Ubuntu CDs from Shipit [was: ubuntu cd handout at an ict event]

[Ben Francis]

Ben Francis wrote:

>> Mark Shuttleworth wrote:
>>
>>> I don't think we have good stats on live cd usage. I'm interested if 
>>> you
>>> guys think a live-cd-based installer (boot the live cd, like it, say
>>> "install" and it does so) would be popular, as that's one area we could
>>> devote resources.
>>
> That sounds interesting. I've been thinking about a project to get 
> GNU/Linux CDs in Libraries in Lincolnshire (my home county in England) 
> after the idea was suggested by a member of the AFFS 
> (www.affs.org.uk/). The idea I came up with was to produce Ubuntu CDs 
> (because of its philosophy and usability) and get them in libraries 
> with an accompanying leaflet giving information on Free Software, 
> Ubuntu and trying to tackle issues like "How do I make my computer 
> boot off the CD, it just goes straight into Windows". The CDs could 
> then be borrowed, copied and returned! (I've not put this idea to the 
> AFFS yet).
>
> There would be two CDs, one which said "Try Me" (Hoary Live CD) and 
> one which said "Copy Me and Install Me" (Hoary Install CD). 

Replying to my own email from a while back here. I've just received my 
10 Copies of Hoary (mixture of PowerPC, AMD64 and x86 discs) from Shipit 
and they're just like this! An "install Ubuntu" CD on one side and a 
"try Ubuntu" CD on the other with message on the back which encourages 
copying and redistribution. Were the Warty CDs shipped in this format 
too or is this new?

I'd just to say a big well done to the Shipit team and the guys who did 
all the designing and artwork for the new CDs, they look great! They're 
even colour coded for the different architectures and the Live 
CD/Install CD have different colour text to help differentiate. I'll be 
handing the CDs out to my friends and colleagues shortly :)

> If these two CDs could somehow be combined then it would be much 
> simpler (and cheaper) to do this. People like the idea of being able 
> to try something free that's not going to break their computer, but if 
> there's no easy transition to actually installing it this doesn't 
> translate to long term users.


Perhaps something for the future. Having said that, now I've received 
the CDs I do wonder whether having a Live CD that will never change any 
of the files on your computer is a good thing as it's very safe to use. 
People who aren't very confident with computers may hesitate to try the 
live CD if there's a risk they might "press the wrong button" and 
overwrite all their files.

-- 
Ben "tola" Francis            http://hippygeek.co.uk
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