[ubuntu-uk] Press Release Idea: "Free support on selected Tescos PCs from Ubuntu UK"

[Mark Harrison]

IMPORTANT NOTE ---- I am acting like a typical "PR Flack" in this. As 
far as I'm aware, NONE of the quotes I've made up for Alan have actually 
been said... Normal practice with PR stuff is for the PR flack to make 
them up, then ask the person being quoted if that's OK :-)

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE ---- This is deliberately aimed at people who 
DON'T know much about computers. You may wince at some of the things I 
say... but now imagine that you didn't care about IT, and see whether it 
sounds compelling :-)

NOTE 3: I'm also deliberately making it a "future event", so it feels 
like "new to be reported on", rather than "same old, same old."



London, 21st October 2007

The UK Ubuntu community is pleased to announce that, effective from 1st 
November, it will be offering free technical support to users of 
selected Tescos PC, at centres up and down the country.

The PCs in question run Ubuntu, a free alternative to Microsoft Windows, 
including both office software (word processor, spreadsheet and 
presentation program) as well as tools for Internet surfing and home users.

Alan Pope, the recently elected "Point of Contact" for the UK community 
explains the benefits:

"This is dramatically reducing the price that people are paying for PCs. 
Ubuntu is a great alternative to Microsoft Windows for web users. We 
understand that Tescos chose it, not just on price, but because they 
found it to be less prone to virus attacks."

Until now, the software has only been available from web-based retailers 
such as Dell, or for download, but most people with Windows 
pre-installed on a PC haven't seen the need to change.

Mark Harrison, an IT Director based in Sussex, explains.

"With a copy of Vista coming in at about £180 from PC World, you can see 
why people want to stick with what they've already paid for rather than 
change. However, with Tesco now selling a PC base unit at under £140, 
it's an ideal solution for people who've already got a monitor, but need 
a faster PC to cope with broadband. Support has been the problem though, 
since most people are familiar with the Microsoft software."

This is where the Ubuntu community comes in. Pope adds:

"What we're doing is offering free support to everyone with Ubuntu... 
whether they downloaded it for themselves, or bought it with a Dell or 
Tesco PC. We've teamed up with the local Linux User Groups to provide 
face-to-face support on Ubuntu up and down the UK, ideal for people who 
don't like the idea of trying to get support over the Internet."

Press Contact: Presumably Alan, presumably a special page on the Wiki 
about where people can get help (just a link to the LUGs)????