There are a number of meta questions.<br><br>1) the education of desire - some would call it marketing - what do we really want? what do we really need<br><br>2) intimacy - we don't really understand anything we don't get close to. Buying a spare box (surplus market ~$100, installing a server, playing, reloading, playing some more, gives us a basis on which to hang information and build knowledge<br>
<br>3) awareness - we need to listen in to the conversations paying attention to the threads that address our desires<br><br>4) economy - as we make investments (intellectual and otherwise) we start to form notions of return on future marginal investments, books, classes, mentoring, barcamps, presentations<br>
<br>5) sharing. Open source is different. Hammering it into the cash economy does damage even to the hammer when you are using your head.<br><br>Canonical is obliged to complete the services expected by the cash world. I think they have done so. They should not be surprised when the natural economy finds them expensive.<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 4:19 AM, Billy Cina <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:billy.cina@canonical.com">billy.cina@canonical.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Hi Luke,<br>
<br>
An excellent discussion point - thanks! We really are interested in
receiving this type of input. <br>
<br>
Some issues to consider:<br>
<br>
1. Online virtual training requires from Canonical:<br>
<ul>
<li>Investment in Livelabs infrastructure</li>
<li>Investment in course material development and production<br>
</li>
<li>Instructor to prepare and host the course</li>
<li>Technical support on tap before, after and for the duration of
the course<br>
</li>
</ul>
The only 'money saved' is on classroom facility and when you take into
account the costs of technical support and the livelabs infrastructure,
this is comparable.<br>
<br>
2. Market rates - Compare Canonical training prices to competitors and
you will see that per hour and for the quality of material and training
provided, we are on par.<br>
<br>
<br>
So, taking all the above into consideration, how much would you
consider a reasonable amount to pay for online virtual training?<br>
<br>
Billy Cina<br>
Ubuntu Training Programme Manager<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"><br>
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<div style="display: inline;">Subject:
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Does anyone else think Ubuntu Server Online Training costs far too much?</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div style="display: inline;">From: </div><div class="im">
Luke L <a href="mailto:lukehasnoname@gmail.com" target="_blank"><lukehasnoname@gmail.com></a></div></td>
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<div style="display: inline;">Date: </div>
Sat, 6 Jun 2009 20:52:47 -0500</td>
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<div style="display: inline;">To: </div>
ubuntu-server <a href="mailto:ubuntu-server@lists.ubuntu.com" target="_blank"><ubuntu-server@lists.ubuntu.com></a></td>
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<div style="display: inline;">To: </div>
ubuntu-server <a href="mailto:ubuntu-server@lists.ubuntu.com" target="_blank"><ubuntu-server@lists.ubuntu.com></a></td>
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<pre>I've always thought the price of "official" training courses on
technical skills for certifications was outrageous. However,
Canonical's server training requires no hotel reservations. No travel
on their end, either.
I don't think Canonical needs to charge $2,200 per attendee on a 40
hour course to cover costs and make some money. Many universities
don't charge that much for a 3 credit hour semester long course. If
Canonical made their services stand out as the best VALUE option for
Linux systems, people will come in droves. The more enthusiasts and
professionals you can put out that are certified (and truly qualified)
to use and deploy Ubuntu Server, the better. You aren't going to get
very many people outside large organizations to sign up for this, as
Ubuntu skills aren't in nearly as much demand as other Linux systems.
Something to consider is this:
<div class="im"><a href="http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57308" target="_blank">http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/57308</a>
Short story: When Steam dropped the cost of a very successful game by
50%, its sales went through the roof. Now, Canonical is selling a
service here, not software, so I appreciate the difference. However,
the point remains (even without the example) that lower cost generally
leads to greater demand. Charge a REASONABLE, AFFORDABLE price for a
QUALITY product, and people will come.
Finally, I cannot know the full costs to Canonical of hosting this
program, I can only know that $2,200 is a lot of money. Companies
don't always pay for training, you know.
Correct me if I'm wrong, really. I would like any insight possible, I
am just sharing my thoughts on the matter.
</div></pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre cols="72">--
Billy Cina
Training Programmes Manager
Mob: +44 780 938 9862
<a href="mailto:billy.cina@canonical.com" target="_blank">billy.cina@canonical.com</a>
<a href="http://www.ubuntu.com" target="_blank">www.ubuntu.com</a>
</pre>
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