[ubuntu-za] Karma vs Windows 7

[Quintin Beukes]

I think we're targeting different groups.

I was proposing the business world. It seems like you're targeting
home users. Both very important groups.

My idea about cost saving was also not along the lines of cheaper than
upgrading windows. In general businesses are having a hard time at the
moment. So like I mentioned, if you tell them what they GET from it
and you solve their problems, you made the perfect ad. Survival is the
core instinct in all living creatures. And problems are making
upstream for surviving. So whenever you tell a person how something
makes his life easier, you're solving a problem. Game theory is one of
those financial theories that has in it explanations for why people
make certain financial choices. And among this is that they make the
choices that they believe will benefit themselves/the group the best.

So when you want to advertise to home users. Tell them how nice it is
- though Ubuntu is not really there yet. Because most home users want
popular modern games, and that is not really very viable on Ubuntu at
the moment.

But for business users it is. Most business machines require little
less than a good browser, e-mail, word processing and spreadsheets.
Though they all have many problems. Businesses pay through their ears
for Microsoft licenses. In the recession this is a very common and
shared problem. Damaged/slow installations due to spyware and virusses
and people installing crap on their machines... another big problem.
Machines that give problems and IT staff having to run around just to
reboot machines or reinstall printers - another problem. Software
moods (software stops working for a few hours, for no obvious reason).
These are many things, which when promised to be solved, will get an
enterprise's attention. And Ubuntu can definitely solve them - server
and desktop side. And solving them saves them more money than just the
cost of a windows license. It's expensive to pay for support contracts
just because each machine needs a clean install every few months, or
printer drivers just don't work, or what not.

You will not be able to help users who run specialized software like
CorelDRAW/Photoshop/etc. But the largest majority of business desktops
is a target, and businesses will pay any day if you can increase their
productivity - the biggest problem of all. In other words, if you can
tell them any secret, they would want to know how to increase their
productivity.

