ubuntu-ca Digest, Vol 8, Issue 5
Lino Martin Ramirez
lino.m.ramirez at gmail.com
Sun Nov 6 23:19:42 UTC 2005
Hi All,
I guess that we need to push harder in promoting Ubuntu. I just
started using it, by the way. Other than problems with my wireless
card everything else is working fine. So, I also have very high hopes
for this Distribution.
About Canada, we have to figure out a way of convincing people that
Linux (and Ubuntu in particular) is a valid alternative to Windows.
The other day, I was talking with one classmate (I am going to the
University of Alberta). He was saying that he do not use Linux because
it is too hard for him to use. Moreover, he thinks that because there
are many versions (he meant distributions) available, it is hard for a
person to decide which one to use and whether they are compatible...
Well, the moral of the story is that we have to work hard to make it
usable for a 2 year old so nobody can complaint.
Moreover, we have to make our politicians aware that switching to and
promoting Open Source software is necessary to:
* save in operating cost (so the government Canada do not have to pay
huge amounts of $ in proprietary software)
* promote small businesses dedicated to develop and support open
source development (creating jobs)
* stay competitive in the global market (China uses Linux and Latin
America is following closely)
Well, I have to go. But I will certainly continue with the thread some
time later
Lino
On 11/6/05, Kush Singh <kushs at kward.org> wrote:
> When I came to Canada last year, I tried to search for a Computer users
> club and I found a club in Toronto but it was all deliberately promoting
> only windows and microsoft products as if linux did not exist or was a
> hobby culture. The marketing guys who control that club deliberately
> used to tell the club members who were not so computer savvy that only
> windows exists. They never even mentioned alternatives.
>
> Also Rogers and Bell from whom i have taken my ISP service,
> deliberately feed the public/casual user with such information too by
> not providing customer support for linux. In fact most of the customer
> service reps maintain that they can only provide service/support for
> windows as written in the service agreement.
>
> Then if one starts looking for jobs in the computer field in Canadian
> govt sites, a perception is built that there is a job market only for
> windows software development or windows network/system administration.
>
> Also I had to assemble a desktop computer from one of the hardware shops
> here on College street and the vendor was trying to convince me to pay
> 179 C$ plus tax on an OEM installed windows XP and was showing his
> bafflement when i refused to have it installed at all. Their standard
> marketing ploy is "everybody wants windows". We have no drivers for
> Linux. Linux is buggy and there is no support and so on and so forth but
> the plain fact is that windows marketing is so good in Canada and they
> have covered this country so exhaustively that we have to copy their
> tricks in all departments if linux has to ever be mainstream here. The
> dominance of microsoft in Canada is many times greater than the
> dominance in the parent country ie the states.
>
> A lot needs to be done in terms of the ubuntu documentation and setting
> up of self help groups, computer clubs etc which is something which is
> suffering a lot. Even TLUG website is hardly maintained and I had
> difficulty in getting any worthwhile information earlier.
>
> We have to perfect our documentation and user friendliness. Till Breezy
> came out i had problems with getting sound to work on my hoary system.
> Now I have a problem with running my webcam. But a strong local support
> group will do wonders like in the olden days when PC activists had jump
> started the PC age. i think Ubuntu's time has come since it is a very
> user friendly system and I have great hopes for it.
>
> Kussh
>
>
> Allen Graham wrote:
>
> > To All:
> > Daniel has made an excellent point !
> > Did you know that Canadians are somewhat behind the rest of the world
> > in using Linux?
> > Most of my friends look on Linux as something subversive or worse.
> > Recently I've had a little succes in promoting Ubuntu's "Live CD", and
> > have offered the "Live DVD" to a few friends.
> > Could we start with an "aware" group. It's one thing to promote, yet
> > another to do something really helpfull.
> > Suggestions ? Lin - Ubu - aware (oh, that's sooo bad)
> > Allen
> >
> > On 11/6/05, *ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com
> > <mailto:ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com>* <
> > ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com
> > <mailto:ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com>> wrote:
> >
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> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Re: Listing at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeamList
> > (Daniel Robitaille)
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Daniel Robitaille <robitaille at ubuntu.com
> > <mailto:robitaille at ubuntu.com>>
> > To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com <mailto:ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2005 07:53:14 -0800
> > Subject: Re: Listing at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeamList
> > > I think we're active. I mean, UBZ is happening in Montreal, QC,
> > Canada!
> >
> > UBZ being in Montreal had nothing to do with the LoCo. We learned
> > about it at the same time than anybody else in Ubuntu-land. The LoCo
> > wasn't involved in the planning or organization of that conference.
> >
> > > I am pretty active and I believe you are too, Corey - we're far from
> > > alone. ;) I see at least another Canadian (Hubert I'd like to
> > propose
> > > you add our listing to
> > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CommunityCouncilAgenda
> > > (Locoteams section). Yeah, we're active ;)
> >
> > Nobody question individual users being active, or some groups based in
> > Canada of being active. But the LoCo Canadian team, as a team,
> > currently isn't active and and doesn't function as a team, doing team
> > activities, and providing active team resources.
> >
> > i'm not pointing fingers here at anyone or at anything, but I think
> > it's a fact that we can all see by looking at the LoCo team
> > activities
> > in recent weeks, which are near none.
> >
> > We'll be able to add yourselves to the LoCoTeams listings the day we
> > are an active and functional LoCo team. I suspect it will pretty
> > obvious to us and to outside observers when we reach that level. But
> > in my opinion we are not there today. It is also my opinion that we
> > are probably not that far off: the base is there and we only need to
> > gather some momentum and focus our energies on some well defined
> > activities/community resources to get us on our way.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Daniel Robitaille
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> > http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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