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

[Kris Marsh]

On 10/21/07, Mark Harrison <Mark at yourpropertyexpert.com> wrote:
> 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)????
>
>
>
>
> --
> ubuntu-uk at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
>


I like the marketing frame on this, great idea! I have three
suggestions to make it even better:

1) Ensure ASDA is in the press release too
[http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/shop/product/esys/linux.html]
2) Suggest we also point users to the forum and IRC, if they're not
interested in face-to-face.
3) Describe at the end of the article how users can go about getting support.


Kris