Quintin Beukes



On Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 3:56 PM, David Robert Lewis (ethnopunk)
<ethnopunk at telkomsa.net> wrote:
> Hi Quintin,
>
> To tell you the truth, I don't think cost is the issue in Windows
> upgrades. Sure its a factor, but telling Windows converts that Ubuntu is
> FOSS is like telling them, its Linux. There is a major perception
> problem, based on real issues to do with Linux being "too complicated"
> or "too geeky". Windows is selling itself as
>
> 1. Uncomplicated
>
> 2. Desktop which simply works, as in "Gee look at the window click".
>
> We therefore need to rebut the above lowest common denominator arguments
>
> Being virus free, and easier interface with Internet etc makes Ubuntu
> LESS complicated than Windows 7
>
> We also know that the current Gnome desktop is infinitely superior. We
> should therefore be touting Ubuntu as the Gnome desktop of choice.
>
> Unfortunately, we are all getting into the habit of overcomplicating the
> nuts and bolts of Ubuntu, first-time users want some kind of protection
> from all of that. Windows would never be able to impress if it started
> out telling everybody what was under the hood. Let's rather push the
> brand-new Karma design, it rocks.
>
> In fact, its not cloud computing which is going to impress, but the damn
> screensavers and wallpaper.
>
> An insert with ordinary people using Ubuntu in extraordinary ways would
> seriously rock, but we need some way to get the insert's done for gratis.
>
> Which is why I am proposing some form of "I love Ubuntu" video competition.
>
> Regards
>
> David.
>
>
>
> Quintin Beukes wrote:
>> How about cost-saving campaigns?
>>
>> So, instead of someone upgrading from their dreaded-Vista machines
>> (something a lot of people want to do, since most think they can't go
>> back to XP due to the SATA driver issues), offer them a less costly
>> solution of Ubuntu. With this give free training on switching FROM
>> Windows TO Ubuntu.
>>
>> So the idea would be, if you were to pay R2000 per a Windows 7
>> machine. You could pay 40% (or less) for an Ubuntu machine. This
>> machine then comes with everything you had on your WIndows machine
>> (like office software, e-mail, sharing, etc.). And the price includes
>> training.
>>
>> Many people are afraid of it, so if you offer training for their staff
>> they could even see a bonus, as some of their staff could use training
>> in the first place.
>>
>> These are just a few suggestions. If you want to make a campaign, you
>> need to look at how advertising campaigns work.
>>
>> Why does an ad work? What does an ad DO? It tells you how to solve a
>> problem. If it's an ad for knives, it tells you how the knives will
>> make cutting easier... it solves a problem you have, which is the
>> dreaded struggling to cut food.
>>
>> So, you need to keep an open mind, and think of how to solve problems.
>> Don't tell the people it's better or nicer. Tell them what they want
>> to hear, while telling the truth. They want to hear
>> a) Save money on
>> - i. Ubuntu costs less than Windows
>> - ii. No need for expensive Anti virus software
>> - iii. No need for expensive Anti spyware software
>> - iv. No need for expensive Firewall software
>> b) Better productivity
>> c) NO virusses/spyware AT ALL, EVER
>> d) NO GAMES on their office machines
>> e) No Hackers
>>
>> And so on. Think like a sales person. But don't lie. And don't focus
>> on doing it for free. Try and make money from it. Serious people will
>> seriously laugh you off if you tell them it's free. Add a price tag,
>> and justify the costs on the fact that it's a "better design",
>> perhaps. Instead of paying RX for Windows, RY for antivirus, RZ for
>> anti spyware, RV for firewall, RJ for this, and that, so you instead
>> pay R(A) for something that was designed well. Use differences to you
>> advantage. Windows has an update every now-and-then. Ubuntu has almost
>> daily updates. Tell them this is because there are HUGE teams
>> constantly working on improving the software.
>>
>> Tell them it was developed by a south african. Tell them Mark
>> Shuttleworth - the first African in space. Make it sound awesome. Make
>> it sound cool. Make it sound like the meaning of life. You can sell
>> the anything to anyone if your marketing is done right.
>>
>> Finally, after you've sold it - don't leave them at their own fate,
>> drowning. Be there for them. Show them OSS is about community and
>> making life better. Visit them to see how their transition is going.
>> Answer questions, help them out. Suggest some more ways on solving
>> OTHER problems they have by using OSS.
>>
>> Once enough people experience Linux and OSS, and enough people Love
>> it, the rest will come by itself. And every single person counts. Even
>> if you just saved ONE person's soul, you did a magnificent job.
>>
>> If done right, you will get more people on Linux, and you will can
>> even make some money for it. Cover your costs, go buy some KFC, eat
>> and then donate the rest into more campaigns.
>>
>> Quintin Beukes
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 2:30 PM, David Robert Lewis (ethnopunk)
>> <ethnopunk at telkomsa.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Windows 7 to tell the truth doesn't look like much of an advance when
>>> compared to the latest Ubuntu desktop. Problem, is a lot of people will
>>> be confronted with the inevitable - Should we upgrade? - issue. So my
>>> question to the Ubuntu community is how can we generate some guerrilla
>>> advertising to promote Ubuntu as a contender in the upgrade battle?
>>>
>>> Is it too late to make an appeal for home-made "I love Ubuntu" videos? I
>>> know linux foundation had a competition earlier this year, and it would
>>> be nice to see some advert slots out there, instead of overly complex,
>>> preaching to the converted press releases touting the geekier element.
>>>
>>> Love, Live, Ubuntu
>>>
>>> Perhaps a local ZA-Ubuntu competition?
>>>
>>> First prize, dinner with Jonathan Carter, hahaha, sorry Jonothan.
>>>
>>> Suggestions?
>>>
>>> =DRL
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ubuntu-za mailing list
>>> ubuntu-za at lists.ubuntu.com
>>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-za
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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