[Ubuntu-SG] ideas for ubuntu-sg (was: ubuntu.sg contains spam posts)

Thu Jun 12 01:30:17 UTC 2008

On Thu, 2008-06-12 at 01:29 +0800, Rui Boon wrote:
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> |>> From the archive of this mailing list, there are some good idea.
> |>> 1) "have a small local wiki to post nice tips that we collect from the
> |>> ubuntu forum." [1]
> |>> -> Maybe this could be implemented with the forum idea by Chew
> |> The social group feature in ubuntuforums are quite rudimentary at the
> |> moment, quite similar to this mailing list, where having conversations
> |> are ok, but it is not possible to create separate threads.  Only Loco
> |> Team with their sub-groups have the full forum features.  But I do
> |> feel the social group feature is more user friendly that the mailing
> |> list.
> |>
> |> Expanding on the wiki idea, rather than collecting from ubuntu forums,
> |> we could concentrate on issues with local context.  What I meant by
> |> that is, e.g. the post in the ubuntu.sg: *HOWTO: Connect to Singapore
> |> M1 Broadband with Huawei E220 USB Modem on Ubuntu Dapper*
> It is a great idea to create howtos in the local context.
> Some suggestions:
> 1) Connecting to internet via those wireless broadband plan
> 2) Setting up mail clients for local ISPs  (it may already be present at 
> the ISPs' web but this howto will be specific to Ubuntu, or a link is 
> provided for convenience sake)

And a link to how to install ubuntu as well? I keep getting emails on
how to do that and worse some noobs try to dual-boot ubuntu with windows
the first time. And threaten to go back to windows if i don't help ...
sad ... 

> 
> Any other suggestions? or what is the most common thing you will do 
> after getting your hands on Ubuntu? (it does need not be in the local 
> context)
> |> Unfortunately, I have no experience with creating a wiki.  But with a
> |> small group, I don't see a problem with individual blogs, members with
> |> a howto can post it and provide a link.
> Hmm.. Being small can be to our advantage as well...
> |>> 2) Printing and distributing free "Powered by ubuntu" stickers [2]
> |>> 3) Hold school events/fairs [3]
> |> I recently did an introduction presentation about ubuntu to my
> |> colleagues.  The funny thing is most of the audience is only impressed
> |> by Compiz Fusion, nevermind that I spend some effort advocating ubuntu
> |> is free in many sense of the word.  I guess "free" MS Windows is still
> |> prevalent. :-)
> |>
> |> Then again, these are "jaded" working people, they don't get excited
> |> about cool software or OS.  Maybe could do better with a younger
> |> crowd.
> |
> | I disagree with the point that they don't get excited because they are
> | jaded. It is because they don't see the value. Imagine companies publish
> | how much they pay for their software every year and how it prevents
> | giving out bonuses, you will find your colleagues suddenly become
> | interested in how to use Linux at work to save money.
> Being concerned about their bottom line does not always affects their 
> business decisions. This explanation does not seems to explain the rise 
> of firefox in corp environment.

I agree it doesn't , possible that firefox got great security
reputation. But I still held my points for OSS in general. Openoffice is
a good example. which office needs advanced office features to justify
paying $500? for a copy of MS office? 

If you use excel macros or access extensively , yes. But besides them
why would a company pay? You could say installing Linux is hard and
users may not be used to Linux and blah blah blah but I don't see much
difference between MS office and OO for normal functions ... FILE OPEN
SAVE blah blah blah. 

> |
> | Its always been like this in Singapore. Every decisions is controlled by
> | managers who know shit about technology , whose aim is to cover their
> | own ass and get bonus. So unless bonus are linked to budgets , they will
> | forever use whatever is popular , never mind if it fits the problem at
> | hand. Ask if any managers know more than Windows and Java and you be
> | surprised.
> Ubuntu, or for the matter, any other linux distro, is lacking in press 
> coverage here. Although there is a weekly article on Ubuntu in DL, it is 
> not enough if we want to push the adoption rate of Ubuntu higher. Ubuntu 
> needs more publicity here. We could start by writing some articles to be 
> published in companies'/schools'/polytechnics'/universities'... 
> newsletter. Mozilla's marketing for firefox is a good model for this. 
> (Side note: firefox 3 is on RC2 now)
> |> Still waiting for a cool name.  My kiasu mentality thinks "Kiasu" for
> |> a group name might come back and haunt us. lol
> |> But "Kiasu Ubuntu Users", that sounds slightly better.
> It seems good to me. Though of the following tag line, a bit long 
> though:"Kiasu Ubuntu Users" where we only uses the best software
> 
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Rui Boon
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