[CoLoCo] Heads up

[David Overcash]

Dave brings up a lot of good points in terms of being prepared for the
most novice users and liability with working on someone else's
computer.

A "Not Responsible" contact would actually be something that we could
draft up as a group, but choose to use on an individual basis.  I'm
making the official statement right now that CoLoCo cannot take the
responsibility of it's members if they damage someone's computer, even
if they are there on the behalf of a CoLoCo local support program.  We
simply do not have any money or resources to provide a form of
insurance for this type of incident.

It would be a good idea to have people be prepared for our visits
though both with a check-list of programs that they may need from
windows and also any data they may need to migrate over.  We can then
make sure to provide someone who has enough accessories to ensure data
retention (such as a large flash drive or an external hard drive) for
specific requests requiring this type of assistance.  We can also
encourage people to try to do anything they would need with the LiveCD
before we show up to help them so that they have some idea of the
limitations (read: differences) when moving from a windows to linux
operating system.

The VNC idea is a great one!  I would STRONGLY encourage us to develop
a "remote help" plan that would involve any of the following: IRC,
Ekiga Softphone (Voice Chat), VNC (Remote Access), and any other
necessary tools.  I've been drawing up ideas for integrating a
easy-to-use IRC client on our website or very clear instructions to
install xchat and get into our channel.

