[ubuntu-uk] (marketing) If you like it, tell others about it!

[alan c]

I took a few leaflets about Open Source Software to my local Library 
today, and although the main town Library accepts a few, the local 
Library down the road treated the situation with suspicion.

I pondered this, and later decided that it was really down to probably 
a lack of knowledge by the local hierarchy - the Councillors - about 
free software. So:

I have used the facility at    http://www.writetothem.com
to contact my three local Councillors (A, B and C), to

=============================================
FOR THE ATTENTION OF:
Cllr A
Cllr B
Cllr C
(local Electoral ward name)

Monday 26 July 2010
Alan Cocks
(My address and contact details)


Dear A, B and C,

I write to offer you, at your convenience, a brief, domestic, 
demonstration of Open Source computer software.

('A' firstname) - you may recall an occasion or two in the past in the 
(local cafe)  I may have mentioned it.

I am retired, and am a volunteer advocate for this class of software. 
I was part of a small group who presented about this to the then 
Minister for Innovation and Skills John Denham in 2008.

I note that government policy has been and remains, strongly in favour 
of allowing a real choice of open standards and reuse for software.

Most of the internet runs on free and open source software.

Many major companies use it - for example, IBM, who also supply it as 
part of their mainstream products. The French and other governments 
use it, including the 70,000, Gendarmerie PCs.

It can run in Windows, or it can be used as a complete alternative to 
Windows, with some exceptions.

It is resistant to malware and is easy to secure and use. My 90 year 
old mother in law has been using it to do online grocery shopping for 
a couple of years now. She lives (alone) in Lincolnshire (note 1). It 
is not hard to use.

However, it does appear to defy gravity in that it is free of initial 
cost. It runs well on older hardware and is robust and good quality. 
And although it is legally protected with licensing based on copyright 
law, it embodies great freedom of action. It is non proprietary and 
this means that real competition exists when maintenance contracts are 
considered.

The retail monopoly situation where it is virtually impossible to buy 
a computer without Windows now means more than ever that PC users at 
all levels are encouraged by vendors to believe that the world is 
Windows, and only Windows.

Lack of competition is evident, leading to significant but unnecessary 
licensing costs, including in public organisations,

Some users and organisations become unwittingly 'locked in' to a 
costly operating system.

The path towards reducing costs, even negotiating reduced licence fees 
for existing systems, can begin with gaining some basic knowledge.

I will be very happy to offer information, demonstrate, and answer 
questions as best I can.

Note 1:
(link)

Looking forward to hearing from you

Yours sincerely,
Alan Cocks
=============================================

I will try to keep the list informed.
-- 
alan cocks
Ubuntu user