[ubuntu-in] Hi, I want a represent Ubuntu India at a stall in SRM University Tech Fest.

[Parthan SR]

>
> shabbirhussain at aol.in wrote:
>   
>> Hi, I am Shabbir Hussain, studying Computer Science at SRM University,
>> Chennai. My University is organizing a National Level Tech Fest 'Aarush'
>> and I was thinking of opening a stall where me and a few friends will
>> sell Ubuntu related tutorials and books, and at the same time distribute
>> Ubuntu OS cd for free, creating awareness of the same. Can you provide a
>> large number of Ubuntu cd's? Since it is a college level fest we will be
>> reaching the student community.
>>     
I would request you to join the mailing list as the communication will 
be a lot easier. We would like to know a few things from you,

[1] When is this Fest happening?
[2] Are you having only a stall or is there any FOSS or GNU/Linux 
related talks happening?
[3] Is your stall only catering to Ubuntu or going to sell other 
distributions also?
[4] Are you going to *sell* CD/DVD? If so, can we know what will be the 
cost of a CD and DVD?
[5] How many CD/DVD do you thing you would ideally be able to give?
[6] Are the students or participants of the fest already have a clue 
about Ubuntu or at least Linux?

Am not suggesting to order through shipit, especially through special 
request for the following reasons,

[1] Shipit takes time (4 to 6 weeks), especially if it is in large 
number. It might not be able to land up in time and hence go waste in 
large numbers.
[2] Shipit of large number of CDs will end up you in paying Customs to 
the extent of 1000 INR or more. Unless you are prepared to personally 
face this cost, do not order one.
[3] For the point [6] mentioned above, I never suggest just giving free 
CDs to people hoping that they will go home and try it out. On your side 
you will feel that people are so interested in taking CDs that they will 
go home, try and install them. But this doesn't happen at all. People 
always never want to miss something given free, even if it may of no use 
to them.
[4] From the above point, if you decide to sell the CDs so as to make 
people feel that it it is of some value and to prevent freebie hunters 
from looting all your CDs, sorry you can't do it with CDs ordered 
through Shipit. I have talked about "selling CDs got through Shipit" and 
the reply was "You should never get money for the CDs got through shipit".

So, what's the solution? Download the latest CD and DVD. Prior to the 
event, burn some CDs and DVDs and give them for a nominal cost 
(something like cost of media or cost of media + 10 Rs). This will make 
sure you get back the cost of media you are spending from your pocket, 
as well as make sure only people who are really interested to try 
GNU/Linux to buy them. Am sure 20Rs is not a big cost considering they 
spend more for buying a pirated movie CD which ends up not working at all.

Please feel free to poke us back in the mailing list for anything 
related to your stall.

-- 
---
With Regards,

Parthan "technofreak"
<gpg>  2FF01026
<blog> http://blog.technofreak.in