-David

On 6/25/07, Dave Vanderploeg <dave.vanderploeg at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think a section of the website site dedicated to local support would be
> great.
>
> Before I made the switch on my home PC I made a list of every program I used
> on XP and found an alternate for Linux (except of course Photoshop and
> Dreamweaver). I think we should create a form we could ask people to fill
> out if they're considering making the switch. Find out everything they use
> their computer for and show them how it will be different on Ubuntu. Just so
> you don't end up at someones house with a freshly installed copy of Ubuntu
> and then they ask you to install Itunes, Microsoft Money, of the software
> that came with their HP camera. I'm sure it wont be 100% effective, but it
> will help to have some direction before getting started.
>
> We should also post directions on how to invite some to control your system
> through VNC - most problems from people who already have Ubuntu installed
> could probably be fixed if an advanced user could control the system.
>
> I think there are also some negative implications to working on someone
> else's PC that we need to consider. What happens if what we do results in
> data loss? Do we ask people to back up their own files? Do we bring a USB
> drive and do a backup before doing work on anyones PC? Are we as individuals
> or a group opening ourselves to possible lawsuits if damage someones data?
> Should we put together a "not responsible" contract? I know its a little far
> fetched, but still a possibility, and were better safe than sorry.
>
> On 6/25/07, David Overcash <funnylookinhat at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Ok.  This is regarding the increasing need for local support provided
> > by our team for free.  I think it's very necessary and applicable;
> > just the other day I had a woman in my coffee shop from Colorado
> > Springs who would love to use Ubuntu after I told her about it.  She
> > wanted to know if there were some people who lived nearby that would
> > be willing to help, and the best answer I could give her was to either
> > email me directly so I could post to the mailing list, or have her
> > write directly to the mailing list.  This is not a good communication
> > interface for our team to the community.
> >
> > Here are my thoughts so far.  We definitely need to enact a new
> > program provided by CoLoCo for Ubuntu users who are looking for an in
> > person support session.  These could either be organized to be at
> > someone's house or to meet up at a coffee shop or similiar venue to
> > work on a laptop with someone.
> >
> > I've been racking my brain all morning for a good solution to add to
> > our current website framework that would allow us to keep track of
> > people willing to provide this sort of support along with the areas
> > they are wiling to travel to or meet up at.  So far I haven't come up
> > with somethat that would be easily editable by the entire team (unless
> > simple wordpress pages can be edited by all users on the site) and
> > also graphical to help users be able to visualize their location in
> > regards to CoLoCo support members.
> >
> > The wiki is a great solution for this, but to be honest I think with
> > us trying to move away from the wiki as our main source of information
> > it would be better for us to implement something into our new website.
> > The google map is a good solution too, however unless we can import
> > into our current website with a clean interface and nice look I
> > believe it would look too tacky.  Remember, as much as people will
> > respond to free support, they won't take it seriously unless we look
> > and act professional on our first contact.  (This is the first reason
> > it was good for us to move away from the wiki, it looked a bit clunky
> > and it was difficult for new users to get information from).
> >
> > If it comes down to it, we could create a sub-page on our wiki
> > ( http://wiki.ubuntu.com/ColoradoTeam/LocalSupport would
> probably be a
> > good location) and then just link directly to it from our website with
> > a link titled "Free Local Support".
> >
> > Please continue to brainstorm amongst yourselves and post any ideas
> > you have to this list so that we can hopefully pull together a viable
> > solution within the next few days.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > David
> >
> > On 6/24/07, Jim Hutchinson <jim at ubuntu-rocks.org > wrote:
> > > Nick,
> > >
> > > Do you mean the coloco website or the wiki page? I think I have an
> account
> > > on the website but not sure I know how to use it. How do I get a
> password
> > > reminder so I can try?
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > >
> > >  On 6/24/07, Ringo Kamens <2600denver at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117638501806657349990.00000113613dc25663afb
> > > > That should work. Don't forget to hit "save".
> > > > Comrade Ringo Kamens
> > > >
> > > > On 6/25/07, Jim Hutchinson <jim at ubuntu-rocks.org> wrote:
> > > > > Cool idea but I don't have a clue how to do that.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 6/24/07, Ringo Kamens <2600denver at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > Perhaps a custom google map?
> > > > > > Comrade Ringo Kamens
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 6/25/07, Jim Hutchinson < jim at ubuntu-rocks.org> wrote:
> > > > > > > I'm sure anyone would be willing to do that - maybe even buy you
> > > lunch.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I'm not sure the best way to keep track of this but a good start
> > > would
> > > > > be
> > > > > > > adding yourself to the wiki page and just make a note about your
> > > > > willingness
> > > > > > > to help and in what region. That goes for anyone wanting to do
> this.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > David, do you have any thoughts on a better way to keep track of
> us
> > > and
> > > > > > > where we can help?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On 6/24/07, Ringo Kamens < 2600denver at gmail.com > wrote:
> > > > > > > > BTW: I live by parker and arapahoe. My only request is that
> they
> > > cover
> > > > > > > > the 1.50 it takes for me to take the RTD.
> > > > > > > > Comrade Ringo Kamens
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On 6/25/07, Ringo Kamens <2600denver at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > I'm down for that. I can give you my cell and just redirect
> > > people
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > me. Also, what about helping them remotely (phone, IM, or a
> "pc
> > > > > > > > > anywhere" type deal). I'm much more down for that. Also, you
> > > might
> > > > > > > > > want to add yourselves here:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> http://wiki.binaryfreedom.info/index.php/Users_Help_Users
> > > > > > > > > Comrade Ringo Kamens
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > On 6/25/07, Jim Hutchinson < jim at ubuntu-rocks.org> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > As many of you know, several of us recently manned an
> > > > > Ubuntu/Canonical
> > > > > > > booth
> > > > > > > > > > at the TIE conference in Copper Mtn. We managed to stir up
> > > some
> > > > > > > interest and
> > > > > > > > > > pointed everyone to our ubuntu-rocks website and the mail
> list
> > > for
> > > > > > > help.
> > > > > > > > > > Being the zealots that we are, we assured everyone that if
> > > they
> > > > > asked
> > > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > > help on the list, they would "most likely" receive help.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > In my own little world of "ubuntu-rocks" I'm certain there
> > > will
> > > > > soon
> > > > > > > be a
> > > > > > > > > > flurry of activity from excited new Ubuntuteros. Should
> that
> > > > > happen, I
> > > > > > > hope
> > > > > > > > > > we all step up and help where and when we can.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > I think several people have put themselves down as a
> contact
> > > on
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > wiki
> > > > > > > > > > page for certain parts of the state. I think it would be
> great
> > > if
> > > > > we
> > > > > > > can
> > > > > > > > > > find a few people willing to be a contact in each region -
> a
> > > > > contact
> > > > > > > to the
> > > > > > > > > > extent of willing to travel a short distance to help
> someone
> > > get
> > > > > set
> > > > > > > up if
> > > > > > > > > > need be.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Any thoughts?
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > > Jim
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > > > Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
> > > > > > > > > > See
> > > > > > >
> > > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
> > > > > > > > > > --
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