New User support

[Darcy Casselman]

Hi Mac,

Getting new users the support they need is a challenge, but there are
definitely options.

The forums are great, but they don't work for everyone.

There's also IRC.  #ubuntu on irc.ubuntu.com is great for technical
support if you can keep up.  #ubuntu-beginners is also there to
support new users.

http://askubuntu.com is a fantastic resource for getting questions
answered, and it's (IMHO) easier to find the right answer their than
on the forums.

There's this mailing list!  We're happy to support new users across
Canada.  There are some great technical support people who follow this
list.

The Ubuntu Beginners Team has a bunch of resources:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BeginnersTeam If your goal is help new users
get into Ubuntu, I'd definitely encourage you to join and get involved
with them.

And, you're absolutely right: building a local community around Ubuntu
is the best way to provide support.  Starting an Ubuntu Victoria group
can be as easy as getting the word out, and setting up a regular
meetup in a coffee shop and seeing who shows up.  The more technically
minded people you get on board, the more you'll be able to spread the
load.  Hold a regular Ubuntu hour and encourage people to come by with
their issues, or just meet more people who can help, so they can put a
face to a name.    Start a Facebook group or Twitter feed or Google
Group and encourage users to join and ask questions there.  Whatever
they're comfortable with.

The former contact for Ubuntu Canada and co-author of The Official
Ubuntu Book, Corey Burger and his brother Brian are in Victoria.
Corey's moved on to other things, but they may be able to give you
advice if you can track them down.  And you're a bus-and-ferry ride
away from possibly the biggest Ubuntu group in Canada: Ubuntu
Vancouver: http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/.  I'd encourage you
to talk with Randall Ross, their fearless leader, at
randall at executiv.es to see if there's any help or advice they can give
to get you started.

There are people out there who can help.  They just need someone who's
willing to take the initiative to organize and mobilize them.  And
we're here to provide what help we can from various points across the
country.

I wish you success. :)

Darcy.

On Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 10:07 AM, Duffields <dhltd at telus.net> wrote:
> I have been offering free installation (and support) of Ubuntu to friends
> for several years. Though several have availed themselves of the offer,
> others are concerned about "What happens if you are not around to help me
> when I have a problem?  I can get help for MS Windows everywhere."
>
> I really do not have an answer for them because, if they have a serious
> problem, the forums are not available to them and most new, non-technically
> minded users will not avail themselves of forums anyway.
>
> Since I rarely encounter people here on Vancouver Island that have even
> heard of Ubuntu, let alone Linux, I am wondering if there are any Ubuntu
> users located in Greater Victoria who would be interested in forming a
> local Ubuntu Users Support Group.
>
> Better availability of "hands-on" assistance is, I think, one of the keys
> to more widespread acceptance of Ubuntu in the community.  Perhaps small
> clusters of helping hands would be a good start.
>
> Or am I too idealistic when I expect "average" people to embrace Linux
> through Ubuntu?
>
> Mac
>
> --
> ubuntu-ca mailing list
> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>