dozen direct email responses with questions, which I
followed up individually. It did show that an advertising article will
generate interest, but also that local hand holding is vital. My
objective for the item was to broaden awareness of an alternative
system for PCs.
The colour leaflet is aimed at 'street level' handouts, public
libraries etc, and is intended to arouse some interest and inform
about FLOSS at a very basic level. Our public libraries in UK are run
by local government and will reject any leaflets which are apparently
commercial, or political. Windows is their de facto standard, and
local library management has no professional (or personal) knowledge
of anything else, it is deferred back into the bureaucratic hierarchy.
Free software has an obvious element of a political agenda, so this
partly explains the absence in the leaflet of freedom dogma or
explanation. Also, it is traditional that when something is free
(gratis) there is -always- expected to be a commercial catch (I know,
I know), and commercial advertising is not allowed........
I note that the colour leaflet does contain a few typos.
The narrow focus on Openness rather than freedom and social benefit
also has the deliberate objective of keeping the initial message very
simple. I have used nearly 1000 of these in just over a twelve month
period. I use a sicker on the contact area giving the URL of:
www.theopendisc.com/education
www.theopendisc.com
www.opensource.org
Local Volunteer:
(my email)
It does mention Ubuntu, but only just. Most Windows users need to go
through several stages of FLOSS discovery. Initially - to be aware it
even exists, then to know it is Libre. Only after that will they be
able to appreciate that Windows itself may be replaced by some strange
community based system which is taking over the world....
I hope the uploads can be useful fro ideas or whatever?
--
alan cocks
Ubuntu user