What Is Ubuntu? Website Feedback Please

[Sridhar Dhanapalan]

On Saturday 13 January 2007 12:17, chrisjones at comcen.com.au wrote:
> I had an absolute complete computer newbie overlook my shoulder while I was
> on the Ubuntu Forums and ask me what Ubuntu was yesterday. It prompted me
> to create a small single page website with some brief introductory
> information on it explaining what Ubuntu was. Something a little more
> simple than sending them to www.ubuntu.com. I am just after some feedback
> for what you guys think. Good or bad? It's still in early development keep
> in mind that changes will still happen.
>
> Website URL below:
> http://whatisubuntu.bravehost.com
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Chris Jones

It's quite good: nice and succinct.

I find that phrasing GNU/Linux as a 'replacement' for their existing OS can 
sound confrontational. This is not a religion; we do not have to promote One 
True God. To offset this, I make it clear that they do not have to give up 
Windows. Dual-booting, WINE and virtualisation (KVM, VMware, etc.) mean that 
installing GNU/Linux can only increase the capabilities of their computers. 
They have the choice of which OS and application set that they want to use.

Emphasise that word: *choice*. Microsoft and Apple like to remove choice from 
their users, forcing them to pay tribute in perpetuity through vendor lock-in 
techniques. Free software does the exact opposite. Since it can be installed 
alongside what they already have, there is nothing to lose. Most people don't 
use most of their hard drive space, so there's effectively no space lost, 
either.

Eventually, the freedom and quality should win them over in time. The most 
difficult thing is convincing them to try in the first place. If they feel 
that they have to give up something, then they won't do it. But if you 
convince them that they only stand to gain, they will become excited about 
it.

For those of you who will be at the Ubuntu-Au stand at the LCA Open Day, 
please take note of these points when explaining Ubuntu to passers-by.

There are some excellent sources on the Web that can deftly explain the 
benefits of GNU/Linux to the uninitiated. I have mentioned them here several 
times in the recent past, but their quality ensures that they are always 
worth mentioning again.

  * http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/
  * http://www.getgnulinux.org/
  * http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2007/01/06/10-must-have-ubuntu-resources/



-- 
"I strongly believe that trying to be clever is detrimental to your health."
			- Linus Torvalds
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